The Psychopathic Mother

Chapter 1

In my past life, my parents' divorce was the ultimate crossroads.

My sister, Savannah, didn't hesitate to choose our wealthy father. She thought she was securing her future as a socialite and the sole heir to a multi-million dollar empire.

But Dad had been living a double life. His mistress gave birth to a boy, and Savannah was stripped of her status overnight.

Under the stepmother's cruelty, she was eventually kicked out of the house to wander the streets like a stray dog.

I chose Mom, but I was the one who ended up with the golden ticket.

I got into an Ivy League school and married the heir of the Sterling family. I was the classic Cinderella story.

Savannah's jealousy turned into a deadly obsession. On my birthday, she set our family home ablaze, killing everyone inside.

I opened my eyes back to the day of the divorce. When I saw Savannah frantically choosing Mom first, I knew. She had been reborn, too.

What she doesn't know is that while life with Dad is hard, Mom is a broke, controlling psychopath. Following her is a nightmare she won't survive.

...

The phantom pain in my brain hadn't faded when that shrill, familiar voice pierced my ears.

"A mother's love is the only thing that matters! I'm staying with Mom!"

"Dad is a man; he won't know how to look after a girl anyway."

Savannah's voice trailed off with a smug, triumphant tone.

Dad's face turned a sickly shade of gray. He pointed a trembling finger at Savannah.

"You... you..."

He couldn't even finish his sentence.

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Mom's usually cold, indifferent eyes.

"That's my girl. You certainly know how to read the room."

Mom always hated me for being too soft. Now, she wouldn't even look at me.

To her, I was a useless tool she didn't need to waste a second on.

Savannah looked at me with a smirk. She was waiting for me to throw a tantrum or beg Mom to take me back.

But I disappointed her. I looked at Dad and gave him a soft smile.

"Dad, you used to sneak me toys and snacks to make me happy. You stayed up all night when I was sick."

"I want to stay with you."

Dad was stunned. He thought I never knew about those things.

In my previous life, Mom had kept me in the dark about everything he did.

I died believing he felt nothing for me. I only saw his true heart when he collapsed in grief and his hair turned white overnight after my death.

If I hadn't been reborn, I would still be a pawn in Mom's game.

Dad's gaze was suspicious.

"Are you sure you want to come with me?"

I couldn't blame him for doubting me.

Only two hours ago, I had used a classmate's phone to call him and scream about his affair.

I had cursed him out until I was breathless.

Changing so drastically in just a few hours was bound to look like a trap.

Before I could speak, Savannah let out a sharp laugh.

She was desperate to make sure I didn't change my mind.

"Sera, you're so calculating. You just want Dad's money so you can live in luxury!"

"What a heartless brat! Poor Mom, after everything she did for you!"

The old me would have screamed back at her.

This time, I just stood there and stared her down with cold eyes.

"If you have such a big heart, then take good care of Mom. Make sure you heal all her trauma, okay?"

Savannah shivered under my gaze. She rolled her eyes and quickly dragged Mom away.

She looked like she'd just won the lottery, convinced she was headed for high society.

I almost laughed. Some people are just too stupid to save.

If Mom actually had the power to manipulate the elite and get me married into the Sterling family, why would she be divorcing a middle-class man like my dad?

Everything I achieved in my past life was through my own blood, sweat, and tears.

The years I spent with Mom were a literal hell.

She made me the center of her obsessive world. No social life, no choosing my own meals, nothing.

She even measured the temperature of my milk with a thermometer every morning.

If one thing went wrong, she would vent her rage on me physically.

I wonder if Savannah will enjoy that kind of 'happiness.' I can't wait to see it.

2.

The first person I saw at Dad's house was Elena, sitting on the sofa.

She was the woman Mom called a "homewrecker."

Despite being in her late forties, she was elegant and carried herself with grace.

When she saw me, she nervously gripped her apron.

"Sera... your dad told me what you like to eat. I tried my best to cook them..."

"If it's not good, just tell me. Don't force yourself to eat it..."

I walked over to the table and took a bite.

Under their anxious gazes, I smiled.

"It's delicious, Elena. I really like it."

They both let out a sigh of relief. They were shocked by my behavior.

In the past, I would have lunged at her and tried to claw her face off.

They didn't know that I had discovered the truth.

Years ago, Dad was a rising star in the business world, and he and Elena were about to get married.

But my mother, that lunatic, set her sights on him.

She drugged his drink during a business dinner and got pregnant with me.

Dad refused to acknowledge her, but she threatened to report him for sexual assault if he didn't marry her.

Elena saw how hard Dad had worked for his career and chose to sacrifice herself.

She left for Europe in the middle of the night so he wouldn't lose everything.

Two people in love were torn apart by my mother's scheme.

Mom was the real homewrecker. Between her constant drama and her mental instability, she drove my father to the edge.

Our family was broken because of her, not Elena.

We were enjoying our quiet meal when my phone rang. It was Mom.

"I didn't realize you were sneakier than your sister. You acted so innocent for years, only to jump for the money at the last second!"

Her voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Dad's face flushed with anger, but I stayed calm.

"If you've already figured me out, why are you calling?"

"I'm busy. I'm having dinner with my family."

I emphasized the word 'family.' Mom went silent for a few seconds.

"You ungrateful brat! Don't forget who actually gave birth to you!"

"Your dad's money is useless in your hands. Transfer your allowance to me."

I expected this. She only cared about the cash.

I twirled my fork lazily.

"Doesn't Dad pay child support? Is that not enough for you and Savannah?"

"What about my own living expenses?"

She scoffed.

"Your dad is rich! Just ask him for more! Savannah is different from you; she needs the best training!"

"When she makes it big, she'll take care of a loser like you anyway."

She said it so naturally, as if sacrificing my life for Savannah was an honor.

She was just as selfish as I remembered.

I didn't want to waste my breath.

"Sure. If you and Savannah kneel and bow to me thirty times a month, I'll send the money."

She exploded in a scream on the other end.

I set the phone down and let her rant at the empty air.

When she finally went quiet, I hung up.

Mom, when will you realize that I've seen right through you?

3.

The chatter in the classroom stopped the moment I walked in.

Every gaze was filled with disgust and contempt, as if I had committed some unforgivable sin.

But with the soul of an adult, why would I care about a bunch of teenagers?

I reached my desk and found it covered in aggressive scribbles.

"Gold digger! Side-chick supporter! Shameless!"

"Betrayer! You chose money over your own mother and sister! Bitch!"

"Fake princess!"

The words were meant to sting. Everyone was waiting for me to lose it or burst into tears.

They were probably taking bets on my reaction.

I simply wiped the desk clean and opened my textbook before the teacher arrived.

During class, no one was paying attention. As soon as the bell rang, the teacher left.

I marched over to Savannah's desk. She was about to head out for a smoke with her gang of mean girls.

I grabbed her arm and, before she could react, I slapped her hard across the face.

"Slap!!"

The sound echoed through the silent room.

She clutched her red cheek, her voice trembling.

"You bitch! How dare you hit me!"

I slapped her again.

The thugs around her stepped forward. They were the school's worstDsmokers, drinkers, and fighters.

Usually, everyone stayed away from Savannah because of them.

The students were frozen in shock. I had spent my original teenage years in fear of these people.

But as an adult, I had taken up Krav Maga and kickboxing for self-defense.

One of the girls stepped into my personal space, looking up at me.

"Are you looking to die? You think you're tough?"

I looked down at her and whispered three words.

"Restroom. Right now."

I turned and walked away, leaving them fuming.

They couldn't let a public challenge go unanswered if they wanted to keep their 'reputation.'

They rushed after me. A few minutes later, the screams from the girl's restroom were loud enough to reach the principal's office.

By the time they were hauled out, bruised and limping, Dad was already waiting in the office.

He checked me for injuries and then slammed his hand on the desk, demanding the school take action.

Elena was there too, crying actual tears of concern.

"Our Sera has been raised with love! How could she be subjected to this kind of violence?"

The bullies were stunned. They couldn't believe I had taken them all down alone.

They also couldn't understand why I was being treated as the victim.

They were too young to realize how much power and money could influence a situation.

Savannah and her gang were suspended after they got back from the clinic.

They had to read a public apology in front of the entire school. It was a total humiliation.

I, the 'quiet' girl, became the new legend on campus.

Every day after class, I would find Savannah and take whatever money she had.

After a few times, Mom went nuclear.

She cut off Savannah's allowance and started tracking her every move.

Savannah's arrogance vanished, replaced by a gaze of pure fear and regret.

Now you regret it? Too late.

4.

Two-thirds of the way through senior year, I met Kaelen Sterling.

Just like before, he had returned from abroad and been thrown into our elite prep school's top class.

Unlike the rest of us nerds, he was tall, handsome, and carried an aura of mystery.

His face was undeniably top-tier. Even in my busy life, I had to figure out how to catch him.

He was the heir to the Sterling empire, my best ticket to staying away from Mom forever.

I counted down. Three, two, one...

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!"

Savannah dropped a massive pile of folders right into Kaelen's path.

She looked up at him with big, innocent eyes, wearing those wide-lens contacts to look vulnerable.

It was a carbon copy of what I had done in my past life. I almost laughed at the lack of creativity.

Kaelen was annoyed, but his high-class upbringing kept him polite.

He helped her pick up the papers and then walked away without a word.

Savannah stood there, frozen.

"This can't be happening! It's wrong!"

In the past life, he had given me his number on the spot and asked me to dinner.

Our romance had been a whirlwind. By graduation, we were the 'it' couple.

She followed my steps exactly. Why did he just leave?

She didn't know that Kaelen only gave me his number because he saw a specific anime bookmark in my folders.

It was a rare, niche series he was obsessed with.

Finding someone with the same interest in a new environment made him lower his guard.

That's what happens when you don't do your research.

I shook my head and walked by. Savannah instinctively covered her face, afraid I'd hit her again.

The poor girl was traumatized.

As I prepared to go talk to Kaelen myself, our homeroom teacher rushed in and pulled me aside.

"Sera... your mother is at the school gate waiting for you..."

I didn't expect this. Since I moved in with Dad, Mom had only contacted me for money.

I had blocked her number months ago.

What was she doing here now?

Kaelen was already out of sight. I hurried to the gate.

Mom was there, dressed in an out-of-season designer outfit, looking like a mess.

"Enjoying your life of luxury? Forgot you even had a mother, didn't you?"

"You went shopping with that woman! You don't deserve those clothes!"

She looked at my shoes, which probably cost more than her monthly rent.

Her eyes were filled with a terrifying, jagged glint.

I took a few steps back.

"What do you want? I have class. Finals are coming up, so stop bothering me."

The memories of her abuse were too painful. I had no love left for her.

As I turned to leave, her expression shifted.

She swung her arm, and everything went black.

When I woke up, I was in a damp, dark warehouse.