Chapter 1

The thing Mom said to me most growing up was,

"Once you're dead, I'll get married," Mom always told me.

I was born rotten. She wanted me dead, so I made damn sure to stay alive just to spite her.

She didn't want attention, so I got into fights at school every damn day. I knocked out one of the mayor's daughter's teeth, and the media blew it up and plastered it all over the internet.

That was until Mom showed up in front of the cameras, her ghost-pale face drawing every eye.

"Isn't that the woman from sixteen years ago? The one who was assaulted? I thought she was long dead. Turns out she's not only alive, she even gave birth to that man's daughter," a bystander said.

My mind went blank when I heard that. I watched Mom shuffle toward me, shaking so hard she could barely walk straight.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I failed to raise my daughter right... I apologize," Mom said.

There wasn't a trace of color on Mom's face, but she still bowed to the flashing cameras. I saw how white her nails had gone from clenching so hard.

"So she's the rapist's daughter. No wonder she's so vicious," someone in the crowd muttered.

"Exactly. If I had a daughter like that, I'd have beaten her long ago. Why keep her around? See? It's in the genes. She was born to hurt people," another onlooker said.

"Maybe that woman still had feelings for the rapist. Otherwise why would she have kept the baby? Tsk. Talk about having no standards," someone else sneered.

Every filthy word crashed into my ears. The smile that had been hanging on my lips froze stiff.

"Stop filming!" I shouted.

I grabbed the bald old broom off the ground and hurled it at the reporters.

"Isn't apologizing enough?" I snapped.

Emily Reed had been cowering off to the side, too scared to come over. But after hearing all that, she clearly put two and two together. She froze, then muttered,

"No wonder your mom never comes to pick you up," Emily muttered.

I glared at Emily. I'd knocked out one of her teeth, so her smile looked ridiculous as hell.

But the second she met my eyes, she stopped smiling.

"What are you doing, Claire Evans? Didn't you say you'd apologize to me?" Emily demanded.

Emily swallowed hard and took a step back.

Emily had started it. She called me short and ugly, and said my mom had to hate me, or why else would she never come pick me up?

So I knocked out one of her teeth, and she brought in the media.

"I'm sorry. Now get these reporters out of here, or I'll knock every last tooth out of your mouth," I said.

I waved my fist, but before I could finish threatening her, a slap landed across my face.

I froze, stunned. When I looked over in disbelief, I saw Mom's eyes shaking harder than the rest of her.

"I'm sorry, Miss Reed. On behalf of my daughter, I apologize to you," Mom said.

"Then get on your knees!" Emily snapped.

Emily shouted it without missing a beat. I wanted to beat her all over again, but Mom actually dropped to her knees right there on the ground.

Even Emily went blank.

"I'll kneel... Please forgive us," Mom said.

"Mom!" I cried.

My eyes went red. I reached to pull her up,

"This was my mistake. You don't have to take the fall for me. I can apologize myself!" I said.

But the moment I met her eyes, my whole body locked up.

The way she looked at me was full of bone-deep hatred.

"Guess I'm feeling generous today. Now get the hell out of here," one of Emily's followers shouted.

One of Emily's little followers shouted that, and Emily shot her a glare.

I clenched my fists while Mom dragged me away.

She was walking unsteadily. I tried to move up and support her, and said softly,

"I'm sorry. I didn't know I..." I said softly.

"Get lost," Mom spat.

She took a deep breath and spat the words out in disgust.

"Happy now?" Mom snapped.

She shoved me onto the back of the tricycle she used for grocery runs. It squeaked and rattled as it moved, and all I could see was the back of her head.

There were a few streaks of gray in her hair.

I swallowed every word I wanted to say.

All I had wanted was for you to pick me up from school once. I'm sorry.