All Chapters of Scratching for Survival: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

I was so hungry I saw stars. Everything had double vision.The book of 20-dollar scratch cards Mom gave me felt like a countdown to my death. Only one card remained.The 30 dollars I had won before this, even though I had been incredibly frugal, eating nothing but plain bread and canned soup for every meal, had lasted two weeks at most.My stomach felt like an invisible hand was squeezing it tight, cramping with pain. So I clung to one last shred of hope and called Mom. Reality dumped cold water over my head.I was still blocked. She had not added me back.Left with no choice, I borrowed a stranger's phone and dialed her number again."Mom..."Before I could get another word out, a sharp, cutting voice came through the line."If I remember right, you've still got one scratch card left, don't you? Don't come crying poor to me. I'm not falling for that! If you're so capable, do what you did when you got into college and won all those scholarships. Use your luck!"The call cut

Chapter 2

The coating peeled away bit by bit. My heart sank with it.The final row revealed the prize amount. 20 dollars.My heart died completely.That meant until next semester when Mom gave me a new book of scratch cards, I only had 20 dollars.Clutching the winning ticket, I walked out of the dorm, planning to go to the redemption center outside the campus gates to cash it in.Just as I left the dorm building, my academic advisor's stern voice called from behind me."Elena Marshall!"I turned around. When the advisor, Adam Palmer, saw the scratch card clutched in my hand, the disappointment on his face deepened."Someone told me and I didn't believe it. You got in here with top ten scores from your region. How could you get addicted to these schemes and shortcuts?"Look at your grades now. You're practically failing every single class! You've let me down so much!"Consider this conversation a warning. If you keep this up, I'll have no choice but to follow school policy and recommen

Chapter 3

The woman at the redemption counter rolled her eyes without any attempt to hide it.She tore off a 20-dollar scratch card and tossed it in front of me. "You're beyond saving! How did Westridge University even admit a student like you?"I had heard words like that too many times already. From my roommate, from strangers, and now from her. They no longer stung.I took the scratch card, thanked her, and left without scratching it on the spot.I had barely walked two steps when my phone rang. When I saw "Mom" on the screen, I froze for a moment.That contact felt like it belonged to another lifetime, distant and unfamiliar."Hello." I answered just before the call would have gone to voicemail.Mom's sharp voice came through immediately. "Hmph, I thought you'd have more backbone than to answer my call."The scratch cards I gave you at the start of the semester should be all used up by now, right? How much did you win on the last one?"I told her the truth. "20 dollars."The mocker

Chapter 4

For a moment, all kinds of emotions tangled in my chest. But the strongest one was joy.The grand prize had to be claimed at the lottery center. I did not waste any time. I got up and bolted out the door.Fortunately, the school was not far away. Even though I had no money for transportation, I walked for half an hour and arrived.The moment I received the money, I still felt like I was dreaming. I stared at the string of numbers on my bank card over and over again, tears streaming down my face.I went to the most expensive restaurant in the city and finally ate my fill. People coming and going could not help but stare at me devouring my food like I had not eaten in weeks.Mom was right. My luck really was incredible.After wandering around all day, I had just returned to the dorm when Mom called."Sweetie, did you win the lottery?"The affectionate nickname made my skin crawl. I had forgotten how long it had been since she last called me that.Even when she found out I got in

Chapter 5

I stared at the legal summons.Since she refused to let this go, I would accept this lawsuit and put an end to our mother-daughter relationship once and for all.The court date was set for a week later.During that time, Mom used countless different numbers to send me harassing messages."You're just a student. What do you need all that money for?"You're my only child. If I keep it for you, isn't that the same as helping you save it? Be good and give the money to me. I'll drop the lawsuit."You're still in school. A lawsuit on your record won't do you any favors."I did not reply to a single message. After glancing at each one, I deleted it and blocked the number.Looking at the staggering amount in my bank account, I hired one of the best lawyers in the city to represent me.On the day of the hearing, when Mom saw I had hired a defense attorney, she froze for a moment.Then she pointed her finger at me and shouted. "Elena Marshall, you really are an ungrateful brat! Spendin

Chapter 6

There was no question that I won the lawsuit.The judge dismissed all of her demands. He did not even make me repay her for the book of scratch cards she bought me.After all, she was the one who said it was my living allowance.I thought that after losing the lawsuit, Mom would give up on my prize money. But what she did next shattered my expectations over and over again.Just as I was preparing materials to reapply for my visa, Mr. Palmer called me in a rush."Elena, your mother is causing a scene at the registrar's office. You need to get back here right away!"My heart sank.I had no choice but to set aside what I was doing and hurry back to school.Before I even got close to the registrar's office, I could hear Mom's shrill voice shouting from inside."And you call yourselves one of the top universities in the country? You dare admit a student like this?"Didn't I already tell you? Elena Marshall got in because of luck. It has nothing to do with hard work. She just happe

Chapter 7

"Elena Marshall, you've really gotten bold. Trying to sneak out of the country behind my back!"Mom stood at the security checkpoint with her hands on her hips, blocking the way. She was preventing quite a few passengers from boarding."Do you know how hard my life has been? I raised you all by myself. Now that you've struck it rich, you want to dump me and refuse to support me!"How can there be such an ungrateful brat in this world?"As she spoke, she actually managed to squeeze real tears from her eyes. Some passengers with time to spare started whispering among themselves."From what this woman is saying, her daughter got rich and now wants to abandon her single mom?""That really is ungrateful. Karma will catch up with her sooner or later.""Don't jump to conclusions. That girl looks like skin and bones. She doesn't look rich at all. But this mom looks pretty well-fed..."The scene grew more and more chaotic. It quickly drew the attention of security."Ma'am, if you're no

Chapter 8

Mom could not argue against tens of thousands of commenters with just her own mouth. She had no choice but to end the stream in a hurry.Public opinion quickly reversed. Everyone online was roasting her bizarre method of giving scratch cards as living expenses. The backlash finally made Mom settle down a bit.She borrowed someone's phone and contacted me."Sweetie, you have to understand. It wasn't easy raising you by myself. I was worried you'd abandon me just like your father did."My methods might have been a little inappropriate, but I didn't let you starve to death all these years, did I?"Having all those strangers attack me online isn't right either, is it?"I let out a soft laugh. "Mom, of course I won't abandon you."Keeping only ten thousand like you suggested isn't possible. My study abroad program is going to be expensive. But I'll send you living expenses every month on time as long as you promise not to interfere with my studies anymore."Hearing that I had given

Chapter 9

My heart jumped.I had not expected Mom to sink this low, tricking me into coming back home to marry me off to some old widower from her hometown.Once I understood what was happening, I gritted my teeth and drove my elbow hard into Dale's stomach. While he was doubled over in pain, I kicked him between the legs.During my time in Pelford, my health had improved considerably. And because I was alone in a foreign country, I had enrolled in self-defense classes for my personal safety.Dealing with one unarmed, untrained man was more than manageable.Dale stumbled backward, staring at me in terror."Your daughter's insane. You really think she'll settle down and have my kids? Forget it. Find someone else!"He scrambled out the door.After Mom finished screaming at Dale's retreating back, she raised her hand to hit me. But remembering what I had just done, she pulled it back.I laughed coldly."Don't worry. He's not getting away."I was worried you'd pull something like this, so

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