The Lobster Scandal, Stepmother's Poisonous Scheme

I was on my seventh blind date, all of which were set up by my stepmother.

Levi sat across from me. We were barely making small talk, and the atmosphere was incredibly awkward.

Halfway through the meal, Levi suddenly put down his fork and frowned.

Miss Lane, there is something I have to be blunt about, he said.

I looked up at him. "Sure, go ahead."

His gaze was complicated, almost resentful.

"My father spent way too much time in freezing water catching lobsters for you. Now his rheumatism is acting up so badly he can't even get out of bed."

He paused, his voice turning accusatory. "Can you... stop asking him for lobsters? He's an old man, and he can't handle that kind of physical strain anymore."

I froze, my fork suspended in mid-air.

"Lobsters? I'm severely allergic to shellfish! I can't touch them at all. Why would I ever ask for lobsters?"

Levi was clearly stunned, and his tone turned sharp.

"Allergic? That's impossible! Your mother told us herself!"

He shoved his phone screen right in front of my face. "See for yourself! This is what she sent to my dad!"

On the screen was a chat history with a contact labeled "Linnie's Mom."

The profile picture was a photo of me and my stepmother, Leila, taken during the last holidays. She had her arm around my shoulder, smiling tenderly.

The voice-to-text messages below were crystal clear.

"Mr. Miller, I'm so sorry to trouble you again. My daughter Linnie is just so picky. She's been craving those fresh Maine lobsters like crazy! She's a bit shy, though, and too embarrassed to ask you guys directly..."

"I heard you specialize in this? That's wonderful! If it's convenient, could you get ten crates for her to try? She has a big appetite, so just pick the biggest ones!"

"Whatever you do, don't mention this to Linnie. She's very prideful! Just send them directly to my place, and I'll give them to her. I want to give her a surprise!"

That tone, that fake concern... it was classic Leila, my seemingly sweet and virtuous stepmother.

Looking at those words, the blood rushed to my face in a wave of heat.

Levi saw my expression change and took it as confirmation. His face went cold, and any lingering politeness vanished.

"You see it now, right? Your mom said it herself. She even told us to keep it a secret from you."

He curled his lip in a mocking smile.

"Miss Lane, I thought you were okay at first. But now..."

"I don't think we're a good match. You're way too high-maintenance. My family can't afford someone like you."

With that, he grabbed his jacket and walked out without looking back.

I sat there feeling like I had been doused in ice water.

My mom? Why on earth was she asking for all those lobsters in my name?

She knew perfectly well that I was allergic to shellfish.

I walked home with my head spinning.

As soon as I opened the door, the rich aroma of my favorite creamy wild mushroom soup wafted through the air.

My stepsister, Hazel, saw me and sneered. "She's making your favorite again. I'm so jealous I could die."

"Linnie, you're back! Wash your hands. The soup just finished simmering. It's perfect!"

Leila turned around and beamed at me the moment she saw me.

I gave a half-hearted hum and went to wash my hands, feeling distracted.

My mind was filled with Levi's disgusted face and those stinging chat records.

By the time I sat down, a steaming bowl of soup was already placed in front of me.

Leila took a spoon and carefully scooped out all the best mushrooms, piling them into my bowl.

"Mom, I want some of those too!" Hazel protested in a small voice.

"Your sister works hard. Let her have more to nourish her body," Leila said without looking up. She then added a large piece of tender chicken to my bowl. "Eat up, Linnie. You look like you've lost weight lately."

Hazel rolled her eyes but stopped complaining.

My dad sighed. "You're going to spoil her rotten sooner or later!"

Looking at the food in my bowl, much of my anger started to melt away.

Leila had been in our home for ten years, and she had always treated me incredibly well.

"Mom," I put down my spoon. "Today... things didn't work out with Levi."

Leila's hand stopped mid-air. "What happened, Linnie? I thought that boy seemed like a good catch. What went wrong?"

I felt frustrated and didn't know how to explain Levi's accusations. "It just wasn't a good fit. He's the one who called it off..."

"Hmph!" Leila tossed the ladle aside, looking indignant. "His family just deals with stinky fish all day. They don't deserve our Linnie! You're beautiful, you have a great job, and a wonderful personality. He's the one missing out!"

She got more upset the more she talked, acting as if I had been terribly wronged.

"Mom..." I was almost moved to laughter by how protective she was being.

"It's fine, it's fine!" Leila waved her hand. "If it's over, it's over! I'll pick an even better one for you next time. I'll make sure you're satisfied!"

She picked up my bowl again. "Here, have another bowl. Don't be upset over a man with no taste. He's not worth it!"

Seeing her loving face, my suspicions completely vanished.

Whatever. I wasn't that interested in Levi anyway.

There was no need to ruin the family peace over an outsider.

Three days later, Leila had indeed arranged another blind date for me.

This time, it was through a woman she met at her yoga class. The guy was a software engineer who just moved back from abroad named Caleb.

Meeting Caleb for the first time made the gloom of the previous dates vanish.

He wore a clean, crisp button-down shirt and had a shy but bright smile. He spoke calmly and logically.

It had been a long time since I felt this kind of spark on a blind date.

After a few meetings, we both felt like things were going well.

When Leila found out, she was over the moon. She kept praising her friend's taste and saying this was definitely the one.

However, the honeymoon phase didn't last long.

One night, Caleb and I met at a quiet, upscale bistro.

He seemed a bit preoccupied, not as relaxed as he usually was.

After we ordered, he went silent for a few seconds. He looked at me seriously, his voice gentle but hesitant.

"Linnie, there's something... I've been thinking about it for a while. I feel like we should talk."

My heart skipped a beat. I forced a smile. "What is it? You look so serious."

Caleb chose his words carefully. "I know young people are under a lot of pressure these days. If you... well, if you need any financial help, you can just tell me directly."

He paused, his eyes sincere. "I'm very willing to help within my means. You really don't need to... use that kind of method."

"What method?" The smile froze on my face. A bad feeling crawled up my spine. "What are you talking about?"

Caleb saw I was getting upset and quickly waved his hands to calm me down.

"Don't misunderstand. I don't mean anything bad by it." He took out his phone and handed it to me. "It's your mother..."

On the screen was that familiar profile picture again.

"Caleb, dear, I'm so sorry to bother you. Linnie really loves this specific brand of luxury skincare. I heard you just got back from overseas? If it's convenient, could you bring back a few sets for her next time? Yes, this specific essence and cream gift set. Linnie insisted on this one. I'll thank you on her behalf!"

"But Caleb, please don't let Linnie know I told you! She'll definitely blame me for being nosy. She has too much pride! Just ship the items directly to me!"

Below were several pictures of luxury skincare sets. Each one cost a fortune.

The blood rushed to my head, and my cheeks burned with a shame a hundred times worse than when Levi confronted me.

"I never asked her for any of those things!" I explained desperately, my voice shaking. "I've never even used such an expensive brand!"

Caleb looked at me with a complicated expression.

"But... Linnie," he hesitated before finally speaking. "Last Saturday afternoon, I happened to pass by that luxury resale shop downtown. I saw you and your mother at the entrance."

I snapped my head up, staring at him.

"Didn't you two... just sell all the skincare sets to the resale shop?"

A cold chill instantly swept through my entire body. Shame, anger, and absurdity nearly choked me.

"That girl wasn't me! That was my sister, Hazel!" I almost screamed. "I had no idea! Caleb, you have to believe me!"

Caleb was startled by my intense reaction, but his eyes softened with understanding and pity.

"Linnie, don't get worked up. Maybe I saw it wrong," he said gently. "I just felt that if your family is in trouble or you have some hardship, you could tell me. I'll help if I can."

His kindness felt like a needle stabbing my heart. It made me feel even more humiliated.

I couldn't listen to another word. I just wanted to rush home and demand the truth from Leila.

"I have to go!" I stood up abruptly. Ignoring Caleb's stunned look, I bolted out of the bistro.

The chat logs, Levi's accusations, and Caleb's description of the resale shop...

They flashed through my mind like scenes from a horror movie.

Anger made my entire body tremble.

This time, I was going to find out exactly what was going on!

I nearly broke down the front door as I burst inside.

"You're back?" My dad's voice held a hint of reproach. "Keep it down. Your mom's back pain is flaring up again. She just took some meds and went to sleep. Don't wake her."

"Tell me about it!" Hazel said without looking up from the TV. "She's exhausted from running around trying to find you a good husband! My mom cares about you more than her own daughter! You get the best food, the best clothes, and she even tries to hand-pick the best guys for you!"

My dad sighed. "Linnie, you should show your mom more appreciation. Remember how good she is to you."

Remember how good she is?

Remember how she uses my name to beg for gifts and then sells them for cash?

A bitter taste rose in my throat, and I bit my lip hard.

I knew that confronting them now would only lead to a chaotic argument with no results.

My dad would just think I was being unreasonable.

Just as my anger was about to snap my self-control, a thought flashed through my mind like lightning.

The camera!

A few months ago, there was a trend of filming those "POV of a cat eating" videos.

On a whim, I had hidden a tiny spy camera in the gap of the automatic cat feeder.

After the trend died down, I forgot about it. The camera had been running this whole time, and no one knew it existed.

I walked quickly to the corner of the balcony where the cat's bed was. With a soft click, a camera the size of a fingernail dropped into my palm.

I went back to my room, locked the door, and hurriedly pulled out a card reader to open the files.

The screen soon showed a long list of video clips. I scrolled to the dates after my date with Levi and hit fast-forward.

Leila's slippers appeared on the screen. Then came Hazel's voice.

"Mom, look! Ten crates! Levi's dad really went all out!"

A heavy foam box with a lobster logo was dropped onto the edge of the frame.

Then a second, a third... ten boxes in total were piled in the corner.

Leila crouched down and opened one of the boxes.

"Wow, these are huge!" Leila's voice was clear. It wasn't her usual gentle tone. It sounded sharp, greedy, and calculated.

"Old man Miller didn't cheat us. Hazel, hurry up and call Lou at the seafood market. Tell him we have a batch of top-tier lobsters. Tell him they're fresh and ask for a good price!"

"On it!" Hazel's voice was full of excitement. "Mom, this plan is brilliant! Using Linnie's name makes them think it's for their future daughter-in-law, so they send the best stuff! And they don't dare say a word about it! Haha!"

My breath stopped. My blood felt like it had turned to ice.

"Hmph, that stupid girl. She's being sold and she's probably helping us count the money!" Leila's voice was full of contempt. "She acts so pure and noble all day. It's perfect. She doesn't want the stuff, so we'll enjoy it! Selling these lobsters is worth half your monthly salary!"

"Exactly! Everyone thinks you're such a saint for taking care of her and setting her up! Little do they know..." Hazel giggled, a sound that was piercing and malicious. "Mom, what about that guy from overseas? I heard he makes a ton of money. What should we ask for next?"

"What's the rush? You have to play the long game to catch a big fish. Let them date for a bit. When the time is right, there will be plenty of fat to skim..."

I began to shake uncontrollably. My teeth were chattering.

With trembling hands, I clicked on an even earlier video clip.

On the screen, a fancy gift bag with a bank logo was placed on the floor.

Leila pulled out a velvet box and opened it. Even in the grainy footage, I could see a shiny gold bar inside! Next to it was a bottle of rare, expensive bourbon!

"Whoa! Mr. Liu really spent some money this time!" Leila's voice was exaggerated. "This gold is high quality! Hazel, keep it safe. We'll cash it out when the gold prices go up in a few days!"

"Mom, what about the bourbon? Should we sell that too?"

"Sell it! Why keep it? That old man Lane doesn't know how to appreciate good liquor anyway! Cash is more practical! That idiot Linnie probably thinks the guy just didn't like her, hahaha!"

Leila's triumphant laughter echoed in my small room.

I watched clip after clip.

Expensive supplements... gift cards... brand new laptop boxes...

Finally, there was the large bag with the luxury brand logo that Caleb had sent.

It turned out that after every date, after every fake show of concern, these "gifts" bought with my reputation were piled here. They were sorted like loot by this mother-daughter duo.

And then they were turned into cash in their pockets.

While they counted the money, they used the most vicious words to mock me, the victim they were playing like a fiddle.

"Idiot... counting money for us... fake saint..."

Those words burned into my heart. I finally understood why my previous dates always turned cold and distant.

In their eyes, I, Linnie Lane, was a hypocritical, greedy woman who used blind dates to extort people!

I shut off the computer. The room was deathly silent except for my heavy breathing.

Leila. Hazel.

You love acting, don't you? You love using my name to get rich?

Fine.

I'm going to show you who the real idiot is!

A few days later, I gathered my courage and asked Caleb to meet again. I had to explain everything.

Caleb arrived quickly. When he saw me, his eyes were full of gentle concern.

"Linnie, are you okay?" he asked softly.

"I'm alright." I tried to stay calm and didn't waste time. I pushed the tablet with the surveillance footage toward him.

I had queued up the key partsDLeila and Hazel sorting the loot and their nasty conversations.

Caleb took the tablet and watched intently.

As the video played, his gentle expression faded. His brows knit together, and his lips thinned into a hard line.

After the last clip, he stayed silent for a long time. He looked up at me with a whirlwind of emotions in his eyes.

Shock, anger, gravity... and a trace of heartbreak.

"Linnie..." he began heavily. "I have a question, and it might be a bit intrusive. In your past, did anything ever go wrong that you couldn't explain? Especially things that might involve Leila?"

My first instinct was to say "no."

Memories flooded back of Leila's smiling face and how she seemingly treated me better than Hazel.

But then, a cold jolt of realization hit my brain. Pictures from the past started to sharpen.

The summer after high school, I had my acceptance letter for a top-tier Ivy League university. I was ready to start a new life.

The school required a medical check-up. My first drug test came back with abnormal results. The doctor said it might be my diet and told me to retest.

Then came the second time, the third, the fourth...

No matter how careful I was with what I ate, the results were always abnormal.

In the end, I failed the medical clearance and my admission was rescinded.

I had to settle for a mediocre local college I had never even considered.

What did Leila say back then? "Don't be sad, Linnie. A diamond shines anywhere! This school is good too, it's close to home so I can look after you!" She even cried for me.

A few years later, I beat out thousands of applicants for a prestigious government job. I was ranked first in both the written exam and the interview.

My whole family was happy. Leila even insisted on a big celebration.

On the last day of the background check period, the HR department called. Their tone was grim. "Linnie, I'm sorry, but after a comprehensive review, we don't think you're a fit for this position."

I asked why, but they were vague.

I came home devastated. Leila hugged me and kept sighing. "Oh, Linnie, your luck is just so bad... It's okay! You're talented, you'll find something better!"

I eventually worked my way into a well-known corporation on my own.

But those unexplained "failures" had always been a thorn in my side.

Cold sweat soaked my clothes. My blood ran cold.

Caleb was sharp enough to read my mind. He didn't push for details but gently patted my back.

"I..." my throat was tight, and my voice was dry. "The year I got into university, my tests kept failing... I lost my spot at the Ivy." Every word felt like a knife.

"And the government job... they rejected me on the very last day of the check."

"Linnie," Caleb's voice was dead serious. He had a way of making me feel safe. "Leave this to me. I'll find a way to investigate. Things like that always leave a paper trail."

"For now, don't do anything."

Even though rage was boiling in my veins and I wanted to rip Leila's face off right then.

I knew Caleb was right. The current evidence wasn't enough.

Leila had been acting for years. Her performance was flawless. Without ironclad proof, who would my dad believe? What would our relatives think?

Caleb's eyes were sharp. "We need a solid chain of evidence to prove Leila did this on purpose. Otherwise, if we strike and miss, she'll just come back harder."

He looked at me firmly. "Trust me, and trust yourself. Stay calm."

I looked at Caleb. He was just a blind date I liked, but now he was giving me a level of support I'd never had.

"Okay," I nodded heavily, gripping his hand.

I went back to that suffocating house.

Leila was sitting on the sofa, rubbing her lower back in pain.

When I walked in, she immediately put on her signature smile. "Linnie's back! Are you tired, sweetie?"

"Not really," I forced a smile. "Is your back hurting again? You should rest."

"It's fine, just an old injury," she waved it off. "Only our Linnie knows how to care for people."

Hazel snickered nearby, her eyes full of mocking amusement.

I walked calmly into my room. A voice echoed coldly in my heart.

Enjoy your last "good days" while you can.

Everything you owe me, I'm going to make you pay back a thousand times over, in the most humiliating way possible.

Over the next few days, every night after everyone fell asleep, I put on my headphones and watched the footage.

The camera still caught Leila and Hazel in the corner, splitting their loot.

Hazel asked carelessly, "Mom, how much longer are you going to keep Linnie as a cash cow? She seems really into that Caleb guy."

Leila's vicious voice pierced my ears.

"What's the rush? Let her keep shaking that tree! The more she shakes, the more we get. Once she's ruined things with every decent man and her reputation is trash..." She sneered. "Then it'll be our baby's turn to pick the best of the bunch! I promise, I'll find the fattest prize for you!"

Hazel let out a flirtatious hum. "What about Caleb? I think he's great. Handsome, nice, and a high salary."

"Caleb? He's definitely a prize. Overseas education, engineer, looks like he comes from money..."

She paused, calculating. "Hazel, don't worry. I have a plan. In a few days, I'll have a chat with him. I'm going to squeeze something big out of him this time! I'll make it hurt so much he'll think Linnie is a bottomless pit of greed. Once he's disgusted with her..."

Leila coached her, "That's when you go in to comfort him! Men are easiest to catch when they're heartbroken. By then, he'll be yours!"

"Mom! You're the best!" Hazel's voice was full of excitement and worship.

I sat at my computer, shaking. It wasn't fear; it was pure, unadulterated rage.

They didn't just want money. They wanted to destroy my entire life and use me as a stepping stone for Hazel!

I forced myself to calm down. I recorded everything and saved the evidence.

Just then, my phone lit up. It was a message from Caleb.

"Linnie, I consulted some medical experts. They confirmed that taking large doses of certain vitamins long-term can interfere with metabolic tests, causing false positives."

"Also, I had someone look into the internal records of that government job you applied for. During the background check, your stepmother told the investigators you had a habit of stealing... that you were light-fingered... She said she hoped the organization could help you change. That's why they disqualified you."

It felt like a bomb went off in my head!

Every suspicion, every doubt was finally confirmed.

I used to think I just had bad luck. I used to blame myself.

I never imagined someone was behind it all, calculating my downfall for years.

Since I got into university, Leila had been using the most underhanded methods to drag my life into the mud!

I picked up my phone, my whole body trembling. I was on the verge of a breakdown.

"Caleb, they just plotted to extort a huge gift from you. They want to make you hate me so Hazel can move in on you."

"Why don't we play along? Let them think their plan is working. Once they get overconfident, they'll jump right into the trap..."

Caleb replied almost instantly.

"Linnie, we're thinking the same thing. Since they've set their sights on me, let them come! I'll play my part in this drama."

"When they show their greediest faces, that's when we close the net. Hang in there. This time, we're taking back everything they stole with interest!"

Seeing his message, a wave of warmth spread through me.

I wasn't fighting alone.

I deleted the chat and tried to steady my racing heart.

You like acting? Then I'll give you the performance of a lifetime.

The plan proceeded exactly as expected.

A few days later, Leila made her move.

Caleb showed me the screenshots. Leila used her flawless acting to hint that it was time for Caleb to "show his sincerity." She sent a picture of a limited edition designer bag.

The price tag was nearly forty thousand dollars!

Caleb's reply sounded exhausted. "Ma'am, I understand. But Linnie and I really aren't a good fit. Please don't contact me again."

That message was like a victory trumpet for Leila and Hazel.

That night, I acted "heartbroken."

I locked myself in my room, refused to eat, and looked absolutely haggard.

Late at night, when my dad was asleep, I stayed in my room and turned on the monitor.

"It worked! Mom! Caleb is totally disgusted with her!" Hazel's voice was full of suppressed joy.

"Hmph, we didn't get the bag, but he definitely hates Linnie now! The rest is up to you!"

Leila's voice was thick with the smugness of a successful predator.

The next day, Hazel couldn't wait to send her message.

"Caleb, don't be too sad. My sister... sigh, I don't even know what to say..."

"You're so wonderful, she just doesn't deserve you! Do you want to go out and clear your head? I know a new coffee shop..."

Looking at the screenshot, I suppressed a cold laugh and continued playing the role of the pathetic loser.

The turning point came on a Sunday night.

The whole family was sitting in the living room watching TV, just like always.

My dad had the remote and flipped to his favorite high-rated local talk show, "The Truth Exposed."

Halfway through the show, the host introduced a special "anonymous guest."

The male guest sat behind a screen, and his voice was digitally altered.

"Hello, everyone," the guest said. His voice sounded deeply troubled. "Something really disturbing happened to me recently. I don't know what to do, so I'm hoping everyone can help me analyze this."

The host was intrigued. "Oh? Tell us more. Did something go wrong with a date?"

"You could say that," the guest sighed. "I met a girl. I thought she was great, and we dated for a while. Her mother was incredibly warm to me, always checking in and acting very concerned about our relationship."

Leila had been carelessly peeling an apple, but her hand suddenly stopped.

She sat up straight, her eyes glued to the TV screen.

Hazel looked up too, her face turning pale.

My heart was pounding. I pretended to be clueless and muttered, "Wait... that guy sounds a bit like Caleb, doesn't he?"

Leila and Hazel shot each other a panicked look.

The guest continued, his voice heavy. "She kept contacting me, saying her daughter liked this or wanted that... At first, it was just food and small things, but then... it turned into very expensive items."

Leila's face went ghost-white.

"For example, her daughter is deathly allergic to shellfish, but she told me her daughter loved lobsters and had my family send ten crates of Maine lobsters... Then, she said her daughter liked my watch and hoped I'd buy her the same one for her birthday... And just a few days ago..." The guest's voice was full of disbelief.

"She sent me a photo of a forty-thousand-dollar designer bag. She said it was her daughter's biggest wish... and hinted that buying it would prove my sincerity..."

He showed the screenshots on the big screen. Although the names were blurred, the profile picture was unmistakable.

It was Leila!

%%%

My dad bolted upright, his eyes wide with shock. He looked at Leila with pure disbelief.

The paring knife in Leila's hand clattered onto the coffee table. Her lips trembled, but she couldn't say a word.

Hazel shrieked and lunged for the remote. "What is this trash show? Change the channel!"

"Don't move!" My dad let out a low roar like a thunderclap, freezing Hazel in her tracks.

His face was livid, veins popping on his forehead. His eyes were fixed on the screen. "Keep watching! I want to hear this!"

I looked at the TV "blankly," my body shaking slightly. "Is... is this... talking about...?"

On the screen, the host acted appropriately shocked.

"My god! A forty-thousand-dollar bag? This mother's behavior is very strange! And you said the daughter is allergic to shellfish, yet she asked for lobsters? That makes no sense! So... what happened between you and your girlfriend?"

The guest's voice was full of pain and disappointment.

"I just couldn't handle the pressure anymore. I felt like an ATM. What's scarier is that when I cautiously asked my girlfriend about it, she had no idea! she was more shocked than I was... It made me so confused! I don't know who to trust..."

The host paused and then threw out the million-dollar question.

"Wait! You said the girlfriend didn't know? Is it possible that from the beginning, the mother was the one pulling the strings? Using her daughter as an excuse to get rich? Or maybe... purposefully sabotaging the relationship?"

That core accusation was the final straw. It shattered Leila!

She began to shake like a leaf. She screamed incoherently, "What is this garbage? This is all lies, just nonsense..."

She jumped up and shut off the TV.

"Why are you panicking?" I said coldly. "Is the mother in the story... you?"

I looked at her with a mocking smile, as if I were looking at something filthy.

"It's not me, it's not me!" Leila scrambled.

But my dad wasn't so easy to fool. His face was dark. "Leila, explain yourself."

Hazel rushed forward, shielding Leila.

"Explain what! Everyone has seen how my mom has treated Linnie all these years!"

Leila added shamelessly, "Exactly, Bill! How can you doubt me like this?"

The living room went deathly silent.

My dad slowly stood up from the sofa. His tall frame seemed to slouch, as if he had aged ten years in a second.

He walked step by step toward the pale Leila, his voice terrifyingly raspy.

"You know exactly what you did."

Every word sounded like it was being ground out from between his teeth.

I watched silently, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.