The Sickly Young Master Forced Me To Love

I failed my exams and ended up trapped in a novel.

I've become the villainous stepmother who bullied the male lead during his childhood.

Looking down, I saw a young boy kneeling on the floor. I had a hanger in my hand, as if I was about to hit him.

This boy was the male lead, Xavier Gomez. I was his cruel stepmother, Ariella Marshall.

The novel's title was Madly Loving the Sickly Young Master. In it, the original Ariella married Xavier's 60-year-old father right after turning 18, hoping to inherit his billion-dollar fortune. However, on their wedding night, the old man had a stroke from the excitement and died.

Ariella thought she would inherit everything immediately, but she soon discovered that her late husband had left a will.

She had to raise Xavier until he came of age to receive just 10% of the fortune.

Furious, Ariella had no choice but to care for Xavier. She took her anger out on him, abusing him whenever she could. She beat him, locking him in dark rooms, and denying him food.

Under her abuse, Xavier became mentally twisted. He endured it quietly but tried to kill her multiple times. Ariella always caught him. After one failed attempt, she broke his leg. Crippled, Xavier became even more withdrawn, silently waiting for the right moment.

Once Xavier became an adult, he used his father's resources to rise to power. Then he began his revenge, paying Ariella back a hundredfold for her cruelty. In the end, she was sent to a mental hospital, where she suddenly died.

As the title suggests, during this revenge plot, Xavier and the heroine, Chloe Tucker, go through rounds of love and hate. She ran, he chased, and they eventually ended up happily together.

"Mother, I shouldn't be eating at the table. Please punish me," he said, addressing me formally.

The 10-year-old Xavier knelt on the ground, his dirty little face showing delicate features beneath the grime. He wore thin, ragged clothes and stretched out his hands, palms up.

His father must have just passed away, and this was probably when I started tormenting him...

I didn't remember all the details from the novel, so I had to rely on Ariella's memories.

Without my god-like perspective, would Xavier still try to kill me?

Either way, I'd better be careful. My plan: survive until Xavier turns 18, then claim the 10% of the billion-dollar inheritance and retire in style. Maybe with a cute boytoy.

I had my survival strategy mapped out.

"Stand up, Xavier. I didn't let you eat at the table because your hands are dirty. It's not right to eat without washing them first. Go wash up, and then you can eat," I said, keeping a calm expression.

Xavier stood up slowly, keeping his head down. His long hair covered his eyes, and his silence was almost oppressive.

"Mother, are you thinking of a new way to torture me?"

Xavier was almost looking forward to it.

I sat down and saw the dishes on the table. What kind of horror show is this?

Worm spaghetti, blood pudding, and Coca-Cola beef?

From Ariella's memories, it seemed she had supposedly given the butler and the servants a month off to help young Xavier "build life skills."

In reality, it was just an excuse to make Xavier cook and clean for her as punishment.

This meal must've been Xavier's doing. No wonder he was such a mess.

"Mother," Xavier said, now wearing a change of clothes. They were still old, with sleeves too short for him. He stood in front of me, head bowed.

Oh, that's right. Ariella had donated all his new clothes to an orphanage, leaving him with only old ones, under the pretext of mourning his father and not wearing anything too nice.

I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for the poor kid.

"Xavier, sit."

Xavier snapped his head up, staring at me with his blue eyes.

"Why is Mother acting differently than in my dreams?

Or is she planning to make me kneel all night if I dare sit down or forbid me from eating and using the bathroom?"

I looked at him, unsure of what he was thinking. He seemed wary of me like he didn't trust my intentions.

According to Ariella's memories, this was just the beginning of her torment.

I had just arrived in this world and hadn't done anything yet.

"Ahem. Domestic violence is never okay. I should strive to be a model citizen."

"I said, Xavier, sit down."

"Yes, Mother."

Xavier quietly pulled out a chair and sat next to me.

I put some of the beef on his plate and smiled at him.

"Come on, eat up. This is your first big meal, Xavier."

Xavier took a bite and immediately frowned. The taste was bizarre.

It was his first time cooking, and he figured I wouldn't eat any of it anyway. She'd probably just throw it away and mock him.

So, he had thrown together whatever he could find...

I understood now. This food must taste awful. Time to make my escape!

I ate two bites of rice and put down my fork. "I'm full. Take your time, Xavier, and don't forget to wash your dishes."

Xavier watched me leave, lost in thought.

In the middle of the night, I woke up starving. I went to the fridge to find something to eat, but it was completely empty.

Luckily, this world had takeout delivery.

I ordered a fried chicken combo with a large Coke. Perfect!

As I sat down, with just a small lamp on, ready to dig into my chicken...

Suddenly, I heard a click, and the entire living room lit up.

I turned around, still holding my drumstick, and saw Xavier. What was he doing up at this hour?

"I'm sorry, Mother! I thought there was a burglar," Xavier said, immediately lowering his head and getting ready to kneel.

I grabbed his hand. "What are you doing? Don't kneel to me in the middle of the night. It's bad luck. Don't do this again."

"Yes, Mother," Xavier replied, glancing at the hand I was holding.

It was warm, but the warmth from her hand was so unpleasant.

I let go of his hand.

"Xavier, want a midnight snack?" I asked out of politeness.

"Can I?" Xavier was confused but still asked.

"Uh... why not, haha..."

I was just being polite.

I tore off a chicken wing and handed it to him, not wanting to part with it.

Xavier reached for it. When I didn't let go, he smiled slightly.

"Mother, I don't have to eat it."

I shoved it into his mouth. "Eat it! You should share the good stuff!"

Xavier was stunned but soon lowered his head and began eating slowly.

This woman seems a bit foolish.

He didn't care much for such simple pleasures.

I was truly hungry and wolfed down my food. When I looked up, he was eating so elegantly. A true novel protagonist, even at this age.

Even if he was just the younger version.

After finishing my Coke, I realized I couldn't eat the rest of the burger and fries.

"Xavier, do you want more? I can't finish this."

"Sure," Xavier's eyes sparkled.

He had misjudged. Maybe indulging in a little food wasn't so bad, and maybe this woman wasn't entirely evil.

I thought, "Ten-year-olds are so easy to win over."