All Chapters of The Daughter They Called Unlucky: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

I sat on the bed, my hands trembling.Three days earlier, I'd turned eighteen.Nobody remembered. No one even called.I made myself a bowl of instant noodles and drifted through the day in a daze.The next morning, Mom called me long-distance."Sweetheart, Sophie's eighteenth birthday party is coming up."That girl insists you come home for it, so pack your things."Oh, and she wants one of those iPhones. Buy her one."I opened my mouth, then pressed my lips shut again.I wanted to ask them for money, but then I remembered that helpless prophecy from all those years ago.For as long as I could remember, whenever I spent even one extra cent of the family's money, disaster followed.Bumps and bruises were a regular part of my life. I'd even spent three days and nights in the ICU.So, to stay alive, I ate leftovers and wore Sophie's hand-me-downs.When I was fourteen, I dropped out of school and left home to work so I could eat. I supported myself with the money I earned.I'

Smack!Mom slapped me across the face."Lena! Do you ever listen to a word I say?"How many times have I told you? You were born unlucky. You can't eat nice things like this!"Do you want to end up in the ICU again and worry your dad and me to death?"I kept wolfing them down, strawberry juice smeared around my mouth.I didn't stop until my stomach turned. Then I threw up every last strawberry."For heaven's sake! What a waste of good fruit!"Mom covered her nose in disgust, then patted my back gently."Sweetheart, why won't you listen to me?"You're my own daughter. Would I ever lie to you?"That was exactly what I wanted to ask.I'm your own daughter. So why would you treat me like this?My voice came out hoarse. I'd barely gotten out the word "why."Mom frowned. "Why what?""Why did you lie..."But before I could finish, Sophie cut me off."Mom, my birthday portrait came!"Can Lena hang it on the wall for me?"Mom nodded and directed me to hang Sophie's photo in t

Sophie went pale and stumbled backward, knocking over the champagne tower behind her.Broken glass grazed my ankle, but I didn't feel a thing."Lena, have you lost your mind?"Mom rushed at me and tried to grab my phone.I didn't resist. I handed it over.I watched Dad slam the phone onto the floor and grind it under his shoe.Only when the sound cut off did my parents force a few awkward laughs, as if nothing had happened."Sorry you all had to see that."This girl has been jealous of how well we treat Sophie since she was little. We don't know how she turned out like this. We must have failed her somewhere."Dad sighed, and every word made it sound like I was the problem.I didn't say anything. I just stood there.I wanted to see what else they could possibly say.But they ignored me and left me standing alone on the stage.No apology. No explanation.They were too busy fussing over Sophie, afraid the scene might scar her.Suddenly, the ballroom speakers crackled to li

I'd just stepped out the door when my parents hurried back with Sophie.Dad's face was full of rage, and he started yelling before he even reached me."Lena, what the hell are you trying to do?"I brought you into this world and raised you, and this is how you stab me in the back?"It was laughable.How could he say that with such righteous conviction?He'd never once acted like a father, yet now he was talking as if he'd done me some huge favor."If you walk out of this house today, don't you ever come back!"Fine by me. I didn't want to come back anyway.I walked fast, desperate to get away from that house.Standing at the bus station and watching people come and go, I felt a little lost.I didn't have a home anymore. Where was I supposed to go?Suddenly, Sophie showed up, still in her party dress."Lena."If you leave, don't ever come back."I nodded carelessly and kept studying the route signs.Sophie was still chattering away beside me."Dad says I'm the only daug