Chapter 2Mother Dearest

Seeing the whole room on her side, Mom cried even louder.

"I put my heart and soul into thinking for her! I was afraid she'd suffer! How did it become malicious? I'm so wronged!"

Her shoulders shook, sobbing uncontrollably like a child.

My sister glared at me. "You're plain, you have nothing. Mom is worried you're being played. Isn't that normal?"

"But you? You turn around and bite her, saying she has selfish motives. She's your biological mother! What selfish motives could she have?"

"She knows best what motives she has!"

I looked at them coldly.

"When you two went behind my back to reject the engagement, do you dare tell everyone what you said to Mrs. Higgins?"

Mom and my sister froze simultaneously.

They exchanged a panicked look, faces turning pale instantly.

"What? Did you forget so quickly? Or are you too ashamed to say it?"

That day, they told Mrs. Higgins that I decided to break up with Liam because of my "inferiority complex." They begged her to pass the message.

And at the same time, they hoped she could introduce my sister, Bella, to Liam instead. Because they felt Bella and Liam were a better match.

To suck up to Mrs. Higgins, Mom even gave her a pearl necklace and told her to keep it quiet.

After getting home, the two of them took turns trying to convince me to date the guy who runs the fried food stand on the corner, saying he was appropriate for me.

I almost went crazy those few days.

Finally, Mrs. Higgins felt something was off and called me to verify. That's when I knew I had been stabbed in the back.

My own mother tried to break me up with my boyfriend just so her favorite daughter could replace me!

I took out my phone and played the recording of my call with Mrs. Higgins.

Listening to it, my eyes turned red.

"Mom, Bella is your daughter. Am I not? Why do you treat me like this?"

Since childhood, I was more sensible and obedient than Bella.

Mom clenched her fists, glaring at me with hatred, like she wanted to eat me.

My cousin stood up first to defend me.

"Aunt Carol, that's too biased! Lily found a great guy. Shouldn't you be happy for her?"

"And Bella? She can't find a husband so she has to steal her sister's boyfriend? That's so low!"

She spoke fast, looking indignant.

Uncle Bob glared at my cousin. "Shut up! It's not your turn to speak!"

He turned to me. "I met Liam once. He's a good catch. Maybe your mom felt you two weren't a match and feared you'd break up, so she wanted to keep him in the family. She did it so the family wouldn't lose out."

Aunt Karen nodded. "Your uncle is right. You can't fully blame your mom. Bella is better than you. She's taller, prettier, and went to a better college. These are facts. You can't deny them."

"So?" I trembled, almost crying from rage. "So I should willingly give up my boyfriend and go date the fry cook?"

What kind of bandit logic was this?

Uncle Bob looked impatient.

"That's enough. You and Liam haven't broken up, have you? You're about to get engaged. Why hold onto this?"

"Yes, your mom is a bit biased. But she didn't want to lose a good son-in-law. She did it for the family."

Aunt Karen rolled her eyes at me. "Anyone can complain about your mom except you. She almost bled to death giving birth to you. You can never repay that debt!"