My Mother Ruined Christmas (and My Life) / Chapter 4: Aunt Sarah’s Rescue
My Mother Ruined Christmas (and My Life)

My Mother Ruined Christmas (and My Life)

Author: Mary Schmidt

Chapter 4: Aunt Sarah’s Rescue

← Prev
Next →

Just as I was about to give up resisting and follow Mom's orders, my aunt—my mother's younger sister—came over and warmly patted my shoulder. She smelled like sugar cookies and peppermint lotion as she leaned in. "Natalie, come to Aunt Sarah's house later to watch the Christmas special. Sleep over at Auntie's tonight."

Her nails were painted red and green for the holidays, and her touch was gentle—a silent lifeline. She spoke with a bright, easy confidence that made everyone listen, even Mom.

I was stunned, not daring to answer.

I looked up at Aunt Sarah, hope flickering in my chest. She winked at me, as if she knew exactly how much I needed her right now. But I hesitated, unsure if Mom would allow it.

Mom didn't even hesitate: "Natalie has a lot of homework."

The words came out sharp, the decision made before I could even open my mouth. Aunt Sarah’s smile didn’t falter.

"Lisa, it's Christmas Eve. Why make Natalie hand in homework? The teachers need a break too, don't they?"

Aunt Sarah rolled her eyes just enough for me to see, her voice sweet but pointed. I caught the hint of a grin from Uncle Dave. Aunt Sarah had a way of making even Mom stop and think.

"Who’s even checking Google Classroom on Christmas Eve? Even teachers need a break."

Mom pursed her lips, hesitating for the first time all night. Even she couldn't deny that Christmas Eve was meant for family, not digital submissions and stress.

"Lisa, Natalie hasn't been to my place for more than half a year. I'll take her and Jamie to set off sparklers later."

Auntie knows Mom well, so she deliberately mentioned fireworks. Mom finally relented: "Natalie is timid—let her light more sparklers, toughen her up."

The mention of sparklers made Jamie’s eyes light up. Aunt Sarah gave me a knowing glance, her mouth twitching at the corners. She was a pro at reading between the lines—and at convincing Mom, when no one else could.

Auntie agreed readily, but secretly gave me a look only I could understand.

Her eyes said: Just trust me. I won't let you down tonight. Relief began to melt some of the tension in my chest.

I understood: Auntie wanted me to truly relax for one night. Once I got to her house, she wouldn't make me do anything at all.

I pictured us sprawled on her plush sectional, streaming Christmas movies and eating leftover cookies. It was the closest thing to freedom I could imagine right now.

The dark world suddenly brightened. I ate the Christmas Eve dinner heartily—even the shrimp I usually hated didn't seem so bad.

For a moment, the food tasted sweet again, the laughter from my cousins ringing true. I let myself hope that maybe this night could still be salvaged.

I watched the minute hand on the clock tick by, waiting for dinner to end. But as we were leaving, a hand grabbed me—Mom had changed her mind:

The hallway was crowded with winter coats and half-finished desserts. Just as I was reaching for my gloves, Mom's grip tightened around my wrist.

"Natalie, you're a senior—every day counts. Go to Auntie's after college applications are done."

Her words landed like a sentence. My plans, my hope, vanished in an instant. It was like the door to freedom slammed shut, and I was left holding the key but no way out. I stared at the floor, wishing I could sink through it.

I froze, looking helplessly at Auntie. She frowned but said nothing.

Aunt Sarah bit her lip, her eyes flashing. But she didn't argue this time. Instead, she pressed a pack of gum into my hand—a silent promise that she wouldn't give up.

This chapter is VIP-only. Activate membership to continue.
← Prev
Next →

You may also like

My Mother’s Love Went Viral—and Destroyed Me
My Mother’s Love Went Viral—and Destroyed Me
4.9
She was the internet’s favorite mom—and my personal nightmare. In the glow of her viral breakfast videos, my life was staged for strangers, every emotion twisted for likes, every private moment a new performance. Behind the camera, I was trapped in a cage of love so tight I could barely breathe. My father fled, my classmates turned away, and my secret crush became Mom’s next headline. When her obsession with online validation ruined my last hope for normalcy, I was forced to choose: keep playing her perfect daughter, or risk everything for freedom. But even after I broke away, her betrayal followed me across the internet, and the world had to decide who to believe. Can I reclaim my story before her version goes viral forever?
Her Mother’s Love Was a Lie
Her Mother’s Love Was a Lie
4.7
Shellie brags about a perfect home and a loving mother, but her frayed clothes and empty lunch tray tell another story. When her secret unravels in a brutal, public betrayal, even her desperate loyalty can't save her from the truth: the only thing more painful than hunger is a mother’s rejection. Now, as her former classmate, I can’t stop chasing the ghost of the girl we all broke, even if it means facing what I did to her.
Beating the Jinx: My Mother’s Curse
Beating the Jinx: My Mother’s Curse
4.7
Every time someone hurt Mom, fortune rained down on them—money, love, success. But beneath her bruises, I saw something inhuman: she wasn’t just a hard-luck woman, but a creature who fed on the pain, quietly draining the lives of those who tormented her. Now, as my family’s cruelty spirals, I’m forced to choose—save Mom, or save myself before her curse devours us all.
My Dead Mother Came Back for Revenge
My Dead Mother Came Back for Revenge
5.0
Natalie’s life shatters when her beloved mother dies and her cold, powerful father replaces her with a lookalike daughter. On her sixteenth birthday, humiliated and alone, Natalie receives a mysterious phone call—from her supposedly dead mom. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, Natalie must decide if she’ll fight for her place in a family that wants her gone, or finally break free.
She Jumped—But I Wouldn’t Let Go
She Jumped—But I Wouldn’t Let Go
4.8
She jumped, and the world froze. My mother’s fight for survival began on a rooftop, but the real battle was inside our home—against a father who broke us, a grandmother who cursed us, and a town that wanted us to fail. I was the daughter they called worthless, the girl nobody wanted. Yet every time Mom nearly let go, I pulled her back. Together, we endured betrayal, violence, and humiliation, clinging to hope in the darkest nights. When Dad’s mistress arrived with his ‘perfect’ son, we risked everything for freedom. But the past isn’t so easily escaped—and justice has a long memory. Will our love and defiance be enough to break the cycle, or will old ghosts drag us down again? What does it take for a mother and daughter to claim a life that’s truly their own?
Banned by My Own Son
Banned by My Own Son
4.9
After sacrificing everything for her ungrateful family, a devoted mother is blindsided when her son tries to sabotage her one dream: taking her eighty-year-old mom to D.C. for Memorial Day. Family loyalty turns to betrayal in a flurry of accusations, ultimatums, and a viral group chat war—forcing her to choose between her son and her mother, and to finally stand up for herself before it’s too late.
Cut Off: My Mom Controls My Wallet
Cut Off: My Mom Controls My Wallet
4.7
Rachel’s college life shatters when her mom slashes her allowance to $65 a month—meticulously tracked, penny by penny. Humiliated, hungry, and desperate, she’s forced to fake a wild romance on Instagram just to trigger her mother’s jealousy. But when her rebellion backfires, Rachel must choose: beg for scraps, or finally break free from her mother’s chokehold—even if it means losing everything she’s ever known.
Mother Ate My Future
Mother Ate My Future
5.0
Emily’s greedy, shameless mother steals her allowance, ruins her reputation, and eats her beloved pets—while the whole town buys her lies. With her family’s survival and her own future at stake, Emily must decide if she’ll keep playing the victim or finally break free. But in a house where hope is never safe, will she ever taste justice?
Drowning in Calls: My Mother, My Boss, My Breakdown
Drowning in Calls: My Mother, My Boss, My Breakdown
4.6
Natalie’s dream job is slipping through her fingers, thanks to her mother’s relentless calls and impossible demands. Every buzz of her phone risks exposing her deepest shame to her boss and colleagues, while her son’s needs and her mother’s stubborn love leave her torn in two. When her mother finds her boss’s number and calls during a critical meeting, Natalie must choose: her career, her family, or herself—before she loses everything.
My Daughter Hates Me for Loving Her
My Daughter Hates Me for Loving Her
5.0
Lisa devoted her life to raising her stepdaughter Natalie, only to be branded a homewrecker and publicly cut off after Natalie’s academic triumph. Betrayed by the family she built, Lisa faces humiliation, heartbreak, and a life-altering accident—until she wakes up years earlier, determined not to be destroyed again. But as old wounds resurface and new choices beckon, can she finally break free from the chains of the past?
My Father’s Affair Destroyed Us
My Father’s Affair Destroyed Us
5.0
Abby always believed her family was perfect—until the day she saw the words 'manipulative sweetheart' floating above the woman who ruined everything. Caught between betrayal, heartbreak, and her desperate need to save her mother, Abby will do anything to rewrite the story—even if it means becoming the villain herself. But in a world where truth is twisted and love is never enough, what will she lose to win her mother back?
She Refused to Save Her Dying Mother
She Refused to Save Her Dying Mother
4.7
When Rachel’s mother lands in the ER, her daughter won’t lift a finger—unless her own wedding fund is paid back in full. Family bonds shatter as IOUs replace compassion, and Rachel’s cold refusal sparks a war that exposes every ugly secret. In one night, love turns to violence and betrayal, and the price of a life is set in dollars and blood.