Knocked up by my new Stepdad

Viola.

I went to a boarding school and just finished my final year. My mom had left me there after she and Dad broke up, so she could get married again.

After that, she stopped caring about anything but herself. She always hung around guys who spent money on her because she liked a fancy life-she'd inherited a lot of money.

She was also getting a big payment from Dad every month, just because she sent me off to boarding school and didn't care about me. But I was done with all of it.

Once I heard she got married, I knew I had to go home. I wasn't going to go to a college far away anymore.

The house where she was living? It's supposed to be Dad's house-his, not hers. And the money she's spending on her new husband? That's my money and Dad's. I can't let her take everything again. If she wants to be married, she and her new husband need to move out for good.

I love my mom, but I don't like how selfish she is. She acts young and cool, even though she's not. I'm 18, and she's about 40. When I go home, I'm gonna find out who this new guy is that my mom married-I bet he just wants to use her money too.

I packed up. Whether they're ready for me or not-even though my mom didn't care enough to send someone to pick me up-I was just going to show up and shake things up.

Within a month, I bet her new husband will want to leave, or maybe they'll both move out. She needs to realize she's not as young as she thinks, and she can't live this crazy life forever, even if she's married.

When the driver opened the limo door, I got in. The whole way, I kept thinking of ways to make her new husband mad, mess up his life, make him regret marrying her, and maybe make him leave her.

So many thoughts ran through my head. I imagined some short man with a big belly, bald, who could barely walk and always coughing. But then I was totally surprised.

We got to the house, and there was Mom, waiting at the gate with all the staff. She was smiling so big. The crazy thing? Mom was so pretty she looked like my older sister. She seemed nicer than I had ever seen her. She hugged me and kissed my cheek for the first time ever.

"Viola, my love! I missed you so much. You're finally home. You'll live with us now."

I leaned back, raised my eyebrows, and looked at her. "With you? You really think you can just have your new husband living in Dad's house? Just because Dad let you stay doesn't mean you can let your husband stay too. This house belongs to me and Dad."

Before Mom could answer-though I half-expected her to slap me-I heard someone else speak behind her.

"Who said we're going to stay here? You're coming with us."

I turned around, annoyed. Instead of seeing some weird old teacher-looking guy, I saw a man in a perfect suit. He had long, thick black hair, and he was big and strong-his suit looked super expensive too.

He even had bodyguards with him on both sides. Was he some kind of celebrity or rich guy?

I just stared, not sure what to say. He came down the stairs and looked right at me.

"Hey, beautiful."

I frowned and said, "Don't call me beautiful. Who are you?"

Mom took out a marriage certificate and pinned it to her chest proudly. He smiled at me like he was teasing me. "I'm your mom's husband. My name's Mark."

I just stared, shocked, not knowing what to say. He was super good-looking, probably ten years younger than Mom, and seemed rich. Why would he marry her? I mean, Mom's not ugly but she's not young anymore-I'm 18.

I blurted out, "And you married Mom? Something weird must be going on."

Mom got upset and said, "What do you mean by that? You think I'm not good enough for him? You think I'm not pretty?"

I looked at them and said, "If you want to live somewhere else, fine, go ahead. I'm staying here."

I tried to walk past them and pushed his shoulder, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me closer. "Right now, I'm in your dad's place. So I'm in charge."

I frowned and told him, "You can't tell me what to do. I'll tell Dad."

He laughed and said, "Do you think your dad can stop me? Do you even know who I am?"

He was acting super confident, which really annoyed me, but I tried not to show it. I pulled my arm away and said, "You're nothing to me. If you want to be with Mom, go live with her somewhere far away. This is my house now."

He leaned in close and said, "We'll see about that."

Suddenly, he picked me up like I weighed nothing, put me over his shoulder, and carried me to the limo.

He told Mom, "Come on, let's go." He put me in the limo and sat next to me. Mom got in too, still holding my hand. He told the drivers, "Let's go."

A lot of cars followed us, like he was super important or something. No way he was just some normal businessman.

He looked really rich. I started yelling, "I'm calling the police! I'm telling on you! Leave me alone!" I hit him, but he ignored me completely.

Calm as ever, he said, "If you want to call the police, go ahead."

He whispered to me, quiet but confident, and it actually made me stop talking. I just stared at him until we got there.

Next, we pulled up to-not a castle, but a huge, guarded mansion, with lots of security everywhere.

The gates opened and closed by themselves, and there were probably 50 or 100 workers. Shocked, I turned to Mom, "Mom, who *did* you marry?"

She laughed as we got out, and he said to me, "Welcome. This is our new house, and you'll live with us here."

I was still in shock. Mom added, "Oh, about your graduation party tonight? You can't go. We're having a party here instead."

"I have to go! My friends are waiting for me!" I complained.

No way was I letting them ruin my special night. I had planned it for so long!

He walked ahead and told the staff, "Get everything ready for the party. Send Viola the dress and outfit I picked for her. Put it in her room."

"You picked my clothes? Who do you think you are?"

He's acting like he's my husband, not Mom's!

Viola

I didn't care at all about what he was saying. I walked inside with Mom. I thought to myself, I'm just staying here for a little while. I'll bother him so much that he'll either end up divorcing Mom or he'll finally get so annoyed that he tells me to go live with Dad-or maybe I'll just leave.

He was so full of himself, way too confident, even if he was rich. But he couldn't control me.

Some servants walked with me to his office-I wasn't sure if they were assistants or something else. He had important papers and phones all around him.

Mom seemed to know her way around the house completely. She said, Come on, let me show you your room upstairs.

I went upstairs with her. The room was huge, and there were maids everywhere. I have to admit, it was really impressive. My family isn't poor or anything, but this place was on another level.

He must be a billionaire. Okay, fine, I said. They opened my room and I was shocked. Everything I loved was there. I looked at Mom and asked, Did you decorate this room?

She answered, No, why?

I couldn't even think straight. Did Mom's husband look me up and figure out everything I like? The whole room was olive green, the color I love the most. He even put certain small trees I really like, those expensive bonsai types.

I really love bonsai trees. There was one on the desk. The desk looked like someone made it just for me. On top there was a brand-new laptop and a new iPad. Everything was ready for me. If my boyfriend did this, it would be sweet, but for a stepdad, it just felt strange and made me suspicious.

Mom, I said, haven't you noticed he got everything I like?

She put my things on a shelf and said, He's really thoughtful. He told me he wants you to be happy here. He doesn't have kids, but he likes children.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. If you think I'm a child, Mom, I'm 18. Girls my age are already getting married.

Mom didn't answer that. She just said, Anyway, there's a closet full of clothes for you. The maid will bring your party dress soon. Rest a bit, then come to lunch with us. Please stay in for the party tonight.

Mom, I've told you a million times-I'm going to my party tonight.

She said, There's a lot of trouble at that party. Mark said girls usually lose really important things there.

I raised my eyebrows and put my hands on my hips. Who is this Mark to tell me how to live my life? My dad is alive. Dad would let me go to the party.

I have to go now, she said. I need to take a shower and spend some time with Mark. We're newlyweds, you know? Her face turned red.

I looked at her. The staff all left. I told them, Please leave me alone.

There was a dress lying on the bed, shoes, and a necklace in a box. I opened the box. Wow. I thought, If he's giving this to me, what is he giving Mom? I really wanted to know. Then I decided, whatever. I'll just wear this to the party tonight. I'll be the best-looking girl there. After the party, I'll figure out how to bother them, make him annoyed, and maybe get him to throw me out.

I took out my phone. Let me see how much this necklace and these earrings cost. I checked online and found out they were a hundred thousand dollars. I was shocked, but that just showed how rich he is.

The maid kept standing there. Miss, you should take a shower. I'll help you.

No, I said, I don't want any help. I'll shower alone.

She wouldn't leave. Come on, please get out. I'm not used to having someone help me.

I can't, she said. Mr. Mark ordered me to help you while you're here.

I felt so frustrated. Fine, just get the bathroom ready. It was the first time in my life someone did that for me.

Then I saw what it meant: warm water, flower petals, nice-smelling bubbles-super fancy, really. She even helped me get undressed. I don't know why, but I wasn't embarrassed, even though it was the first time I changed clothes in front of someone else.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door, a man's voice. The maid said, It's Mr. Mark.

I'm in here, I shouted. Please don't come in-I'm taking a shower.

He laughed from outside. Don't worry, I'm not coming in. You're like my daughter now.

I was annoyed. I'm 18.

I yelled, Just get out. Go hang out with your wife.

He said, Okay, I just wanted to say the party is going to start a little early tonight.

I let out a loud sigh. Fine, whatever.

Seven is way too early. My other party starts at nine. I thought, I will go downstairs for a while, then maybe sneak out to meet my friends at the gate, ride with them, and go have fun. We'll hang out, dance, and do whatever we want.

Because tonight, I really wanted to try something different. I've never had a boyfriend, never even kissed anyone.

All the other girls... I've always gone to boarding school. No guys ever noticed me or tried to be close. I felt so frustrated. Tonight, I just wanted to do what I wanted, whatever that might be.

I decided, fine. But first, I'm going to mess up his party.

Viola.

After finishing my shower, I stepped out and headed toward the dressing room to change into proper clothes. But then I stopped and thought, No-I'm not going to bother getting fully dressed right now. I'll just go downstairs wearing this bathrobe. He's expecting me for lunch anyway, so I'll show up in the bathrobe and see how he reacts.

The maid waiting outside the bathroom saw me heading for the stairs and immediately tried to stop me. She looked worried and said something like, "Miss, please, let me help you get dressed properly first." But I looked down at the floor, avoiding her eyes. It was tough on her-she seemed really uncomfortable and unsure what to do-but I said firmly, "It doesn't matter. I have to do this. There needs to be some consequences if I want to get what I want."

I ignored her and started walking down the stairs in just the bathrobe. The hem was short, barely reaching mid-thigh, and everyone in the hallway and on the landing stared at me. Suddenly, from the dining room below, I heard him yelling in a loud, commanding voice: "All the staff-eyes on the floor! Eyes on the floor right now!" I still had underwear on underneath, but coming down the stairs from above, the angle made it look revealing. Still, nothing was actually showing. I kept walking anyway, head held high, pretending I didn't notice the stares.

I reached the dining area where lunch was already set up on the long table. Fancy plates, silverware, and food that smelled expensive were arranged perfectly. He was sitting at the head of the table like always, and Mom was next to him. He looked up, saw me in the robe, and his face twisted in disbelief.

"Were you raised on the streets by thugs or what?" he asked, his tone sharp and mocking.

"Why?" I asked back coolly, still standing instead of sitting.

He leaned back in his chair. "Does a respectable girl come down to lunch in a bathrobe?"

"I'm not respectable," I shot back without hesitation. "If you don't like it, kick me out. If you don't like it, divorce Mom."

Mom spoke up quickly, her voice soft and nervous. "No, and I don't mind. Why would I? Even if you were completely naked, it'd be fine-you're still a kid."

He kept calling me a "kid" over and over, clearly trying to annoy me and make me feel small. "Fine," I said flatly, finally sitting down across from them.

At the table, Mom sat quietly, and he was in the big chair-like a king on a throne. He really owned the place; you could feel it in the air. He acted like royalty, like everything and everyone belonged to him.

Suddenly, he reached over and pulled Mom onto his lap right in front of me. I stared at them, shocked. "What are you doing?" I asked.

Mom's face turned bright red with embarrassment. "Not in front of the girl," she said quickly, trying to slide off.

He held her in place and laughed a little. "You say she's grown up-well, she needs to know you're my wife, and we're on our honeymoon. We can do anything, anytime. But I'm not doing anything with you right now-I just want to feed you."

Of course, I was fuming inside from all the anger and tension that had been building up. It was so provocative, so in-my-face. I couldn't stand it.

I buried my face in the food and just ate, even though some of it I didn't like at all. I was so annoyed and upset that I started complaining out loud. "This food is terrible!" I said, then threw the plate aside on purpose. The soup spilled across the floor in a messy splash. I knew I was being really rude to the staff and the chefs who had worked hard on it, but I had to do it. I needed to make him uncomfortable, to push back in any way I could.

He looked at the mess without blinking, then said coolly to the staff, "Replace it for her. Get her another plate right now." He turned back to me. "Is something bothering you?"

He was ice-cold, showing no emotions, no heart at all. He just drank his wine like nothing had happened. Of course, I'd done it on purpose-spilling from underneath the table, making a scene. What could I say? He still thought I was just a little girl he could control.

She was older than his mom, for goodness' sake.

I was hurting Mom with my words, even though I didn't mean to-it just came out in the heat of the moment. "How old are you, anyway?" I asked him. "You know Mom's about 40."

He replied coolly, not even fazed. "I'm 32. What do you want?"

"Yeah," I said, pushing harder. "What do you even like about her?"

When I saw Mom starting to cry-tears falling silently down her cheeks-I shut up immediately. Oh no, I didn't mean to hurt her like that. He must have some reason to marry someone older than him, but right then,n I didn't care to figure it out.

He hit the table hard with his big hands, making the plates rattle. "Enough!" he shouted. "You're hurting your mom, not me."

I found myself quiet for once. I got up from the chair. "I'm done eating," I said flatly. "I'm going to my room to rest before the party." But as I passed by them on my way out, I saw his hand already playing with her under the table, squeezinaske he owned her. Under my breath, I muttered, "This shameless man-does he really want to be intimate with her? Even on the dining table?"

As I walked away slowly, trying to look calm, I glanced back one last time. He cleared everything off the table with one sweep of his arm-plates, glasses, food crashing to the floor. Then he laid Mom down right on the table like it was a bed. He sat between her legs, pushed her skirt up, and started touching her intimately from underneath. She was enjoying it so much, moaning softly, her hands in his hair.

I found myself running up the stairs as fast as I could, heart pounding, face burning.

Was he really being intimate with her like that? How shameless! How could they do this with people around? I felt sick, angry, and embarrassed-all at once. I just wanted to get to my room and lock the door behind me.