"My Stepsister, My Mate, My Curse"

or Ro

an through the house, searching for my

looking at me in confusion. "I

received just ten minutes ago. His eyes widened as he stared at the screen, processi

ke she's found the person she wants

rue, then my dream of bringing my parents back tog

he returned the embrace, his voic

stration. "No, I won't go! She turned her back o

e and my father overnight, later sending him the divorce papers. She refused any settlement, telling us she wan

d, sometimes I didn't, depending on my mood. But I missed her. I missed the warmth of our family,

my mother walk down the aisle in a wedding dress-for so

part of her happiness. Don't break

voice wavered as I asked, "Are

ever. "Of course not, sweetheart. But I don't want

bout your own pain; you only care about hers. You

about it," I muttered before

en years and ten months old. In two months, I'll turn eighteen and finally be

se isn't the right word. I fear them. If given the choice between being locked in a room with an enraged demon with horns or a

ident when I was six, just a ye

where. We were easy prey, and it charged toward us like a lion ready to pounce. My friend saw it first, and in an act of sheer selfishness, she turn

ved me was a neighbor who heard the commotion and rushed over to pull the beast

back to

makeup, and dating older guys. I never understood the appeal, but to each the

liked by everyone. My mother, Maria, is a beautiful and ambitious woman. She was once completely infatuated with my fath

r changing my clothes, staring

the wedding?" I

childhood with my mother, but unfor

not my fault," I muttered

th my father and myself. When he returned from his worksho

ve you made up your mind?" He sounded eager t

and replied, "I know, but you have to decide so

. "Admit it-you just

exclaiming, "Of course not,

gh. "Alright, Dad. I'll

e smiled and patted my head.

ays l

nize everything I needed. He advised me not to arg

with my grandmother in her hometown. I bet the

t?" My father's voice was gentle, but beneath

be nice to the trees, the bird

ruffled my hair

lled out, waving as I walked away among the

e pla

ing heart. It finally hit me-I was on my way

or. Just enjoy the flight

ral times. A middle-aged woman sat beside me, and we c

me that we had arrived and I needed to disembark. Takin

a cart, I pushed it forward while scanning the crowd for a sign with my name, jus

erly about how my mother hadn't even bothered t

anded on a sign th

irritation-I hated it when peo

in youthful attire, with short hair and strikingly familiar features. My grandmother, of co

e cried out excitedly the moment she saw me before pulli

a... I hope yo

er figure proudly. "I'm as f

llowing her outside, push

trunk, and I loaded my bags inside before slipp

urgent came up, so she couldn't make it," my gran

replied with forced politeness,

such an understandin

was just following

got the better of me. "Wh

nderful! You'll like him

th, "That's impossible."

thing?" she asked

head quickly, embarrasse

autiful town-charming for a small city. I smiled at the scenery, asking

I took a moment to take in the details. A neatly trimmed lawn, a large apple tre

before waiting for my grandmother to join me. She walked ahead, unlocki

pped over the th

r my grandmother. The moment it saw her, it p

keted, my breath ca

t to me, it looked a

en us, I let out a bloodcurdling scre