Playing the Victim to Ruin My Stepsister

I’ve always been a coward—submissive on the outside, but fiercely proud on the inside. My adoptive parents sold me to a creepy old hillbilly in our run-down mountain town for fifty thousand dollars. And all I did was argue the price up to seventy thousand. On the day I was supposed to be shipped off, someone grabbed me and shoved me into the back of a black SUV. I didn’t even fight back. I just curled up in the corner and quietly asked the driver to turn up the AC. It wasn't until I arrived at a massive estate that I realized the truth: I was actually the kidnapped biological daughter of a billionaire family. My biological parents warned me more than once that I must never make Chloe, their adopted daughter, angry. But then, I heard Chloe’s inner thoughts: *“I’m going to fake a fall down the stairs in a minute and blame it on this country bumpkin! With everyone watching, she won't be able to deny it.”* I was so terrified that my parents would hate me even more, so I beat her to it—and threw myself down the stairs first. At my welcome-home party, Chloe’s inner voice rang in my head again: *“Look at this loser. She drenched herself in my perfume, but she still reeks of poverty. So gross.”* Maybe it was my deep, toxic insecurity playing tricks on me. I didn't say a word. I just walked over and jumped straight into the garden pond. In my past life, Chloe tortured me to death. So in this life, I do everything she says. I never make her angry. But once my parents started hearing Chloe's true thoughts, they regretted everything. But that’s not enough. I want Chloe to experience exactly what I did—sleeping and eating in a filthy pigpen. *** On the ride to our estate, my parents warned me more than once: do not make Chloe angry. When I met my adopted sister for the first time, she grabbed my hands warmly, her face lighting up with a sweet smile. "Oh my gosh, you must be Nora! You’re so pretty! Look at those beautiful big eyes!" But in my mind, her real thoughts screamed loud and clear: *“Ugh, what a disgusting country bumpkin. What kind of miracle did your ancestors pull to let a peasant like you step into the Foster mansion?”* *“But so what if you’re here? I have a million ways to kick you out. Everything in this family belongs to me, and me alone.”* The smile on her face twisted with a hint of malice. *“I’ll just fake a fall down the stairs in a minute and blame it on this loser. Everyone will see it, and she won’t be able to deny a thing. Mom and Dad love me so much, they’ll definitely throw this trash out for me!”* Once her thoughts faded, she pointed upstairs. "Nora, it's your first time home, so you probably don’t know where your room is. Let me show you around!" In my past life, I actually believed her. I thought she genuinely wanted to be a good sister to me. But that belief only made my parents and brother despise me. My brother, Julian, darkened his face and spoke in a cold, harsh tone. "Nora, are you deaf? Didn't you hear Chloe talking to you?" "I’m warning you. As long as I’m in this house, you will never, ever bully Chloe." Living this life over again, hearing Julian say those words still stung. I just nodded obediently and followed Chloe up the stairs. As we reached the landing of the staircase, she suddenly stopped. She turned around, looking at me with a sinister, hateful glare. "You're just a charity case. How did you get so lucky to even breathe the same air as us?" "Oh, Mom and Dad love me most. What do you think they’ll do if I tell them you pushed me down the stairs? Will they... throw you out?" With that, she started drifting her steps toward the edge of the stairs. I was so "terrified" of her getting hurt, so I grabbed her arm like a clumsy, anxious coward. "Chloe, I know you don't like me, but you shouldn't risk your own safety." Before she could react, I gathered all my courage, threw my weight backward, and tumbled violently down the long flight of stairs. Before I blacked out, I caught the absolute terror on Chloe’s face. *“No... this is wrong! It wasn’t like this in the past life...”* Yes, she was right. It wasn't like this in my past life. In my past life, Chloe was the one who fell, and she pinned the blame entirely on me. My parents made me kneel outside the mansion doors in the freezing rain until Chloe was fully recovered and discharged from the hospital... Back then, I begged for Chloe's forgiveness over and over, but it only brought me more brutal, inhuman torture. ***When I woke up again, my mother, Eleanor, was sitting by my bedside, her eyes red and swollen from crying. In my past life, I had never seen her shed a single tear for me, not even when I was dying. "Mom, I'm okay. I know my sudden return made Chloe upset..." "I get it. I’m just a girl from the backwoods. You, Dad, and Julian only love Chloe. I’ll leave. As long as I go, Chloe won't be angry anymore." Eleanor sobbed, wiping the tears from my face, her voice trembling with guilt and confusion. "Nora, you are my daughter, but Chloe is too... Both of you are my flesh and blood. I... I can't bear to lose either of you." So she was crying because she was terrified Chloe would be blamed. When we pulled up to the house earlier, Chloe was nowhere to be seen. As expected, my parents only ever cared about Chloe. When Chloe got hurt in the past life, I was forced to kneel for half a month. But now that I was the one injured, Chloe didn't receive a single reprimand... Suddenly, a heavy, choking smell of gas filled the hallway. Julian rushed past us, screaming Chloe’s name at the top of his lungs. My parents immediately abandoned me, leaving me limping by the door as they dashed inside. Julian carried an unconscious Chloe out in his arms. The look he gave me was so full of rage, it felt like he wanted to tear me apart. The second Chloe woke up, she began sobbing to my parents and Julian, claiming I had thrown myself down the stairs just to frame her. "Mom, Dad, please believe me! I didn't push her. She jumped on her own!" I let my tears build up, then slowly, painfully, limped over to Chloe's bed. I dropped my crutches. With a loud *thud*, I fell to my knees right in front of her. Everyone in the room stared at me in shock. "Chloe, I'm sorry. But I have nowhere else to go." "My adoptive parents locked me in a pigpen. I had to eat and sleep with the pigs. They were going to sell me to a disgusting old man..." The pity in Eleanor’s eyes deepened. But before she could speak, Julian cut her off. "Nora, what is wrong with you? You threw yourself down the stairs just to frame Chloe? Chloe is sweet and kind, so she’s not pressing charges, but I’m not some soft target. If you ever try to hurt Chloe again, I will make you pay." "Don't think squeezing out a few tears will make me feel sorry for you." "Let me make this clear. In this house, I only have one sister, and that’s Chloe. Even if you cry yourself to death here, it won't change a thing." Chloe sobbed softly, but her inner thoughts were vicious: *“You dirty peasant, you belong in a pigpen. Even that old hillbilly is out of your league.”* Was my submissive act really not enough to change my tragic fate? Chloe sat on the bed, whimpering. "Nora, even if you had a hard time, you shouldn't have lied and blamed me!" Hearing this, the pity in Eleanor’s eyes vanished completely. The night before my official welcome-home gala, Chloe, accompanied by Julian, brought a dress to my room. She sat on the edge of my bed, her face bright and smiling like a flower. "I was wrong in the past, Nora. Can you forgive me?" "After tomorrow’s gala, we will be real sisters!" But beneath that beautiful smile was nothing but pure hatred. *“I don’t know what Mom and Dad were thinking, keeping a stray dog like you around. It's bad luck.”* *“But thank god Julian still protects me. Nora, don't even dream of stealing what's mine.”* ***The welcome-home gala was a private, high-society affair, held right at our estate. I hid in the shadows, watching Chloe mingle effortlessly with the wealthy heiresses. A deep, familiar sense of inferiority washed over me. Whether in my past life or this one, I could never wash away the insecurity carved into my bones... Chloe stood by the garden pond, waving at me enthusiastically, calling me over to join them. I hesitated for a long time before slowly walking over. I held the hem of my cheap dress, keeping my head down, trying to make myself invisible. Chloe looked me up and down, then handed me a glass of champagne. *“A peasant is a peasant. Her skin must be made of leather. That incredibly cheap, itchy knock-off dress doesn't even seem to bother her.”* I looked down at my dress. I didn't know anything about designer fakes; I had truly believed it was a nice gown. I awkwardly took the champagne glass, which immediately drew snickers from the girls around us. "Hahaha! Look at her, she doesn't even know how to hold a champagne glass!" "Chloe, is this country bumpkin really your sister?" "If you don't fit in, don't force it, okay? Watch closely, I'm only showing you once." Chloe watched them mock me from her high horse. My face burned with intense humiliation. Chloe's inner voice sneered: *“Heh, you useless piece of trash. You can't even hold a glass right. You deserve to die by my hands.”* A gentle breeze blew past. Chloe, standing next to me, suddenly pinched her nose in disgust. "What is that smell? Why is it so bad? Nora, did you even shower? It’s so strong I can barely open my eyes!" The other girls joined in the mockery. I felt like a monkey in a zoo, paralyzed with shame. *“Loser. She sprayed so much of my perfume, but she still can't cover up that cheap, filthy stench of poverty. Disgusting.”* Her words pushed my fragile self-esteem over the edge. I wanted nothing more than to disappear into the ground. "What are you waiting for? Do you expect our princess Chloe to wash you herself?" one girl sneered, glancing toward the pond behind me. Driven by sheer humiliation, I put down my glass and threw myself straight into the deep water of the pond. I didn't struggle. I let the cold water swallow me whole. Chloe's thoughts screamed in delight: *“Yes! Just like that! Stay down there! Die in there!”* As suffocation took over, I thought I was finally free. But then, someone dragged me out. The guests looked on with cold, detached amusement. The only person panicking was our private family doctor. If I died here, his career would be over. Chloe’s venomous thoughts pierced my ears again: *“Damn it, why didn't you just drown, you cockroach?”* Through my blurry vision, I saw the frustration on Chloe's face. And... The brief worry on Eleanor's face. The utter coldness in Julian's eyes. The disgust on my father, Robert's, face. And the mocking amusement of the crowd. Mom, do you really love me? Or... is it all just a show? When I finally regained consciousness, the room was empty. As expected, I was entirely invisible in this house. My eyes fell upon the mud-stained dress on the floor. "What a waste. It was such a pretty dress." I stood up, opened the closet, and pulled out one of my old, worn-out outfits from the mountains—the only decent-looking one I had. The moment I stepped downstairs, the joyful laughter of the family of four instantly died. They looked at me with immediate disgust. Robert frowned. "Did we not give you money? Or clothes? What are you wearing? Who are you trying to gross out?" "You smell like a barn. Don't tell anyone you're a Foster." No... I had washed these clothes more than ten times. There was no smell left... Before I could explain, Chloe spoke up first. "Dad, Mom, please don't blame yourselves. I spent the two million dollars you gave to Nora..." "It’s my fault. I didn't guide her properly. I let her get obsessed with vanity." Eleanor looked confused. "Chloe, what are you talking about?" Chloe looked incredibly guilty. "Mom, Nora asked me to buy her a dress with that two million... the one she wore to the gala today... What a shame it's ruined..." "It’s all my fault. I shouldn't have spoiled her." She sobbed. But her inner thoughts were laughing hysterically: *“Stupid girl. You couldn't even tell the dress was a fake. Go ahead, get angry! That two million is mine now!”* Before I could speak, Julian's hand swung across my face. A sharp, stinging slap landed on my cheek. "We didn't care that you came from the gutter. Letting you live here was already a massive blessing. How could you do something so shameless?" "That’s two million dollars! Do you think it grows on trees? Our family's money is earned through hard work, not blown in by the wind." But I knew the designer bag Chloe was holding cost way more than two million... And she had never mentioned any two million dollars to me, in this life or the last. I had no way to defend myself. I turned to leave, but Robert barked at me. "Where do you think you're going? You ruined the gala. You’ve been home for weeks and you haven't even formally greeted your parents yet!" "Mrs. Gable, bring the tea." The moment I tried to sit on the couch, Julian yanked me up. Julian glared at me like I was his worst enemy. "Who said you could sit? You reek of pigs. Don't ruin my multi-million-dollar sofa." "We couldn't even get enough selling you to pay for it." I didn't argue. I just obediently walked over and stood near the maid. Seeing my submissive silence, Julian actually looked a bit lost. Mrs. Gable brought out four cups of tea and laid a small rug by the sofa. Julian kicked the rug away aggressively. "She’s not some delicate princess. She doesn't need a rug." "The Foster family is prestigious in this city. If you want to be part of this family, you need to show some real respect." He pressured me with his eyes, forcing me to kneel. And of course, being the "coward" I was, I did. The moment my knees hit the hard floor, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. I picked up a cup of hot tea and held it up to Robert. But the word "Dad" stuck in my throat. I couldn't say it. Robert’s brow furrowed. "And? Are you mute?" "A wild street rat indeed. No manners whatsoever." "Who am I? You're serving me tea, shouldn't you call me something?" Eleanor had tears in her eyes as she whispered, "Nora, call him Dad..." Julian stepped forward and kicked the hot tea out of my hands. The boiling liquid splashed all over my hands, instantly turning my skin bright red. Julian roared, "If you don't want to be here, then get the hell out!" "The Foster family has no room for an ungrateful, disrespectful brat like you." Chloe looked down at me like a victorious queen. Her thoughts echoed in my mind. *“Finally! Julian is kicking her out! Once she’s gone, no one will ever take what’s mine again!”* Holding back the pain, I limped upstairs, packed my few ragged clothes into a bag, and prepared to leave. As I crossed the living room, Eleanor called out, "Nora, where are you going?" I curled my lips into a bitter, self-deprecating smile. "Back to where I came from." Robert slammed his hand on the table, standing up. "Nora! You have Foster blood in your veins! How can you just walk away?" Chloe was throwing a party in her mind: *“Yes! Go! Go back to your dirty pigpen, you trash! All my planning paid off!”* But in that exact moment, my parents and Julian froze. A look of absolute shock washed over their faces. Finally. The time had come. My dear parents, my dear brother... This is the daughter you have spoiled for twenty years. ***Tears streamed down my face. I sobbed, questioning them in despair. "What else do you want from me?" "You told me to always listen to Chloe. I did." "Chloe wanted to fall down the stairs to frame me. To keep her from getting hurt, I threw myself down instead." "But you called it my pathetic little trick." Their faces turned pale, shifting through a dozen different emotions. I kept going, "Chloe said I smelled, so I jumped into the pond to wash myself. But you said I embarrassed the family." "Now that I’m leaving, you won't let me go." "What do I have to do to make you happy? Do I have to die for you to finally let me go?" With her schemes suddenly exposed, a flash of panic crossed Chloe's face. But she quickly recovered. She dropped gracefully to her knees, looking innocent and deeply hurt. "Mom, Dad, Julian... I never said those things. Nora, why are you lying and accusing me?" But her mind was screaming: *“Give up, Nora! All I have to do is cry a little, and they will always take my side! You will never beat me, in this life or the last!”* My parents looked incredibly unsettled, their eyes darting between Chloe and me. Chloe began to cry on cue. "Mom, Dad, you are my only family. If even you don't believe me, I don't know what to do..." "If you don't want me here, I... I’ll leave. I won't get in the way of your family reunion." She turned and ran out of the villa. Julian chased after her like a madman. Before he left, he threw a glare at me. "If anything happens to Chloe, I will never forgive you." I let out a cold sneer in my mind. Threaten me all you want. My goal had already been reached. Besides, Chloe would never actually give up this life of luxury. Eleanor pulled me back to my room. She grabbed my bag of ragged clothes and threw them straight into the trash can. With tears in her eyes, her trembling hand reached out to touch my face. Before she could, I flinched violently, covering my face, and dropped to my knees on the floor. "I’m sorry! I was wrong! Please don't hit me... I’ll call you!" With trembling lips, I cried out, "Mom! Mom! Please don't hit me!" Seeing me like this, Eleanor broke down. She knelt in front of me, pulling me tightly into her arms, rocking me gently. "Oh, baby, it's okay. No one is going to hurt you ever again." "I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I let you suffer so much. Don't worry, your dad has already sent people to investigate. We will get justice for you. We will put those monsters in prison." I curled up in her arms and pretended to fall asleep. ***