Chapter 1
The second my stepdaughter, Arabella Winter, splashed a glass of water right in my face, I suddenly realized that I was a disposable side character.
Arabella was the female lead of a villainess novel, a firm believer in egoism who stepped all over everyone to climb to the top.
As her stepmother, I stood in her way.
The baby growing inside my belly blocked her path.
And so, I was nothing more than a minor extra destined to die by her hands.
I wiped the water off my face and stared at the floating comments flashing before my eyes.
[Serves her right. Amelia is such a fake stepmother. She acts as if she cares about Arabella, but all she really wants is another kid.]
[I hate hypocritical bitches like her. Can't wait to watch Arabella tear her down.]
[She's about to announce her pregnancy. Think Arabella will let that slide?]
A terrible realization hit me. I gasped quietly and quickly hid the pregnancy test slip deep inside my pocket.
I turned toward my husband, another tragic side character in this story, and forced a faint smile. "Honey, I need to talk to you about something after dinner."
*****
My stepdaughter, Arabella Winter, rested her chin on her hand and sneered, "You're making it impossible for me to eat."
She lowered her hand and reached toward the bowl. It looked like she was about to splash hot soup in my face again.
The comments were flying by so fast I could barely keep up.
[Amelia just won't shut up. That's Arabella's daddy, and she just has to call him honey to his face. It's so nasty.]
[Splash her again. Now that's what I call satisfying.]
I blinked, making sure the barrage of comments I was seeing wasn't just my imagination.
I darted to the side, barely dodging the hot soup Arabella splashed at me.
Chicken soup went everywhere, covering the whole table in greasy chicken broth. Nobody could even touch their fork. My three hours in the kitchen were all ruined.
Food was the last thing on my mind. My face still stung where Arabella had splashed me with hot water.
I retreated to the kitchen, rinsing my face with cold water again and again until I finally managed to pull myself together.
Just now, I'd barely grabbed a bite of tender fish belly when Arabella splashed a whole cup of hot water right over me.
Good thing it wasn't boiling. Otherwise, my face would've been ruined.
Arabella just stared at me coldly. "Really? The water wasn't even hot. Quit acting like it's a big deal."
Oliver Winter set down his fork, his expression growing grim. "Arabella, that's enough. Show some respect," he said.
The comments immediately shifted their focus to him.
[What a deadbeat dad, remarrying and going for a second kid. Where does that leave Arabella?]
[For the sake of his money, let's just have Arabella deal with him for five more minutes.]
Honestly, I always thought Oliver was a good father.
Arabella's birth mother died in a car accident not long after she was born.
Oliver stayed single for fifteen years before he remarried me.
He chose me because I was from a small town with no connections, and he figured I wouldn't dare or even be able to cause any trouble for his daughter.
Arabella didn't even bother to hide her contempt. She gave a derisive snort. "Boundaries? I don't care about respect. What are you gonna do about it?
"This is my house, and I'll throw out anyone I don't like. If you've got a problem with that, you can leave with her."
The live chat exploded again.
[That's what I'm talking about. Arabella takes down anyone. If you make her mad, you're done for.]
Reading the comment, I clenched my fists.
Since we both lost our mothers, I always felt sympathy for Arabella.
When she wouldn't let me have the master bedroom, I just quietly moved into the guest room downstairs.
When the Winter family didn't want to announce my status, I agreed to call off the wedding.
Whenever I bought fruit, I'd always choose her favorites.
I used to think that once Arabella got past her turbulent teenage years, we'd finally be able to live in peace.
But looking at things now, I realized that was just me fooling myself.
Arabella wouldn't accept my baby or me.
Thinking about that, I slipped the pregnancy test report out of my pocket and slid it under the tap.
I turned on the faucet, watching the words vanish as the paper dissolved into soggy scraps.
"Hey, are you done with your little act yet?" Arabella called out. She stood up and strolled over to me, taking her sweet time. "Stop playing the victim. I can't stand that act.
"And another thing? Weren't you just at the hospital? So, you're pregnant, huh?"
Oliver's head snapped up as he shot me a sharp look.
Something flashed in his eyes, but he stayed right where he was, just watching as Arabella came at me, step by step.
Arabella looked totally unfazed as she just grabbed a kitchen knife like it was nothing, her fingers running along the blade.
She shot me a grin. "Smells like you just came from the hospital. So, what did the doc say?"
The live chat was getting hyped again.
[Go, Arabella. Take out Amelia and the roadblock in her belly. Do it now.]
[She has brains and savage moves. This is why I stan our villainess queen.]