Love or Hate

Chapter 3

The morning sun fills Clarissa’s room, decorating it with golden rays. Turning to the left side of the bed, Clarissa lies ungracefully, a small puddle of drool on her pillow. One would say it’s unladylike.

Her alarm goes off, drawing a groan from her lips. She sits up groggily, stretches with an exaggerated yawn, and unsteadily walks to the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, she’s ready. Twirling in front of the mirror, her green sundress glows brightly against her silver hair. She sighs softly. If there’s one thing she’s proud of, it’s her hair silver like her mother’s. Her father’s is blonde. Jealous people often whisper that it’s some kind of deficiency, but she doesn’t care.

Humming to herself, she slips quietly out of her room, careful not to make noise. In the kitchen, she ties her hair into a messy bun, washes her hands, and gets to work.

Clarissa’s POV

I pull out everything I need for baking, smiling to myself. This is going to turn out great for sure.

Stretching my neck from side to side, I get to work. A few minutes later, the warm scent of freshly baked bread and cakes fills the air. The dining table looks beautiful golden loaves, soft cakes, and scrambled eggs steaming in a bowl.

Just as I finish setting the table, Father walks in face twisted with fury.

Worried, I ask softly, “Is everything okay, Fath...”

He cuts me off sharply, eyes blazing.

“You useless child! Do you have any idea what you’ve cost me?”

I step back. “What do you mean, Father?”

“Oh, now I’m your father?” he spits.

“Of course you..”

“Shut up!” he roars.

The sound shakes me. I shrink back instinctively. If the ground would open now, I’d gladly jump in.

He stalks toward me, and before I can move, his hand closes around my neck tight. My breath catches. Panic floods my chest. I claw at his hands, gasping for air, but none comes.

“Because of you,” he growls, tightening his grip, “I’ve lost my entire life’s investment, Everything has gone down the drain!”

My vision blurs. Tears pour freely down my cheeks as my lungs scream for air. I can barely manage to choke out, “D… Dad, p-please…”

Black spots dance in my vision. My body grows heavy just as he suddenly lets go. I fall to the floor, wheezing, dragging air into my burning lungs. Crawling backward, I whisper, hoarse and trembling, “W-what have you become...a monster..?”

“It’s all over the news,” he shouts, pointing at me. “Addam’s Tech Co. Is going down the drain all because of you!”

Ruby and Pearl descend the stairs, eyes gleaming with curiosity. Oh, how they love the drama.

Pearl snatches a slice of bread and munches it lazily, her eyes glued to the chaos.

“I… I didn’t do anything, Father,” I sob, rubbing my neck.

“What’s going on here, my love?” Ruby asks sweetly, pretending to care. She slips her hand around Father’s arm, eyes glinting with false pity as she glances at me.

“She’s the reason we’re about to lose everything!” Father growls, still pointing. “We’ll be poor all thanks to this witch and her friend!”

“What!?” Ruby gasps, her face twisting in disbelief. “That can’t be happening!”

Pearl slams her hands on the table. “I told you, Dad! She’s bad news look at what she’s done!” she whines, stomping her foot.

I remain frozen on the floor, my heart aching. They’re blaming me… for something I didn’t do.

Sniffling, I push myself to my feet, eyes lowered. “N.nothing I ever do is enough for you. You hate me so much that you can’t even stand me. You want to marry me off to your business associate just to get rid of me.”

My voice wavers but grows stronger. “Why not Pearl? Why me? I’m your daughter too! Don’t I deserve happiness… love..”

A sharp crack cuts her off. Ruby’s palm connects with her cheek.

“You cause trouble and then play the victim,” Ruby hisses coldly. “How shameless. I just hope you’re ready for whatever consequences await you.”

She turns and walks away, holding Mr. Kevin’s arm possessively, while Pearl chuckles and continues stuffing her face with scrambled eggs.

Clarissa stands trembling, the sting of the slap burning on her cheek the warmth of the morning sun now feels cold. Pearl snickers to herself as she walks away with a plate of scrambled eggs and bread.

In the safety of her room Clarrisa breaks down in tears, hands trembling as she stares at herself in the mirror. At first it was all good and now this, why was she so scared that she couldn’t stand up for herself. It’s not hard, just defend yourself, in times like this, she wishes Mel is around, Oh she envies Melinda, how strong willed she was. She would not take this, instead she would retaliate. No one can control Melinda, wiping her face she takes a good look at herself on the mirror. She recalls the words her dearest mother said to her before passing;

“ My lovely rose, the world is cruel to soft hearted people who cannot fight for themselves. Sometimes you need to be selfish or else you’ll have it all wrong, there should not be a “Them in front of You”.”

A confused Clarrisa stared at her mother who smiled lovingly at her, pecking her forehead. “When it’s time you will understand, for now be you”.

Maybe her mother knew this would happen when she leaves and she was trying to protect her from this cruelty. Maybe it does not have to be now she thinks to herself, one day she will be able to defend herself without needing and help. Then and only then will things fall in place for her, for now all she has to do is survive her family after all ever since her Mother died she has been surviving this family and whatever life tosses in her direction without complaining. All she needs is a little bit more time and patience and maybe a few lessons from Melinda, she chuckles at the thought of that.