Maid in My Own Home

The moment I stepped through the front door, the house was already buzzing. My older sister was practically vibrating with excitement, ready to parade her wealthy fianc in front of our parents.

In the living room, my future brother-in-law was enthusiastically handing over expensive gift baskets to my mom and dad. When it was my turn, he shoved a pair of cheap rubber gloves into my hands.

"For your cleaning lady to use. Just a little something," he said with a charming smile. Before I could even process what was happening, my sister jumped in and thanked him profusely.

Mom suddenly grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin, and dragged me into the kitchen. She lowered her voice to a frantic whisper.

"Carter comes from old money. He's an only child. We told his family that Stella is our only daughter too."

She shoved a greasy dish towel against my chest. "Tonight, you are the housekeeper. Start prepping dinner right now. We have a VIP guest, and the food better be perfect."

I looked down at the dish towel in my hands and actually let out a laugh. This was literally my house. I bought it. But suddenly, it was the "housekeeper's" quarters.

From the living room, Carters arrogant voice drifted in. He was definitely kicking his feet up. "Your maid doesn't really seem to know her place. You guys need to train her better."

I stood in the doorway of my own kitchen, listening to this absolute circus. Suddenly, the people sitting in that living room felt like total strangers.

I dropped the towel on the counter and looked at my mother with pure amusement.

"Mom, you've got to be kidding me."

Her face dropped the second the words left my mouth.

"Start cooking right now, do you hear me? If you don't cook, how are we supposed to explain a maid who doesn't do her job? The whole lie will fall apart!"

I just stared at her, dead silent.

Mom took a deep breath. Her tone shifted from a harsh command to a pathetic, soft plea.

"Riley, please. I promise I'll find a way to explain everything to him later. I swear."

She patted my arm, her eyes darting nervously toward the living room. "But right now, the most important thing is helping your sister keep this story together. Just swallow your pride for one night, okay? Be a good girl."

Without waiting for my answer, she turned on her heel and scurried back out to entertain Carter.

I stood alone in a kitchen piled high with raw vegetables and frozen meat. I calmly pulled out my phone, opened a delivery app, and found the most expensive upscale steakhouse nearby.

I ordered a massive premium catering package. Ribeyes, lobsters, the works.

Payment method: Cash on delivery. Name on the order: Arthur, my dad.

If they were going to erase my existence, I definitely wasn't going to be their unpaid private chef.

After placing the order, I walked straight to my bedroom and shut the door. Through the thin walls, I could still hear Carter complaining about the "maid's terrible attitude."

An hour later, the doorbell rang.

Dad opened the door and just stood there, staring at the mountain of food. "I didn't order any of this."

The delivery guy held up the receipt. "The name on the slip is Arthur. The address matches. Please just check the bill, sir."

"Why would I order four hundred dollars worth of takeout?" Dad sputtered. "We have a maid to cook for us!"

Carters voice chimed in from the couch. "I bet your lazy maid ordered it. She refused to cook, hid in her room, and now she's ordering takeout on your dime."

Footsteps stomped down the hall, and my bedroom door flew open.

Dad stood in the doorway, his face purple with rage. "Riley, get out here right now! Did you order four hundred dollars worth of food?"

I sat up on my bed. "Yep. Sure did."

Dad panicked, realizing I wasn't even going to deny it. "There is a fridge full of groceries in there! What is wrong with you?"

Carter strolled up behind him, leaning against the doorframe. "See? What did I tell you? I've never seen such a lazy, entitled housekeeper in my life. You guys really hired a nightmare."

Stella finally spoke up, crossing her arms. "Riley, we pay you a great salary and treat you like family. Have you gotten so comfortable that you think you own the place?"

She glared at me, her eyes flashing with a warning. "Fine. Since you didn't cook, you can pay the four hundred bucks yourself."

She turned to Dad, laying the guilt trip on thick. "Dad, see? This is what happens when you and Mom are too nice to the help. You give them an inch, and they walk all over you."

Carter nodded in total agreement. "My family employs staff too. If I were you, I'd fire her tonight. Young girls working as maids... honestly, they're mostly just lazy freeloaders."

Stella stepped closer. "Riley, Venmo me the four hundred dollars right now, and I'll go pay the delivery guy. Otherwise, I'm having my parents fire you on the spot."

I looked right past her, locking eyes with Mom, who had just promised to "explain everything."

"Are you going to say something?" I asked her. "Or are you just waiting for me to pull out my wallet like she is?"

Carter looked completely baffled by my question.

"Wait, why does your maid talk to you like that? And why is she calling you sister?"

Stellas face went pale. She quickly grabbed Carters arm and pressed herself against him. "Oh, babe, she's just been with us for so long. We treat her like family, so sometimes she forgets her boundaries and gets a little overly familiar."

Mom forced out a nervous, awkward laugh.

"Yes, exactly! This... this poor girl is the daughter of a very distant relative from the countryside. We took her in to help her out. She just calls Stella her sister out of habit."

Mom looked at Carter with wide, innocent eyes. "Don't you worry, Carter. Stella is our one and only child."

I stared at Mom, letting her words sink in.

My sister wasn't always the "one and only." Her name used to be Sarah. But five years ago, she threw a massive tantrum, screaming that my existence ruined her dream of being a pampered only child. To shut her up, my parents literally let her legally change her name to Stella, treating her like she was the center of the universe.

Carter raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping back and forth between me and Stella.

"A distant relative. Right. That makes sense." He smirked. "I was actually thinking she looked a little bit like you, babe."

Dad rubbed his hands together, sweating slightly. "Yeah, well, Riley doesn't have much of an education. She couldn't find a real job out there, so we figured we'd throw her a bone. Room and board in exchange for some light chores. Better than letting her rot on the streets."

Carter nodded slowly, totally buying the lie.

"Ah, I get it now. No wonder she has such a nasty attitude. She thinks because she's blood, she doesn't actually have to work. That explains a lot."

He turned to my parents, looking incredibly smug. "But a maid is a maid, and family is family. You have to draw a hard line. You've definitely spoiled her."

Stellas face was flushed with embarrassment. she pointed a shaking finger at me. "Riley, I don't have time for your games! Pay the delivery guy right now!"

I ignored her completely and kept my eyes on Mom.

"Mom. Are you going to tell him the truth or not?"

Carter froze. "What did she just call you?"

All the blood drained from Moms face.

Stella lost her mind. "Riley, that is enough! Who the hell are you calling Mom? Are you psychotic? That is my mother!"

Mom looked at me, then at Stella, and finally let out a heavy sigh, playing the victim perfectly.

"I'm sorry, Carter. This girl has always been a little mentally unstable. Ever since she came to live with us, she's been obsessed with calling me Mom. I never agreed to it, but she just won't stop. It's been years, and we just can't fix her delusions."

Carter let out a long "Ohhh," shaking his head with a condescending laugh.

"Wow. I have never met someone with such thick skin."

He took a step toward me, looking down his nose. "Listen, little girl. If you just put your head down, did your job, and showed some respect, your aunt and uncle here would take good care of you. But with this lazy, greedy attitude? Nobody in the real world is going to want you. Got it?"

Right at that moment, the delivery guy yelled from the front door. "Hello? Is anyone going to pay for this? I have other deliveries to make!"

Dad grabbed my arm, his grip painfully tight. "You ordered the food, you pay for it. Cut the crap."

He yanked me toward the door, positioning his body so Carter couldn't see his face, and glared at me with absolute venom. "Riley, I'm warning you. I don't have your mother's patience. If you don't pay this bill right now, I am going to make your life a living hell the second he leaves."

I opened my mouth to fire back, but Mom suddenly stepped in and peeled Dads fingers off my arm. She let out a dramatic sigh.

"Alright, alright, stop fighting. This is embarrassing."

She pulled out her phone, scanned the delivery guy's card reader, and paid the four hundred dollars herself.

She put her phone away, turned to me, and looked at me with a face full of sheer exhaustion.

"Riley, when are you going to grow up?"

She leaned in close, her voice breaking. "Riley, I am begging you. Just for the length of this dinner. Can you please just help your sister? Just swallow it down this one last time."

Her eyes were entirely filled with desperation, pleading with me to let them humiliate me just a little bit longer.

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat.

Seeing Mom pay the bill, Stella crossed her arms, looking deeply annoyed.

Carter puffed out his chest, stepping up like the man of the house. "Stella, since your parents are too soft to put her in her place, let me handle it. I'll teach her some manners."

Carter confidently walked over to the head of the dining table and took a seat.

"Come here, maid. Serve the food."

I almost laughed out loud at the sheer audacity. But Mom was standing right next to me. She reached out and gave my sleeve a gentle, desperate tug.

I looked back at her. Her eyes were begging me. I remembered the tremor in her voice when she said, Just swallow it down this one last time.

I let out a slow breath. Fine. This would be the absolute last time I ever let my heart soften for these people.

I walked over to the dining table, opened the expensive takeout boxes one by one, laid out the silverware, and arranged the plates perfectly.

Carter leaned back in his chair, totally satisfied. "See? That's more like it. A maid needs to act like a maid. Stop walking around with a sour face like everyone owes you money."

Stella sat down next to him, flashing a sickeningly sweet smile. "Don't let her get to you, babe. She's just an uneducated hick who doesn't know any better."

I completely tuned them out. Once the last plate was set, I turned on my heel to go back to my room. I obviously wasn't going to eat with them. Nobody had invited me anyway.

But the second I turned around, Stellas voice snapped like a whip.

"Maid! Where do you think you're going? Come back here and peel my shrimp."

She leaned back in her chair, pointing a perfectly manicured finger at the platter of garlic butter shrimp. She lifted her chin. "What are you staring at? Peel the shells. My fianc loves seafood."

Carter sat there, watching me with a smug, highly entertained look on his face. "Oh, and while you're at it, carve the meat off that prime rib. Keep it in nice, whole slices. Don't hack it up."

Listening to them confidently bark orders at me in my own dining room, a cold laugh escaped my throat.

"Do you want me to chew it for you too? That way you won't even have to use your jaws. Think of the calories you'll save."

The entire house fell dead silent. A second later, Stella slammed her hand on the table. Her face turned beet red.

"Riley! What the hell is your problem? We ask you to do your basic job and you give us this sarcastic attitude? Are you purposely trying to ruin my night?"

I looked at her, my voice eerily calm.

"I served the food out of respect for Mom. That does not mean you get to treat me like a dog."

"You could have just let me go to my room so you two could enjoy your dinner. But you just had to call me back here to flex. So tell me, Stella, who is actually trying to ruin whose night?"

Stella shot up from her chair.

"Who gave you the right to use my first name? A maid thinking she's on my level? You are out of your mind!"

I stared at her face. We looked incredibly similar. The resemblance was undeniable, and the whole situation suddenly felt hilarious to me.

"Stella, are you done acting? You are my biological sister. Did you seriously brainwash yourself into believing I'm actually your maid and you're my boss?"

Carters smug smile vanished. He frowned deeply.

"What? Biological sister? What is she talking about?"

He looked at Stella, his voice dropping an octave. "Stella, what did she just say? She's your sister?"

Before Stella could even stutter out a lie, Carter turned his sharp gaze onto my parents.

"Arthur. Martha. What is going on here? You explicitly told my family that Stella was an only child. Where did a biological sister come from?"

When my parents just stood there stammering, Carter raised his voice. "What is the truth? Has this entire family been lying to me since day one?"

He slammed his napkin down. "Because if you have, this wedding is off!"

I didn't even have a chance to react. Suddenly, Mom lunged at me.

She closed the distance in a second and swung her arm.

Whack.

The slap echoed through the room. I was completely blindsided. My ear rang violently.

Mom pointed a shaking finger right at my nose, screaming at the top of her lungs. "What kind of insane garbage are you spewing?! Who is your sister?! If you say one more crazy word, I will throw you out on the street!"

The skin on my cheek burned like fire.

"Insane garbage?" I asked quietly.

I reached up and touched my stinging face.

"Fine. You want to prove I'm crazy? Go get the official Family Trust documents. Bring out the legal paperwork and show your precious future son-in-law exactly how many daughters you have."

I locked eyes with Carter. "You want the truth? Make them pull out the legal records. See for yourself."

Carters face was made of stone. "She's right. Go get the documents. I want to see if I'm marrying into a family of pathological liars."

Stella panicked. She grabbed Carters arm, her nails digging into his shirt.

"Babe, please, don't listen to her, she's literally having a psychotic break, she's"

Carter ripped his arm away. "Bring me the papers!"

Dad stood up slowly.

I honestly thought he would hesitate. I thought he would make up an excuse about losing the paperwork.

But he didn't. Without a single word, Dad turned around and marched into the master bedroom.

Less than a minute later, he walked back out holding a heavy, official-looking leather folder. It was their notarized Family Trust and Beneficiary dossier.

He slammed it down on the dining table right in front of Carter. "Look for yourself."

Carter eyed it suspiciously. He opened the folder, flipped past the legal jargon, and checked the primary beneficiary pages. Slowly, the tension left his shoulders. A look of total relief washed over his face.

He let out a short laugh. "Wow. I almost let this little maid play me."

He tossed the folder back onto the table. "Arthur, Martha, your housekeeper is severely unhinged. She doesn't just refuse to work, she's a compulsive liar."

I froze. My heart dropped into my stomach. I lunged forward and snatched the folder off the table.

There were only three names listed under the primary family unit.

Grantor: Arthur. Grantor: Martha. Sole Beneficiary and Child: Stella.

The rest of the space was blank.

There was no second daughter. There was no Riley.

Any record of my existence in this family's legal framework had been completely scrubbed.

My hands started to shake. I looked up at Mom and Dad. Neither of them would meet my eyes. They just awkwardly smiled and tried to usher Carter back into his seat to eat.

Under Stellas profile, it listed her former name: Sarah.

She changed her name five years ago. And the date stamped on this trust document was exactly five years ago.

It hit me like a freight train.

I thought she just threw a tantrum and changed her name. I had absolutely no idea they used that opportunity to legally erase me from the family entirely.

An overwhelming, suffocating wave of grief washed through my chest.

Stella, feeling victorious, sneered at me. Her voice dripped with malice.

"Do you finally understand now? Read the room. Know your place."

She dropped back into her chair and tilted her chin toward the garlic shrimp. "Alright, enough drama. Stop standing there like an idiot and peel my food."

The side of my face still throbbed fiercely from the slap. My mind was spinning.

Dad glared at me, his eyes dead and cold.

"Let me make this perfectly clear, Riley. You are the help. There is no place for you in this family. You aren't in the paperwork, which means you do not exist."

He pointed a stiff finger at Stella. "Whatever your sister tells you to do, you do it. Stop being so ungrateful."

Stella laughed, highly amused. "Exactly, Dad. Look at her standing there. A maid trying to play the tragic victim."

Carter, completely relaxed now, picked up his fork. "Alright, enough wasting time. Peel the shrimp, carve the meat, and then go wait in your little maid's room. I'm tired of looking at you."

I looked at the three of them sitting around the table, a perfectly happy little family.

And I smiled.

I smiled so hard tears actually pricked the corners of my eyes. I was laughing at my own stupidity.

I was so stupid to think that if I just endured it, things would get better. So stupid to think they actually loved me deep down. So stupid to let my heart soften over and over again. I literally just got slapped across the face, and a part of my brain was still trying to call them mom and dad.

I tilted my head back and wiped the tear away.

Then, I looked dead at the three people waiting for me to serve them.

Stella rolled her eyes. "Are you psycho? What are you smiling at? Hurry up, the seafood is getting cold and gross."

I took a very deep breath.

I reached out, grabbed the heavy fabric of the tablecloth with both hands, and yanked it backward with everything I had.

Plates, bowls, and glasses launched into the air.

Stella screamed, scrambling backward as hot garlic butter and cocktail sauce splashed all over her designer dress.

Carter leaped up, cursing loudly as dark gravy ruined the front of his expensive trousers.

Mom and Dad sat frozen in absolute shock.

I grinned at them. "You guys like legal documents? Perfect. I have some too."

I turned around, walked calmly into my bedroom, and pulled a thick manila envelope from my safe.

I walked back into the dining room, stepped over the shattered porcelain, and tossed the official Title Deed to the house onto the bare table.

"Take a good look. The sole owner of this property is Riley. The girl who doesn't exist."

I crossed my arms. "So right now, the girl who doesn't exist is telling all of you to get the hell out of my house."