The Villainess's Daughter Chapter 1

During the critical period of fighting for my custody, my mother suddenly claimed she was the Villainess in a novel and awakened memories of her past life.

She said she worked three jobs a day to raise me, but I would favor my father and his mistress when I grew up, leaving her to die alone in a Nursing Home.

So this time, she gave up my custody first and adopted a girl whose parents sacrificed in a fire.

No matter how I cried and screamed, Mom remained indifferent.

Three months later, living with Dad, I was bullied by my stepmother's daughter at school and suffered from severe depression.

After the 50th time of having suicidal thoughts, covered in disgusting vomit, I begged my mother to help me transfer schools.

Seeing me again, the motherly love in her eyes was long gone, only disgust remained.

"Luna, didn't I say we cut ties? You are not my daughter, why are you still pestering me!"

Before I could speak, she suddenly had a mental breakdown and slapped herself.

"Do I owe your King family? The old one wasted ten years of my youth, and the small one haunts me like a debt collector!"

"I finally got a little happier, and you come to haunt me like a ghost. Are you trying to force me to death?"

Seeing she was about to rush to the kitchen to get a knife, I endured the pain of my broken bone, knelt down first and kowtowed heavily to apologize.

"Sorry, Mom, it's my fault, I promise never to come again."

She didn't believe me. Before leaving, she held a written Emancipation Paper, asking me to sign.

I took the pen, and with my only functioning left hand, tremblingly wrote down my name.

Walking out the door, I immediately called an Uber to the seaside.

Goodbye Mom, never see you again.

* * *

For the past 50 times, whenever suicidal thoughts wrapped around my neck like vines, I would screen methods and locations of death over and over again on the internet late at night.

In less than a week, the densely packed links in my favorites occupied several gigabytes.

Now determined not to live, I wanted to decide my final destination by throwing a die.

Watching the die finally settle on 6, I confirmed the way of death by jumping into the sea.

While waiting for the car, my mother's voice sounded from behind.

"Luna, why haven't you left yet? Do you want to rely on me here till death?"

I was startled unprepared, phone clattered and fell in front of her shoes.

The death methods and locations in favorites were exposed under the sunlight.

Afraid she would see, I bent down and reached out quickly.

But still a step too late, phone snatched by her.

Looking at her gradually serious face, besides anxiety, a trace of expectation uncontrollably rose in my heart...

"Luna, you wouldn't think threatening suicide is useful to me, right?"

Heart felt like poured by a basin of cold water.

After cooling through, felt myself ridiculously stupid.

I forgot.

Two months ago, mother adopted a new daughter.

She bought her clothes of my favorite brand, took her to watch plays we watched, let her live in my former room, and even gave her the same nickname "Jojo" (Original text: Jiaojiao) as me.

And my things, small as the necklace I bought for mom, big as my dolls, were thrown into trash can like garbage one by one.

Even last week when I was poured cold water and locked in restroom by stepsister Harper, I messaged mom asking if she could come see me, she only replied "Busy" and blocked me.

Later, punished by father kneeling in small shrine all night, I switched to Finsta and saw her Instagram Story.

Under starlight, she accompanied new daughter on Ferris wheel, smiling eyes bent holding her in arms, gave her a dress she hand-made, calling "Jojo" again and again.

Thinking of mom's hands full of band-aids from needle pricks making clothes, I endured sourness in heart, shook head.

"I didn't mean to threaten Mom, I know you have a new daughter."

"I'm waiting for Uber, once it comes, I'll go."

Afraid she wouldn't believe, I snatched back phone, switched to Uber page.

7 minutes until driver arrives.

Shock flashed in her eyes, seemed didn't expect my reaction.

Dryly replied.

"Best if you think so!"

"Don't come find me later either, I won't..."

"Okay."

I smiled and nodded, bowed deeply again.

"Thank you for raising me, I won't come again in future."

Anyway I have no future.

When getting up, collar slipped due to bowing, a dark red whip mark on neck side exposed.

Her gaze stuck dead on that scar, brows unconsciously frowned.

"What's with the injury on your neck..."

Meeting her disgusted gaze, I subconsciously panicked.

Mom already hates me, what if she misunderstands I'm playing wild outside?

Just about to explain it was beaten by stepsister Harper, a figure threw into mom's arms, acting spoiled.

"Mommy, why you out so long ah, I waited till hypoglycemia attacked."

Hearing "hypoglycemia", mom's gaze quickly withdrew from me, supporting her apologizing repeatedly.

"All mommy's fault, delayed my Jojo's meal for irrelevant person, we go home now."

Irrelevant person?

My eye rims a bit sour, but looking at just signed Emancipation Paper in hand couldn't think of rebutting words.

Indeed, current me has no relationship with her.

Just about to turn leave, delicate voice called me.

"Sister, do you want to go back with us, eat a meal then..."

Meeting her kind eyes, I didn't understand why she suddenly changed a face.

Before I knocked door, she put harsh words to me.

"You shouldn't come, a bitch turning elbow outward like you doesn't deserve such good mom, death is your destination, can you hurry die!"

"Only you die, everyone can be happy, otherwise everyone will be dragged down by you, especially mom, she has nightmares seeing you, uncontrollably self-harm."

I was burned by hate in her eyes, stubbornly thought she was threatening me.

Until mom saw my face, suddenly collapsed slapping herself, shouting taking knife suicide.

Especially scars on her wrist one by one.

I knew what she said was true.

My existence is pain to her.

Person like me, deserves to die.

So, I swallowed words asking mom help transfer school, signed Emancipation Paper.

If between us two, only one can gain happiness.

I hope it's mom.

She is so kind and lovely.

Taught me since young to care for animals, respect others.

Living expenses from father. She didn't buy bags like other rich wives, but built stray animal shelter, raised group of cats and dogs.

She knew some couldn't afford school, no playground, built Charity Schools one by one, playgrounds one by one.

Every New Year, letters thanking mom could pile into a small hill.

To me, she was good beyond words.

I liked dresses, she hand-made for me, I liked animals plants, she personally took care of villa garden, let me eat first bite of organic vegetables.

I sick, she stayed up whole nights guarding me.

When I was 5 got acute aplastic anemia, doctor said I couldn't live past three months.

Mom even knelt outside mountain temple gate, from dawn to late night, one step one kowtow, climbed 999 bluestone steps.

Steps full of gravel, her knees ground bloody, seeping blood dyed stone slabs red, finally begged this jade plaque engraved with my name.

Magically, after I wore jade plaque, doctor found misdiagnosis, my illness miraculously improved.

Can say, she gave me life twice.

And I as daughter, can give nothing.

At least don't drag her down welcoming new life.

"You are right, burden like me, indeed deserves to die."

I pulled off jade plaque from neck, put into girl's hand.

"This is Heirloom Locket mom begged for me, very efficacious, I give to you. Hope you be safe forever, always accompany mom, let her happy forever."

She stared at me complicatedly, still accepted locket.

I sighed relief, hugged her.

"Thank you for coming to mom's side, please take care of her later."

I took out notebook recording mom from bag again.

"This records mom's birthday wishes every year, what she loves eating, what she hates."

Lily accepted notebook, agreed me.

"You little girl, how I told you usually, have vigilance to people, can't invite anyone home to eat, what if do bad things to you?"

Mother's words interrupted my memory.

Little girl stuck out tongue acting spoiled, but smiled provocatively at me where mother couldn't see.

"But this big sister is mommy's daughter, count as my sister, how she..."

"She is not."

Mother held her hand, solemnly said:

"I will only have you one daughter in future."

If before, hearing this sentence would definitely be sad.

But now, I only feel fortunate.

If mother only has her one child, that's also quite good.

At least knowing my death later, won't be sad for me.

I completely let go of obsession, suddenly grinned echoing.

"Right, Auntie Penelope will only have you one daughter, you will definitely be happy."

Hearing "Auntie Penelope", mother's cold eyes froze, looked at me deeply.

I couldn't understand deep meaning in her eyes, I didn't want to guess either.

I am really too tired.

In short three months haven't slept a good sleep.

Dad brought stepmother in second day after getting divorce certificate.

Less than a week, my life changed earth-shakingly.

I moved from second biggest bedroom to servant room, since then as long as father absent, I had to work with servants.

I sought father for justice, but framed as lying.

Stepmother rank too high, one face front one face back, father's love gradually disappeared, I became lying essence he disgusted.

Stepsister Harper relying on popularity, tried every way vent anger on me.

School trash can I drilled, toilet I swept, their shoes I licked, slapped, poured dirty water, torn homework, even more common...

At first teachers would stand up for me because of my excellent grades, later as I forgot homework, grades slid, classmates rumored, dirty every day, also unwilling manage me.

Every day was torture to me.

Could hold on so long, all relied on agreement that mother would take me to Hokkaido (maybe change to Disneyland or Paris) if I did well in SSATs.

But just yesterday, no matter how I begged, even kowtowed knelt, right hand was smashed by Harper with stick hit by hit.

I can't write anymore, can't take exam.

Agreement can't be fulfilled.

Now I just want lie in a place, rest well permanently.

Coincidentally, car horn sounded.

My Uber arrived.

I smiled goodbye to mother and Jojo.

"Auntie Penelope, Jojo, goodbye."

Getting in car, mother suddenly chased up.

I thought she had words, rolled down window.

She opened mouth for long time, until driver impatiently stepped on gas, finally squeezed out few words.

Pity my left ear already beaten deaf.

Wind so big, I finally didn't hear clear what mother said.

I politely smiled nodded to her, waved hand.

But still after her figure shrank to a dot, cried choking.

Driver uncle seeing me cry so sad, thought drove too fast, busy apologized, tentatively opened mouth:

"Little sister, is it words not finished, want talk to mom well again, uncle turn back send you back now."

Seeing me silent, he added sentence.

"Money for turning back on uncle, I won't charge you."

I wiped tears with sleeve, shook head.

"Thanks uncle, no need."

But uncle still soft hearted turned back.

Afraid mom misunderstand I pestering endlessly, I somewhat anxious, hurriedly spoke.

"Mom has new daughter, she will be unhappy if I go, beg you turn back."

Driver uncle body paused, long sigh, turned car back again.

"Child, don't say so, which mom doesn't love child, she must have difficulties, she..."

"I know."

I wiped tears, smiling nodded.

"I believe, Mom is always person loves me most, I also love Mom most."

"Besides, no matter what Mom did, I am okay."

Driver red eyes, repeatedly praised me good child.

I disapproved.

If I really good child...

Mom wouldn't see me so painful.

Dad wouldn't scold me liar again and again, say I have inferior genes in bone, say I can't compare to stepsister no blood relation with him again and again.

Even more wouldn't no one come attend my parent meeting.

Uncle gratified nodded, chatted about me going seaside again.

Afraid discovered my real purpose, I told a small lie, said friend waiting me.

He believed, put me down at location.

Also gave me an apple.

"Today Christmas Eve, eat apple safe and sound, girl, life is long, wait you grow up will find life has no hurdle can't pass, know?"

I bit apple, nodded heavily, lied again.

"I will study hard, love myself well."

Driver uncle praised me smart, I waved to him.

Watching him gradually far, conveniently finished apple, I then slowly stood up walked towards seaside.

Walked to beach, water over ankle, father sent message.

[Luna, did you go find your mom again, really natural born bitch seed, feed what also not familiar, only know turn elbow out!]

[Since you like your mom so much, then don't come back, me and your stepmom Harper go out eat, home locked, don't come back!]

[If you dare come back, not punish you kneel small shrine, but break your legs.]

[Saw my message not, where are you, I command you reply immediately!]

I didn't want reply, but accidentally answered his video call.

Seeing me at seaside, his face immediately sank.

"Luna, what you running to seaside for?"