Raised for Ruin, Fighting for Me
Sometimes family is the cage you have to escape to find your wings. Mariah grew up in a house where love was rationed, dreams were discouraged, and every small hope felt like rebellion. Marked as unlucky from birth, she learned to survive on scraps of affection—until one quiet act of defiance from her stepbrother gave her the courage to fight for more. Through heartbreak, betrayal, and a fleeting first love, Mariah battles for her right to an education, a future, and a happiness she’s never known. Every time the world tries to drag her down, she claws her way up—until she’s finally forced to choose: forgive the past or claim her own destiny. Can a girl born in the mud ever shine like a pearl, or is she fated to be trampled forever?