Chapter 21 BIT BACK

Xina’s eyes welled up with tears, her cheek throbbing from the slap. The pain was sharp, radiating through her face and into her heart. She had always longed for a relationship with Greg, a bond that mirrored the love between a father and daughter. But now, that dream seemed more distant than ever. How naïve she had been to believe that her father’s affection could be earned if she just behaved, if she adhered to every rule he laid out. She had convinced herself that by being the "good girl," as her mother had so often preached, Greg would finally see her worth. But now, she realized that he had never truly wanted her—not as a daughter, not as anything. Her mother’s constant teachings had been clear: be a good girl, follow Gaia’s example, and Greg would eventually love you. But how was she supposed to model herself after Gaia? Gaia, who had tormented her, stolen her boyfriend, and seemed to take pleasure in making Xina's life miserable? The thought of taking Gaia as a role model was