I Shielded Mom, But She Called Me Disgusting Instead Chapter 1

I found myself inside a story, tasked with saving my mother from domestic abuse, only to face her relentless disdain because I resembled my father.

When I shielded her from my father's blows, she pushed me away. "You're disgusting with your fake concern," she'd hiss.

I worked tirelessly to ensure she could live comfortably, yet she lounged through book clubs without care.

"If it weren't for having you, I wouldn't have ended up like this. Your hard work is what you owe me."

One day, the system informed me I could go home.

I stopped sacrificing for her and nagging her to take care of herself.

That’s when she began to panic.

Content

“They’re saying Felicity Archer is repeating her senior year for the third time! What’s the point? That girl’s a lost cause!”

“And her mom? I can’t figure her out either. She’s got such a brilliant, hardworking younger daughter but insists on pampering the older one. How many years has she wasted babysitting her through school?”

News of my sister Felicity repeating her senior year spread like wildfire through Oakwood Subdivision, where gossip was practically the local pastime.

Everyone knew Felicity was good at drinking, fighting, and making trouble—anything but schoolwork. But my mom was stubborn. No matter how many years it took, Felicity had to get into an Ivy League school.

Why? Because I, Savannah Harper, already had.

Felicity was my mom’s daughter from her first marriage. Her father, George Archer, had passed away from an illness, and my mom remarried my dad, Thomas Harper. Then I came along.

The difference between Felicity and me couldn’t be more obvious. Felicity was the diamond, and I was the grass beneath her feet.

But my dad didn’t treat her well. He was an abusive, alcoholic wreck.

No matter how much I tried to protect Felicity, standing between her and the violence, she still hated me. In her eyes, my blood—his blood—made me just like him.

I couldn’t measure up to even a fraction of her in my mom’s eyes.

When I got home from my job at Uncle Jerry’s Smokehouse, the smell of BBQ clung to me like a second skin. When I walked through the door, my mom sprayed air freshener at me, scrunching her nose.

"Why do you always have to make things worse? Out of all the places to work, you pick the smokiest one. Can't you learn from Felicity and take care of your appearance?"

I raised my arms without a word, letting her do her thing. She seemed to have forgotten everything I’d done since she divorced my dad—her depression, Felicity’s constant brawls.

I’d lost countless part-time jobs running around trying to fix their lives. Only Uncle Jerry was kind enough to keep me on.

Not only was I paying for our living expenses, but I was also covering for Felicity’s constant messes. This time, I was scrambling because rent was due soon.

I scrubbed my skin raw in the shower, hoping to wash away the smoky smell.

When we first moved here, neighbors praised my mom for raising two kids so well. They called her strong and independent.

But behind her back, they whispered about me, the skinny one.

“She should give that one away, sell her even. Wouldn’t drag the family down.”

But the one earning money? That was me.

The one keeping the family afloat? Also me.

The one who took the hits when my dad returned, fists flying? Still me.

When I first arrived in this world, my mom was kind. She’d sing me lullabies and sneak me food.

But as I grew older and my features took after my father’s, her gaze twisted into something unrecognizable.

Her hatred for him? It found its outlet in me.

Just last night, the system informed me my dad had drunk himself to death.

The threat was finally gone. I was free to leave.

As water streamed down my face, I closed my eyes. Soon, this nightmare would be over.

A knock interrupted my thoughts.

“I heard someone saw Felicity at The Silver Oak Bar tonight. Just… cover for me, will you? I need to go get her.”

“And about your birthday… well, you understand, right? That kind of place isn’t safe…”

I dried my face, catching my calm reflection in the mirror.

“Take care of yourself,” I replied evenly.

The silhouette outside the door froze.