CHAPTER 1
Fiona's POV
"Where's this bitch of a child? Fiona!"
I quickly dropped the rag I was using to scrub the floor and ran to the sitting room.
"I'm right here," I said, immediately lowering my head before she could say anything else.
"Where the hell were you? Didn't you hear me calling you?"
"I'm sorry. I was scrubbing the floor."
"Don't tell me you haven't made lunch yet."
"I asked Caroline to help me with it. There were a lot of chores to do, and I couldn't even attend lectures today," I replied hurriedly.
"Who cares if you attended lectures or not? And why the hell would you ask my daughter to cook for you in the first place?"
"Mrs. Valerie, I didn't ask her to cook for me. I just asked her to help with lunch."
The next thing I felt was a hard slap across my face.
I had seen it coming. This wasn't the first time she'd hit me.
I slowly looked up and saw Dad standing at the entrance.
Tears welled up in my eyes as Valerie hurried over to him.
"Oh, honey, Fiona is being rude to me. I was asking her why she told Caroline to cook for her when she knew my poor baby was sick, and she started yelling at me."
I watched Dad's expression change as he looked at me. As usual, he believed her.
"Fiona, how many times do I have to tell you to have some respect for my wife? Whether you like it or not, she's now your mother. Is this how you treat your mother?"
"She can never be my mother. She doesn't even have the qualities of a mother. Why do you always side with her? Can't you see the way she's treating me?"
"Enough, Fiona!"
"You promised Mom that you'd always love me and take care of me, but I'm a slave in my own father's house!"
"Hey, don't try to manipulate my husband. What you did was wrong, and you expect me not to correct you? Go to your room."
I stared at Dad as he looked at Valerie. She was twisting everything around, and somehow, she always managed to turn him against me.
"You heard her, Fiona. Go to your room."
I turned around and left without another word, slamming my bedroom door behind me.
I threw myself onto the bed and finally let the tears fall.
Why did you have to go, Mom?
Death should have taken me along with you.
Dad didn't even love me anymore. Everyone had rejected me.
I buried my face in my pillow as memories of Mom flooded my mind. I missed the way she used to hold me, the way she would defend me whenever Dad got angry, and the way our home had felt before she was gone.
"Fiona! Wake up, you filthy thing!"
My head felt heavy as I slowly opened my eyes. I must have fallen asleep while crying.
"Dad asked me to call you... bitch."
I looked up and saw Caroline standing there, busy with her phone as she chewed gum.
Like mother, like daughter.
She rolled her eyes and walked away when she saw that I was awake.
I sat up, wiped my face, and went into the bathroom to wash my face. After that, I headed downstairs.
Everyone was already seated at the dining table.
"What took you so long?" Dad asked. "Come and sit. Your mom made dinner. The least you can do is eat and thank her."
"I'm not hungry, Dad."
"I already served you. Don't let it go to waste. Get your butt over here and eat."
Dad watched as Valerie and I stared at each other.
I knew that if I walked away, I'd be in trouble. The moment Dad left the house, Valerie would make sure I regretted it.
But I was tired.
Tired of being treated like a servant in my own home.
"Well, don't just stand there, young lady. Come and eat," Valerie added.
"Don't act all nice, Valerie. You and I both know how badly you treat me whenever Dad isn't home. You can continue fooling him, but I've had enough."
"Fiona, can you just stop?" Dad yelled.
"No, Dad! I won't. I don't even know who you are anymore. I don't even want to call you Dad. I wish Mom were here instead."
I turned and ran upstairs before he could say anything else.
I shut my bedroom door and immediately started packing.
I couldn't take this anymore.
I wasn't going to stay in that house and let them treat me like a prisoner.
I lifted my mattress and pulled out the cash I'd been hiding underneath it. I tucked the money inside my pants before taking my bag from the wardrobe.
I had barely finished when I heard footsteps approaching.
I quickly shoved the bag back into the wardrobe and sat on the bed, pretending nothing had happened.
The door opened, and Dad walked in.
His eyes moved around the room as though he suspected something.
"Fiona, I don't know what's gotten into you lately. I mean, it's been six years since your mother passed away, and we can't change the past. This should be the last time you talk to Valerie rudely. Understood?"
"Trust me, Dad. It's the last time," I replied without looking up.
"As punishment, I'll have to lock you in your room. Think about what you did, and first thing tomorrow morning, you'll apologise to Valerie."
"Dad, I'm no longer a child."
"I'm sorry, but you gave me no choice." He walked out and locked the door behind him.
I sat there for a moment, staring at the door. Then panic set in. I quickly scanned the room, searching for a way out.
My eyes landed on the window. I immediately got up.
I pulled my bags out of the wardrobe and quietly tossed them through the window. After making sure they had landed safely, I climbed onto the window ledge.
I took one last look at my room before lowering myself through the window.