The Daughter My Mother Hated

It had been seven years since I cut ties with my mother, and we ran into each other in a high-end department store.
I was the mistressthe other womangetting slapped and nearly stripped in public.
She was the wealthy socialite I desperately grabbed, clinging to her like a lifeline.
Call the police for me. I don't know her husband...
I fought to keep the last scrap of fabric covering me, pleading with her for help.
The response was a stinging slap that landed harder than any the original wife had delivered, followed by her icy accusation:
"Sienna Reed. Seven years ago, you seduced your best friends boyfriend, and now youre throwing yourself at a married man for money? Are you really this irredeemable?"
She turned and marched into a nearby boutique, emerging with ten designer bags, which she tossed onto me.
"Apologize to this woman, the wife. Swear youll never sleep with another married man! Then I'll let you be a Sinclair again!"
I looked up, meeting her gaze, filled with undisguised disgust and disappointment. I swallowed the metallic tang of bile rising in my throat and articulated every word carefully:
"I didn't do anything wrong."
Not seven years ago, and certainly not today.
As for the Sinclair name, I hadn't wanted it for a long time...
1
My defiance earned me another blow.
It was heavier, more vicious than the slaps from the woman claiming to be the wife.
My ears rang, and my mouth filled with the taste of rust and blood.
Yet, I heard my mothers voice, sharp with frost:
"You don't apologize because you think being a homewrecker is honorable? How could I have given birth to a daughter as utterly shameless as you?"
"I should have stayed home today. Running into you is truly bad luck."
My former best friend, Willow Stone, who had been watching the spectacle, stepped forward just in time, gently holding my mother, Eleanor Sinclair, and patting her chest to calm her.
"Tori, maybe Sienna was in a desperate situation that led her to this... unsavory business. Don't let it upset you, it's not worth jeopardizing your health!"
Then, she turned to the furious wife.
"Ma'am, please rest assured, with my godmother and me here, she will never bother your husband again. Pick any bag in this store, and I'll buy it for you as an apology on her behalf..."
I cut her off, my voice raw.
"I am not the mistress, and I don't need your fake apology, Willow!"
Willows eyes instantly welled up, and she looked seconds from tears.
"Sienna, you can't possibly still believe that the person who wasn't truly loved is the one who loses the moral high ground, can you?"
"If I had known you were so obsessed, maybe I should have reluctantly stepped aside back then and let you have Dean..."
Bringing up the old affair was like lighting a fuse. My mothers voice became shrill.
"Are all the men in the world dead? Do you have to go after a married one?"
The two of them, in just a few sentences, ripped my sordid past open for everyone to see.
"Wait, so she's a repeat offender? She stole her best friend's man seven years ago? That is sick!"
"Even her own mother can't stand her. How does she have the gall to live like this?"
"Someone should post this repeat offender online! Who knows how many families shes already ruined!"
A crime can always be pinned on a person if a reason is needed.
With my own mother confirming my guilt, the label of "mistress" was cemented.
The onlookers pulled out their phones, snapping photos of my exposed body and my bruised face.
Some who had already filmed the beating prepared to upload the content.
Willow suddenly knelt, a soundless cry tearing from her, begging the crowd to stop filming.
"Please, everyone, give my friend another chance! My godmother and I will take her home and educate her. We guarantee she won't do this again!"
"The internet is brutal now. If she's exposed like this, she'll never be able to hold her head up again..."
The enraged wife instantly flared up.
"If she knew what 'holding her head up' meant, she wouldn't have tried to sleep with my husband!"
"Are you two in this together? Dressed so provocativelymaybe youre all in the same line of work to afford shopping here!"
My mother and Willow were collateral damage. The look they gave me suggested they wanted to tear me to shreds.
At her limit, my mother turned and handed the wife a business card and a platinum credit card.
"Please delete any photos and videos that show me or Willow. The one you caught in the act... we'll see how she behaves later."
The wife, initially disdainful, saw the words 'Eleanor Sinclair, CEO, Sinclair Group' on the card, and her entire expression changed.
"The formidable Eleanor Sinclair! The Iron Lady! This... this must be a misunderstanding, I..."
The wife couldn't afford to offend the Sinclair Group, and she certainly couldn't figure out why Eleanor's own daughter was involved in this mess.
Confused, she moved to help me up.
But my mother stopped her.
2
The wife froze, bewildered.
"Ms. Sinclair, didn't you put on this whole show just now so I would forgive her? I believe that with your strict supervision, she definitely won't offend again..."
My mother sneered, cementing my guilt without a moment of inquiry, just as she had seven years ago.
"The first time she tried to steal a man, I kicked her out. I thought years of hardship would teach her a lesson and show her the error of her ways. Unfortunately..."
The crowd and the wife understood instantly.
Eager to flatter my mother, the wife handed back the credit card and offered her phone for inspection.
"Ms. Sinclair, please take a look."
My mother clicked on the video of me being beaten before she arrived. I caught a fleeting glimpse of something in her eyesa flicker of pain.
I shook my head, quickly dismissing the delusion.
Sure enough, the next second, she looked down on me and commanded again:
"This is the last time I will clean up your mess. Apologize to this wife, swear you'll never do this again, and these photos and videos won't see the light of day."
My mothers power could certainly stop any organized release of the content.
But there were countless onlookers.
How could she seal every single person's lips?
The moment she publicly condemned me, I was brandeda mistress everyone spat upon.
Even knowing she wouldn't believe me, I stood firm, speaking every word slowly:
"I am not the mistress, and I won't apologize to anyone!"
The next second, she handed the phone back to the wife.
"Since she is so stubborn, don't hold back. She's yours to deal with."
The wife looked uncertainly at my mother.
"You want me to post the videos?"
"Post them! She must pay the price for her behavior!"
The wife obeyed.
In minutes, people online had already dug up my information.
My mother shoved the screen full of hateful messages in my face.
"Sienna Reed, do you know what you did wrong?"
"I didn't do anything wrong!"
Seeing my refusal to admit guilt, my mother trembled with fury, clutching her chest, her face pale.
Willow, ever prepared, smoothly took a pill bottle from her bag and gave my mother the medication.
She then motioned to the bodyguards nearby.
"Take Tori home first. Ill stay behind and handle Sienna."
My mother left without looking back.
Willow then created a group chat on the spot, sending a large cash payment to every onlooker as an apology.
"I apologize for the scene today, everyone! Please, be merciful with your words. Give my best friend a chance to turn her life around!"
Having taken the money, the crowd praised Willow for her kindness and beauty, though they reminded her to be cautious, especially with "people like me."
After the crowd dispersed, I wrapped myself tightly in the coat my mother had left behind and stumbled toward the exit.
Willow grabbed my arm.
"Sienna, come home with me. You don't know how worried Tori has been about you all these years..."
I wrenched myself free, sneering.
"Willow Stone, the audience is gone. You can stop acting."
3
Ten years ago, after Willows mother and my father both passed away from illness, Willow and I became inseparable best friends through our shared grief.
My mother, out of sympathy, doted on Willow like her own daughter.
As our two families grew closer, my mother unexpectedly fell for Willows father, Richard.
But Richard was still grieving his late wife and kept my mother at arm's length.
Frustrated by unrequited love, my mother poured more attention into Willow, almost granting her every wish.
I, however, disagreed with her pursuit, telling her she couldn't force affection, and a rift grew between us.
Even with Willow's mediation, my mother and I never regained our former closeness.
It was during that period that I met my first love, Dean Campbell.
Unwilling to let my mother know I was dating, I kept the relationship a secret, telling only Willow.
I treated her like a sister, sharing my romantic joy and every little gift Dean gave me.
I never imagined that while she offered me congratulations, she was secretly seducing Dean.
On Deans birthday, I secretly prepared a surprise for him.
When I pushed open his apartment door, I saw two bodies tangled together on the sofa.
Willow grabbed a shirt in a panic to cover herself. And Dean, the man who swore he loved me, averted his gaze.
"Sienna, let me explain..."
I didn't cry or scream. I just quietly asked Willow:
"You already have all of my mothers love, and you have my friendship. Why did you need to steal my boyfriend, too?"
She wept, kneeling to beg for my forgiveness, but then she leaned closer and whispered:
"Who told your mother to obsess over my dad?"
In that moment, I swore I would get my mother back from her.
I ran home, desperate to tell my mother that Willow was a horrible personthe kind of homewrecker she despised.
But I never expected Willow and Dean to beat me to it.
Willow was already clutching my mother, tears streaming down her face.
"Tori, I know Sienna has always hated that you care for me so much, but how could she... how could she try to steal my boyfriend?"
I argued my case, but my mother didn't believe me.
She was infatuated with Richard.
Willow was the most important link to maintaining a relationship with him.
My words were lighter than Willows tears.
Without hearing me out, she forced me to apologize to Willow.
"Sienna Reed, apologize to Willow! Promise you won't harass Dean again!"
Watching her protect Willow, seeing Willows triumphant, challenging look from behind my mothermy youthful pride overcame my pain and grief.
"I didn't do anything wrong! She stole my boyfriend!"
"Irremediable! Get out! Don't come back until you realize your mistake!"
4
I slammed the door, left, and by working multiple jobs and relying on student loans, I not only completed my degree but graduated with honors.
By then, my mother, who had moved closer to marrying Richard, was in a good mood and personally invited me home.
She even threw a celebration dinner for me.
Dean was there, tooas Willows fianc.
After all those years, he was still greedy for me.
He followed me into the backyard when I went out for some fresh air. He grabbed me from behind.
"Sienna, I can't forget you. Willow cant compare to you... Lets get back together..."
Disgusted, I struggled violently and slapped him hard.
The commotion brought everyone running.
Dean instantly changed his tune, pointing to the red mark on his face, feigning deep sorrow.
"Eleanor, Sienna tried to seduce me again, and when I refused, she hit me..."
I was shaking with rage, pointing at Dean.
"That's a lie! You tried to force yourself on me!"
I then turned to Willow.
"Control your trash!"
Willow, who knew exactly what kind of man Dean was, still chose to slander me.
My mother looked utterly devastated and slapped me for the first time.
"Sienna Reed, do you have to try and take everything Willow likes?"
"Get out! I never want to see you again! I don't have a daughter like you!"
That moment, my heart turned to ash. I didn't argue another word. I just turned and left.
After cutting ties, I lived a quiet, ordinary life on my own.
But fate was not done with me.
A routine physical revealed hereditary liver cancer.
It was the same disease that had taken my father.
To raise the massive surgical fees, I worked several jobs after my shift.
My presence at the luxury store that day was for a courier jobdelivering a reserved bag to a client's significant other.
I never expected to be caught up in such a horrifying ordeal.
The ring of my phone broke my memory.
I answered, hearing the impatient voice of a man.
"Why aren't you here yet?"
"Im on my way."
I hung up and looked up to meet Willows excited, malevolent eyes.
"I knew it. After years of luxury, you couldn't possibly survive on your own! So you did become a cheap mistress, didn't you?"
5
Ignoring Willow's taunt, I quickly bought a new set of decent clothes, changed, and rushed to the delivery address.
The cramping in my stomach was relentless, coming in sharp, agonizing waves. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.
But I couldn't stop. This courier fee was for next weeks medication.
The moment the client opened the door, my body went rigid.
It was Dean Campbell.
"Sienna. Long time no see."
I recoiled violently, turning to run.
But he grabbed my wrist and yanked me into the apartment.
"Why run? Didn't you come here to deliver the bag?"
I realized with a jolt that I hadn't recognized Deans voice on the phone.
Otherwise, I would have died before accepting this delivery.
The door slammed shut, and Deans hungry eyes raked over my body.
He reached out to touch my face.
"Sienna, you're so thin..."
I slapped his hand away, furious.
"Dean! You are marrying Willow Stone! What did you trick me into here for?"
Dean forced a helpless look, stepping forward to hug me.
"Sienna, if you hadn't blown things up back then, you would be the one I was marrying! Ill take care of you now, give you a grand a month, you don't have to work so hard..."
"I just wanted to help you! This bag is for you. Do you like it?"
Like it? Absolutely not!
If I hadn't gone to pick up that damn bag, why would I have been wrongfully beaten and called a mistress?
The anger surged, and I mustered all my strength, delivering a vicious slap to his face.
"I would rather die poor, or die sick, than touch a single penny of your filthy money!"
Dean clutched his face, his eyes instantly turning dark and menacing.
"Don't bite the hand that feeds you, Sienna!"
He lunged, pinning me tightly against the sofa.
I struggled desperately, my hand finding a heavy, hard object in the confusion. I slammed it against his head!
Dean cried out in pain, his grip loosening.
I seized the chance, scrambling up, stumbling, and flinging the door open to escape.
As soon as the door opened, a sharp slap sent a wave of blood into my mouth.
"Sienna Reed! Do you love stealing other peoples husbands this much?"
Willows voice was wild, full of insane fury.
Time, horrifyingly, was seven years ago again.
I was disheveled, my hair a mess, blood dripping from my lip.
Inside, Dean was clutching his bleeding forehead, his silk robe hanging open.
To anyone looking, it was the perfect picture of an illicit entanglement.
My mother's chest rose and fell rapidly. She didn't have a word left for me.
She simply tilted her head slightly and spoke two words to the bodyguard behind her:
"Tie her up."

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