The Day I Kissed An Older Man by Cher the Cherished

"I know. But Rita's living alone outside now and managed to find a job at New Capital Times. I don't expect much from Sadie, but
she should at least be doing better than Rita, right?"
In the second year after Karen married Vince, Sadie changed her surname from Parr to Russell. Those who were not aware just
assumed she was Vince and Karen's daughter.
Due to her decision to change her daughter's surname, Karen was mocked in her social circles. Her motives could not be any
more obvious. Only Vince was oblivious to it, thinking she genuinely loved him when, in reality, she only did it so that Sadie
would be able to inherit his money after his death.
When discussing the mess that was the Russell family, it was inevitable that Rita's name would be brought up. Back then, Rita's
mother also came from a prestigious family and everyone thought she was marrying beneath her by taking Vince as her
husband.
However, Rita's status in the family had fallen ever since her mother passed away. With such a scheming stepmother, her days
ahead would undoubtedly be fraught with difficulties.
Everyone felt sorry for her, but ultimately, they could not do anything for her. After all, it was not like anything good could come
out of them cutting ties with the Russell family.
Rita returned to her apartment feeling a bit dejected. Just the thought of going to the dinner party the next day exhausted her.
Not only would she have to put on a fake smile in front of others, but she would also have to pretend to get along with her
stepmother and stepsister. She had not even started, yet she was already exhausted.
She knew the reason her father had remarried was to give her a maternal figure in her life, but after Karen entered their lives,
Rita realized that everything was different from what she had imagined.
Her father's life no longer revolved around her. Not only did he have a new wife but also a new daughter! Even the influence of
his late wife in his life was fading year by year.
At first, Karen used to make a show
of commemorating the death anniversary of Rita's mother, to which Rita strongly opposed to. However, this one time, Vince got
really angry at her, accusing her of ingratitude and having no respect for her elders.

It was the first major argument Rita had with her father over her mother. She was adamant and refused to yield, no matter how
much Karen tried to please her father.
Her mother's death had a profound
impact on Rita, and on her mother's death anniversary, she only wished to be alone to express her heartfelt longing. There was
no need to involve any outsiders. Who was Karen putting up a show for anyway?
However, after that argument, Vince realized that what he thought was for Rita's own good was hurting their father-daughter
relationship.
Rita did care about her father, but
she also knew that as he gradually formed a new family with another woman, she would have to take a backseat. It was not like
she had never felt resentful about it, but with time and her own growth, her
resentment gradually faded.
After all, everyone had their lives to live. She had no right to tie her father to the past, and as for her late mother, it was enough
for Rita alone to miss her. Rita would always be her precious daughter. Although on the surface, it might seem like Rita had
come to accept Karen and Sadie, deep down, she felt disgusted at sharing the same space with them. Karen's hypocritical
behavior repulsed her. [Camille, are you coming to the dinner party at my dad's house tomorrow?]
Rita sent a message to her best friend, whom she had known since they were little.