My Stepfather’s Prey - Chapter 11: Chapter 11
You are reading My Stepfather’s Prey, Chapter 11: Chapter 11. Read more chapters of My Stepfather’s Prey.
The second I clicked the bedroom door shut, Vincent Lowell bolted out in a panic, shrugging into his coat like the devil was on his heels.
He paced the deserted living room before hissing into his phone, "Must've misheard."
Then - the unmistakable creak of a door closing somewhere deeper in the house.
My stomach dropped. I'd just stumbled onto something big. Mom's words started playing on loop in my head: "I never should've bought her!"
A terrifying thought hit me like a punch to the gut.
Was I not her real daughter?
If she hated me this much, why take me in the first place? And why go through twenty years of pretending?
Next day, I barricaded myself in my room, too messed up to face anyone. Didn't even step out to pee.
When I skipped my third meal, Margaret Evans started hovering outside my door like a worried hen. "Evelyn, sweetheart, you can't keep doing this to yourself," she pleaded for the fifth time that day.
One look at her creased forehead and I caved with a stiff nod. The relief that flooded her face almost made me feel guilty.
The night before lockdown ended, Mom called.
With Margaret snoring softly nearby, I ducked into the bathroom. Mom prattled on like our blowout never happened. I let her ramble before dropping the bomb:
"Mom...am I actually yours?"
Dead silence. Then -
"After everything I've given up for you?" Her voice went shrill enough to shatter glass. "How dare you! That witch Margaret's been filling your head with nonsense, hasn't she? I knew she was trouble!"
I couldn't help the icy smirk. Interesting how she'd jumped straight to blaming Margaret. Vincent's handiwork, no doubt.
Her screeching became unbearable. I hung up mid-tirade.
When my phone lit up with the twelfth missed call, I finally turned it off. The cold water I splashed on my face cleared my head just enough.
Decision made. Once we got out of this damn house, I'd dig up the truth - even if it cost me my job.
I turned off the faucet and froze.
Someone was standing behind me.
He paced the deserted living room before hissing into his phone, "Must've misheard."
Then - the unmistakable creak of a door closing somewhere deeper in the house.
My stomach dropped. I'd just stumbled onto something big. Mom's words started playing on loop in my head: "I never should've bought her!"
A terrifying thought hit me like a punch to the gut.
Was I not her real daughter?
If she hated me this much, why take me in the first place? And why go through twenty years of pretending?
Next day, I barricaded myself in my room, too messed up to face anyone. Didn't even step out to pee.
When I skipped my third meal, Margaret Evans started hovering outside my door like a worried hen. "Evelyn, sweetheart, you can't keep doing this to yourself," she pleaded for the fifth time that day.
One look at her creased forehead and I caved with a stiff nod. The relief that flooded her face almost made me feel guilty.
The night before lockdown ended, Mom called.
With Margaret snoring softly nearby, I ducked into the bathroom. Mom prattled on like our blowout never happened. I let her ramble before dropping the bomb:
"Mom...am I actually yours?"
Dead silence. Then -
"After everything I've given up for you?" Her voice went shrill enough to shatter glass. "How dare you! That witch Margaret's been filling your head with nonsense, hasn't she? I knew she was trouble!"
I couldn't help the icy smirk. Interesting how she'd jumped straight to blaming Margaret. Vincent's handiwork, no doubt.
Her screeching became unbearable. I hung up mid-tirade.
When my phone lit up with the twelfth missed call, I finally turned it off. The cold water I splashed on my face cleared my head just enough.
Decision made. Once we got out of this damn house, I'd dig up the truth - even if it cost me my job.
I turned off the faucet and froze.
Someone was standing behind me.
End of My Stepfather’s Prey Chapter 11. Continue reading Chapter 12 or return to My Stepfather’s Prey book page.