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Written by: Francoise
Chapter 1
Rebecca had been running and hiding since what seemed a lifetime. She was dirty, hungry and tired, but she dared not thinking of a warm shower, a hot meal and a comfortable bed, otherwise, she would turn crazy. All that because of her wicked stepmother! The entire story came back to Rebecca's mind, once again...
"...May his soul rest in the peace of the Lord. Amen." That was the conclusion of Rebecca's father's funeral. She was 18 years old and she had lost the only person in the world who really cared for her. Her mother had died shortly after Rebecca's birth. Her father, Nathan, got married again when she was 10. After a decade spent alone with his child, whom he loved of course, he needed a woman in his life, and he thought that Rebecca needed a mother. A beautiful woman named Edith had seduced him. At first, the young stepmother was happy to take care of the child. But after a few weeks, she put her aside like a little girl who's tired to play doll. She considered Rebecca as an annoyance, even as a rival; she wanted to be the center of attention, the only person in her husband's life and the most beautiful woman in the eyes of everybody. Nathan realized how selfish his wife was, but despite everything, he was attached to her. Sometimes, the man would look at his little girl and say: "I'm so sorry, little Snow White." He used to call her that name because of the fair tone of her skin contrasting with her ebony black hair.
When Rebecca was 18, her father died, and a few weeks later, her stepmother came home with a man in his twenties:
- Rebecca, meet Vince, my friend.
Vince was handsome and he knew it. Rebecca didn't like the concupiscence in his eyes, when he looked at her. Edith had noticed it, too, and she started to hate her stepdaughter. She was jealous of her. Edith was a beautiful woman, but Rebecca was more beautiful than her. And Edith knew it. That's why she preferred to meet Vince at his place. She didn't have any confidence in Rebecca who was so modest and she confided in Vince who had the justified reputation of a woman-chaser.
One day, Edith announced:
- Vince has lost his job. He cannot pay his rent, so he will come to live with us. And don't try to tease him, or else..!
- I'm not interested in Vince! I already told you! By the way, why don't you let me go to live with my grandparents?
Edith refused, saying that Rebecca was under her responsibility. The truth is, as the poor teen had to do all the chores in the house, Edith did not want to lose her maid.
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