Lahat ng Kabanata ng The College Packet Trap: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 10

"Maya, go to my classmate's place and grab my enrollment papers and acceptance letter."She was eating seafood at some island resort, waves crashing behind her.Like I was her personal errand girl.I smirked. "Fine. I'm going."Half an hour later, I came home with Kelsey's papers.Brenda was on the couch snacking.I walked straight over and slid the envelope into my desk drawer where she could see."Mom, these are really important college papers."Don't touch them."If they go missing, I'll miss the enrollment deadline."Brenda glanced at the drawer and smiled. "Got it. I won't touch them."But that look in her eyes said otherwise.I turned away like I was getting a drink.Then I slipped a tiny camera into the outlet facing the drawer.On my way back to my room, I caught Brenda staring at it with a small smile.***Early the next morning, I got up for my last shift at my summer job.After getting dressed, I stepped into the living room.Brenda was in the kitchen fryin

The second Kelsey saw the mess in the living room, her smile vanished.She dropped her suitcase and frowned. "What are you fighting about now? I just got back from vacation. Can I get one second of peace?"She kicked off her shoes, stormed in, and tossed the coconut candy onto the couch."What happened?"The second Brenda saw her, she lit up like backup had finally arrived.Brenda scrambled up and rushed over, twisting the whole story as she went.In her version, she was the poor mom who'd only tried to help.And I was some psycho losing it over a few pieces of paper.Kelsey listened, then gave me her usual smug look.She dropped onto the couch, crossed her legs, and folded her arms."Maya Carter, this is on you."If those papers were so important, why didn't you lock them up?"You left them sitting in a drawer. Who else are you gonna blame?"She rolled her eyes. "Seriously, what's the big deal?"They're just papers. Did you really have to blow up the whole apartment over

"I can't go to college now! Come home and fix this!"I couldn't hear what Victor said.Kelsey hung up sobbing and shot Brenda a vicious glare.Brenda stood there, her face going pale, then red.When she realized Kelsey wasn't buying her excuses, she turned on me."Maya! This was your fault!"You set Kelsey up on purpose, didn't you?!"You ungrateful little brat! I'll kill you!"She lunged at me.I stepped aside easily. I wasn't wasting my energy fighting her.I watched the mother-daughter meltdown for another second, then went back to my room.I slammed the door and locked it.Leaning against it, I listened to things crash outside while Brenda screamed and cursed.But I didn't relax for a second.I knew Brenda too well.When it came to Kelsey, she'd do anything.Outside, Brenda was still making promises."Kelsey, don't worry. Even if it kills me, I'll make sure you go to college!"Every alarm bell in my head went off.This wasn't over.***Early the next morning, r

"What century do you think this is? You can't just send someone to college under my name!"That's illegal. If you wanna go to prison, leave me out of it!"The second I refused, Brenda's fake sweetness vanished."I tried being nice, you ungrateful little bitch!"I gave birth to you. I raised you. Your life belongs to me! One stupid college acceptance isn't a big deal!"She lunged at me.Victor dropped the act too and yanked my arm behind my back.Together, they dragged me to my room.Bang.They shoved me inside.Brenda ripped my phone from my pocket.Click.The door locked from the outside."If you won't agree, then starve in there!" Brenda snapped through the door. "You can come out when you get some sense!"The room went dark.I dropped to the floor, my whole body aching.But I didn't cry.I forced myself to stay calm.Then I crawled to the bed and reached inside my pillow.From a hidden slit, I pulled out an old backup phone.I'd bought it with money from my summe

Glass glittered across the ground beside a huge pool of blood.People whispered while police cars flashed red and blue nearby.Standing at the edge of the crowd, I pieced together what happened from the witnesses.The police report later confirmed it.For two years, Victor had pushed Brenda to the edge.She could barely keep the lights on, while Kelsey kept demanding money for expensive stuff.Eventually, Brenda snapped.She drove the beat-up car she'd kept after the divorce and waited outside Victor's company for three days.Her plan was to block his car and threaten to kill herself unless he gave her money.But when Victor walked out after work, Brenda saw something that made her snap.He didn't look stressed.He didn't look miserable.He looked sharp in his suit—and happier than ever.A young, gorgeous secretary walked beside him.Victor had an arm around her waist. They were all over each other, even kissing beside his car.This clearly wasn't new.That was it.Bre