Chương 1: Chapter One: Sophie’s Miserable Life
Sophie Reynolds stood in the kitchen, her hands red and raw from scrubbing the pile of dishes that never seemed to end. The midday sun streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over the lavish house, but it did nothing to ease the chill that settled deep within her bones. The house was beautiful—marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and elegant furniture—but to Sophie, it felt more like a prison.
She glanced at the clock on the wall. It was well past lunchtime, but she hadn't eaten. Vanessa and her mother, Clarissa, had finished their meals earlier, leaving the plates and scraps for Sophie to clean up, as usual. Her stomach growled, but she ignored it, focusing instead on the task at hand. She had learned long ago that complaining would only make things worse.
The sound of high heels clicking against the polished floor made Sophie tense. Vanessa strutted into the kitchen, her expensive designer dress clinging perfectly to her slim figure. She looked like a model straight out of a magazine—beautiful, poised, and utterly cruel.
"You missed a spot," Vanessa said, her voice dripping with disdain as she pointed to an invisible speck on a dish Sophie had just cleaned. "Are you blind, or just plain stupid?
"Sophie bit her lip, fighting back the retort that burned on the tip of her tongue. She had learned to swallow her pride, to endure the insults without complaint. It was easier that way, safer. Vanessa's wrath was something she had come to fear more than anything.
"I'm sorry, I'll clean it again," Sophie said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. She picked up the dish and started scrubbing it once more, even though it was already spotless.
"Sorry? You're always sorry," Vanessa sneered, crossing her arms as she watched Sophie with a look of pure contempt. "Pathetic. No wonder Dad left you behind. You're useless. A worthless burden we have to carry.
"Sophie's heart sank at the familiar sting of Vanessa's words. They cut deeper than any physical blow ever could. She kept her eyes on the sink, her vision blurring as tears threatened to spill. But she refused to cry in front of Vanessa. She wouldn't give her the satisfaction.
Just then, Clarissa entered the room, her expensive perfume trailing behind her. With a glass of wine in hand, she looked every bit the wealthy socialite, but Sophie knew better. Beneath the polished exterior was a woman who thrived on cruelty, especially when it came to her stepdaughter.
"Still not done with the dishes?" Clarissa's voice was sharp, each word a lash against Sophie's already bruised spirit. "Do you enjoy being useless, Sophie? Or are you just trying to find new ways to make yourself even more pathetic?
"Sophie opened her mouth to respond, but Clarissa held up a manicured hand, silencing her.
"Don't even bother. You know what? I think you like being treated this way. Why else would you stay here when you're so unwanted?
"Sophie's cheeks burned with humiliation. She wanted to scream that it wasn't true, that she didn't want to be here, that she had nowhere else to go. But the words stuck in her throat, blocked by years of swallowing her pain. She was trapped in this house, bound by her father's absence and the cruelty of her stepfamily.
Vanessa sauntered over, picking up a slice of bread from the counter and taking a delicate bite. "You know, Mom," she said, her tone laced with mockery, "maybe if Sophie put half as much effort into her looks as she does into scrubbing dishes, she wouldn't be such an eyesore. No wonder no one wants her.
"Clarissa laughed, a harsh, grating sound that made Sophie flinch. "Vanessa, be kind. It's not her fault she's so plain and unremarkable. Some people are just destined to live in the shadows.
"Sophie's hands trembled as she continued washing the dishes, their laughter ringing in her ears. She wished she could disappear, wished she could be anywhere but here, trapped in a life where she was nothing more than a servant to her own family. They treated her like she was invisible, like her only purpose was to be at their beck and call.
But the worst part wasn't the insults or the chores; it was the constant reminder that she didn't belong. Vanessa and Clarissa never missed an opportunity to remind her that she was an outsider, a burden they were forced to endure. Her father's absence only made it worse—he was the only one who had ever shown her kindness, and without him,
Sophie felt completely and utterly alone.
Clarissa took a sip of her wine, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Sophie. "You know, if your mother were still alive, she'd be so disappointed in you. I bet she's rolling in her grave, watching you waste away like this.
"Sophie's grip tightened on the dishcloth, her knuckles turning white. She hated when Clarissa mentioned her mother, using her memory as a weapon to hurt her. Her mother had been the light of her life, the one person who had loved her unconditionally, and now her memory was just another tool for Clarissa's cruelty.
Vanessa threw the half-eaten slice of bread onto the counter, crumbs scattering everywhere. "Clean that up," she ordered, turning on her heel and striding out of the kitchen. Clarissa followed, leaving Sophie alone in the mess they had created.
Sophie stared at the crumbs, feeling the weight of her misery settle over her like a suffocating blanket. She swept the crumbs into her hand, the motion mechanical, devoid of feeling. Every day was the same—a relentless cycle of insults, chores, and loneliness. She was trapped in a life that wasn't hers, a life where she was nothing more than a shadow in her own home.
As Sophie finished cleaning, she glanced out the window, watching the sun dip below the horizon. She dreamed of a fresh start, far away from the cruelty of her stepmother and sister. But that dream felt so distant, so impossible.
Yet, despite the despair that threatened to consume her, there was a small, stubborn part of Sophie that refused to give up. She clung to the hope that one day, something—anything—would happen to change her circumstances. She prayed for a fresh beginning, a chance to break free from the chains that bound her.
Little did Sophie know that her prayers were about to be answered, but not in the way she had ever imagined. Soon, her life would take a turn that would lead her far from the world she had known, thrusting her into a marriage she never wanted with a man whose reputation was
as fearsome as the life she longed to escape.
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