The Day I Kissed An Older Man

"Well, well, if it isn't Rita. Aren't you always too proud to grace us with your presence at gatherings like these? Why are you here tonight?" Sadie asked.

Rita raised an eyebrow coldly as she looked at her stepsister who stood several centimeters shorter than her. "This is my home. I can come and go as I please. You can't tell me what to do," Rita retorted.

Sadie scoffed. "You can only show your arrogance when you're in front of me. But let me tell you, you're the most unwelcome person in our family right now. If I were you, I wouldn't bother showing up at these events. Do you realize how much shame you're bringing upon Dad you're your job as a reporter? He suffers because of that and ends up complaining to my mother. You don't even know how to behave, but I guess I'm not surprised by how you act since you don't even have a mother to give you a proper upbringing."

Rita felt a surge of irritation at those familiar barbs, but age had taught her to hold her own against that.

"Yes, I'm a reporter. But how exactly does my work disgrace your father?" Rita emphasized the word 'your'.

some of them are like you because they

with Rita. She despised those who brought up the topic of having a stepfather. At the time, she did not see anything wrong with her decision. After living in abject poverty for so long, anyone would be willing to forsake their father if they were presented with a shortcut to wealth and glory. Years had passed since then, yet she did not see anything wrong in her choice either. If she could turn back time, she would make

her miserable past. Children tended to have short memories but not when it involved seeing her mother getting beaten by her perpetually drunk father. She did not

year, working as a reporter had toughened Rita both physically and mentally, and

think you can throw

walk up the stairs when she spotted the altercation between the two. Sadie was evidently on the losing end, so

on here?" he demanded

when she