The Annoying Stepmom

My physics teacher held up my test paper with an 18-point score in front of all the students and parents and said, “Students like this are hopeless. I don’t even know how someone like this passed the high school entrance exam.

“I didn’t think there was a way to cheat on the high school entrance exam, but it turns out there is. It gives people like this a chance to cheat.”

He did not just insult my intelligence but also questioned my character and family. “Well, it’s not surprising. Only a junk-collecting family could raise a kid like this.”

I curled up in my seat, too scared to say anything. But my stepmom could not stand it anymore. She smacked the chalk box off his desk, pointed at him, and yelled, “Who do you think you’re talking about?!

“I send my kid to school and pay all the tuition and book fees! How did it turn into us being a junk-collecting family?!

“You can’t even teach properly, and I haven’t called you out for it! Have you no shame?! You don’t deserve to be called a teacher! You’re just a piece of trash!”

For some reason, she suddenly seemed imposing and heroic to me.

During the summer of my eighth grade, my dad got me a stepmom.

He was 42 years old, and the woman was four years older than him.

They did not register their marriage or have a wedding. One day, out of nowhere, that woman suddenly showed up in our house.

Just like that, she entered the place I had lived in for all my fourteen years without any warning.

When I saw this chubby, dark-skinned woman, I felt nothing but disgust and dislike.

My dad, however, was beaming. He pulled me over, ignored my confusion and reluctance, and said excitedly, “She’s Scarlett. You’ve met her before at dinner. She’s going to be your mom now.”

She wore a loose cardigan that hung over her large frame.

After hearing my dad’s words, she gave me a fake smile. “Pearl, do you remember me? We had dinner together once with your dad and your godfather.”

I did remember. Her name was Scarlett Campbell.

I also remembered that before my godfather died, she was his mistress.

My godfather already had a wife and kids. She was the homewrecker who had forced her way into their happy family.

Right after my godfather passed away, she latched onto my dad.

When I did not say anything, my dad shoved me hard. He said with annoyance, “Call her Mom! What are you standing there for? Is this how I raised you? You ungrateful brat!”

I sneered inwardly.

She was not my mom. I already had a mom.

Scarlett quietly stepped closer. Her strong perfume hit me and made me feel dizzy.

She acted all understanding and said, “It doesn’t matter what she calls me. She’s still young. It must be hard for her to change how she addresses me so suddenly.”

Then, she pulled a square box from her purse and handed it to me.

She said, “This is a gift for you. Take it.”

She gave me a phone. It was the latest model. It was expensive and cost over 4,000 dollars.

The shiny phone seemed to sparkle, and I could not take my eyes off it.

My eyes, my head, and even my hands were out of control.

So, I shamefully accepted her gift.

And in return, I called her “Stepmom.”

My dad relaxed, and Scarlett turned to him with a smug smile.