Chapter 4 After Tyler got taken away, my life turned completely dark. Someone stole my school uniform and cut it up. My food was always rotten and gross. When I got dizzy from being so hungry, I had to dig through the freezing trash cans. I kept calling that phone number I knew by heart on the payphone. It was always busy. On Christmas Day, I was shivering in my bed and found out someone had ripped out all the stuffing from my only blanket and filled it with garbage. I gritted my teeth and sold my long hair-the only thing I had worth anything-for a few coins. My hands were shaking as I dialed the number again. This time, someone actually picked up. "Mom," my voice was all scratchy, "Merry Christmas..." I could hear a baby crying really loud on the other end, and Mom singing softly. "Shh, don't cry sweetie, Daddy's here..." Uncle Gabriel was laughing: "Come here, let Daddy hold you." [ held the phone tight, pretending I was in that warm, happy room with them. 'Who is this?" My voice broke: "Mom, I miss you so much. Don't call so much. I'll visit when I have time." Right then, I finally got it. They were a real family now. Chapter 4 And I was just some outsider they didn't want around. The line went dead. I walked back to my freezing dorm room and used the last bit of strength I had to light a little white candle I'd been hiding. The tiny flame flickered in the darkness. I whispered to it: "Happy ninth birthday, Aria." After that, I stopped calling. And Uncle Gabriel never showed up like he promised. I learned to keep quiet and swallow all the bullying, just hoping I could survive until graduation. But then I inherited Mom's looks, and that became my new crime. When I got straight A's, the girls got jealous and spread rumors that I was sleeping with teachers to get the answers early. They burned my back with curling irons, threw my textbooks in the toilets, and poured red ink all over my chair. I never said a word. Just took it all. Because I knew nobody had my back. Then one day, Mom suddenly showed up. frantically threw on my only decent turtleneck to hide all the scars and burns. My heart was pounding. Maybe she was finally here to take me home. She looked perfect as always, barely glanced at me, then said coldly: Come with me to the hospital. You need to save your sister." My little sister had leukemia. he needed a bone marrow transplant. Mom was too old now-another pregnancy would be really risky. ind Uncle Gabriel would never let her take that kind of chance. o I was the only one who could save my sister. n the cold hospital hallway, they wheeled me toward the operating room. or once Mom's voice was soft, but every word still hurt: Aria, raising you wasn't easy. Now it's time to pay me back." Grandma's voice was ice cold: That psychic was right-you were born cursed, nothing but bad luck for this family. Giving your bone marrow to save the baby is how you finally do something good!" When I stayed quiet, Mom's voice turned nasty: "What's with the attitude? God, you look more like your father every day-you're both exactly the same!" "I should've had an abortion when I found out I was pregnant. Would've saved me years of headaches!" My whole body went stiff. She never wanted me. Not even before I was born. She hated my mob boss dad. Hated that he cheated while she was pregnant. Hated that he made her look like an idiot in front of everyone who mattered. And she hated me for ruining everything. But what was she supposed to do back then? She was young and had no power. So she had me and made me into her weapon for getting back at everyone. Now Mom finally got what she wanted-she was back on top. From scandal to society queen. But what about me? What happened to that happy family she used to promise me? I closed my eyes and gave up fighting: "Okay. I'll do it." I was supposed to be so smart, right? I'd read enough medical stuff to know what bone marrow donation could do to someone my age But what other choice did I have? All I ever wanted was to be Mom's kid. I was lying there on the operating table, waiting for them to put me under. Mom was looking at me and for like half a second, maybe she felt guilty. That's when the doctor came rushing in holding some papers: "The new test results are back-this girl is only a half-match with your daughter." Mom looked confused. "But they're both my kids, so that makes sense, right?" The doctor shook his head: "We did some digging on that mob guy-turns out he was basically sterile. No way he could've fathered any children!" Mom just froze, staring at him like he'd slapped her. "Then who's-"