The Ungrateful One Chapter 1

After my brother-in-law died, we adopted his daughter.

My niece, naturally sensitive, always felt we treated her worse than our own son. She spread rumors that we’d only taken her in to get our hands on her father’s inheritance.

My husband, blinded by familial love, never held it against her. My son and I bent over backward to accommodate her.

But our kindness only fed her audacity. She conspired with outsiders to burn our whole family alive and seize our assets.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we adopted her.

Watching her put on a show, wailing about how she couldn’t bear to leave her home, I turned and walked away.

“Good,” I said. “Because I don’t want you, either.”

* * *

Before I died, I watched my husband get bludgeoned to death.

My niece, Chloe, said that since Mark was her uncle, she’d grant him a quick end.

My son, Richard, and I weren’t so lucky.

Chloe ordered a group of thugs to hold Richard down, systematically crushing his dignity. I knelt on the floor, my pleas useless. I tried to lunge at her, to take her down with me, but my neck and limbs were bound by iron chains. I was helpless.

I could only watch as the people I loved were tortured to death.

And my sweet, adopted niece stood by, giggling at the show.

Her voice was laced with venom as she accused me. “When I was little, you wouldn't even buy me a new dress. No money? Then you shouldn't have adopted me.”

“You bought your son a house for his wedding. Where did that money come from? You must have stolen my dad’s inheritance.”

“People who favor boys over girls all deserve to die!” she shrieked. “You can argue your case in hell!”

My mouth was full of blood. I couldn't form a single word of defense.

My last memory was of the fire, an all-consuming inferno that turned everything to ash.

The hatred was a living thing inside me. I never should have let my compassion get the better of me. I never should have adopted Chloe. I nurtured a viper that destroyed my family’s happiness.

I never expected to open my eyes again, back on the very day we took her in.