Chapter 2

I cried and explained that girls had beaten me up, but my mother only wore an icy scowl.

"Why would they only pick on you? There are hundreds of kids in that school! You must have done something to provoke them."

"I sent you to school to study, not to fool around with juvenile delinquents."

The next day, my mother stormed into the school. I pointed right at Brooke, but nobody believed me.

The counselor said, "Brooke is an honor student and a model citizen. She's so quiet and gentle—how could she possibly bully anyone?"

The class president chimed in, "Chloe has to be lying. Other students saw her hanging around with street punks yesterday. She probably got into a fight with them and is trying to pin it on Brooke."

One classmate after another stepped forward to vouch for Brooke.

Brooke stood off to the side, quietly dabbing at her tears. Suddenly, she turned to me and begged, "Chloe, just because you’re jealous of my grades doesn't mean you can bully me like this. Just because I don't have parents to stand up for me, you think you can humiliate me?"

That night, after dragging me home, my mother beat me with a cane until I nearly passed out.

"I’ll teach you to lie! I’ll teach you to frame innocent people! Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed me today?"

"Do you think it’s easy raising you alone? Can’t you give me some peace of mind? A dog would be less trouble than you!"

That night, she made me kneel on the bare hardwood floor until morning. I didn't sleep a wink.

I thought the bullying would end there, but it only made Brooke bolder and more cruel.

What I never anticipated was that my mother would adopt her.

During our sophomore year, Brooke's grandmother passed away suddenly, leaving her an orphan.

The school started a community fundraiser for Brooke's tuition. Still feeling guilty over the incident, my mother went to the school, spoke to the principal, and decided to take Brooke in and sponsor her education to make up for my "false accusations."

She had no idea she was inviting a venomous snake into our home.

No matter how hard I protested, it was useless.

The day Brooke moved in, my mother threw all my belongings out of my bedroom.

"You’re moving into the small storage room next door. There's a cot in there."

I stood frozen in the doorway, refusing to budge.

"Mom, you can't do this! This is my room!"

My mother lashed out. "Why are you so selfish? She's an orphan! She just lost the only family she had left. What's wrong with me showing her some kindness?"

"Besides, have you already forgotten how you framed her? Brooke was generous enough to forgive you. It’s time you grew up."

Brooke chimed in softly, "Eleanor, it’s okay. I don't want to take Chloe's room the moment I arrive. I can sleep anywhere, really."

In the end, I was shoved into that storage room. It had only one tiny window; without the light on, it was pitch black.

Even now, it was still crammed with junk. My clothes had to stay piled on the floor. No closet, no desk.