Chapter 1
Ava
"Ava!"
My eyes snapped open.
The harsh voice of my stepmother echoed through the house before dawn had even broken.
"I know you're not still in bed!"
I groaned and sat up, rubbing my eyes. The old alarm clock beside my bed read 5:12 a.m.
Five.
Twelve.
Who wakes people up at five in the morning on purpose?
The answer was simple.
My stepmother.
"Coming!" I called.
"Hurry up! The laundry isn't going to wash itself!"
I clenched my jaw.
Of course it wasn't.
I climbed out of my narrow bed and pulled on an oversized sweatshirt before heading downstairs.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee greeted me.
So did the sight that ruined my mood.
My stepsister, Vanessa, sat comfortably at the kitchen island scrolling through her phone while eating pancakes.
Pancakes.
Meanwhile, I hadn't even brushed my teeth yet.
"Morning," I muttered.
Vanessa barely looked up.
My stepmother, Carla, folded her arms.
"The laundry basket is overflowing."
I stared.
There were enough clothes in there to outfit an entire football team.
"You want all of them done?"
Carla raised an eyebrow.
"Do I need to repeat myself?"
"No."
"Good."
I bit back my response.
Arguing never worked.
Ever since my father died three years ago, Carla had made it very clear where I stood in this house.
At the bottom.
Far below her precious daughter.
The washing machine ran nonstop for nearly two hours.
By the time I finished hanging clothes outside, my hands were freezing and my legs ached.
I checked my phone.
8:21 a.m.
My first lecture started at eight-thirty.
My stomach dropped.
"No. No. No."
I sprinted back inside.
"I have class!"
Carla didn't even look up from her magazine.
"And?"
"And I'm late!"
"Sounds like a personal problem."
I stared at her.
Vanessa laughed.
A loud engine suddenly echoed outside.
I glanced through the window.
A sleek black luxury car rolled into the driveway.
Of course.
Vanessa jumped excitedly from her chair.
"My ride is here!"
I watched her grab her designer handbag and rush outside.
The driver immediately opened the door for her.
She climbed inside like some kind of celebrity.
The car disappeared seconds later.
Leaving me standing there.
Carla finally looked at me.
"Why are you still here?"
I almost laughed.
Because unlike your daughter, I don't have a luxury car waiting for me outside.
Instead, I had worn-out sneakers and a twenty-five-minute walk.
I grabbed my backpack.
"Have a wonderful day," Carla said sweetly.
The fake smile on her face nearly made me choke.
I slammed the door behind me.
The autumn air hit my face immediately.
Leaves danced across the sidewalk as students rushed toward campus.
Most were laughing with friends.
Some were riding bikes.
Others climbed out of expensive cars.
Meanwhile, I was speed-walking while trying not to think about the fact that I hadn't eaten breakfast.
Story of my life.
My scholarship was the only reason I could attend Brookfield University.
Without it, college would've remained nothing more than a dream.
Which meant no matter how hard things got, quitting wasn't an option.
I adjusted my backpack and picked up my pace.
One day, things would be different.
One day, I'd graduate.
One day, I'd have my own apartment.
My own life.
Nobody ordering me around.
Nobody treating me like I was unwanted.
Nobody deciding my worth.
For now, though, I just needed to survive another day.
And somehow make it to class before Professor Henderson locked the door.
Again. 🖤📖
