pte

ng, I woke up

n the rhythmic ticking of the antique clock on the mantel. I pushed back the h

already bathed in the pale

ad maid, who was quietly wiping down th

ft for the office early, ma'am. He mentioned his pain had settled a

s

e or if he had asked about me. After five years, I knew better

sliced through the quiet hall. I pulled it from my poc

tened as I an

r, cautious edge he always had when dealing with family matters. "Are you

rare invitation, a sharp, pierci

ugh the receiver, dripping with unconcealed disgust. "Hang up the phone! We don't need

hit like

is voice hushed and hurried on the other end, but th

cating ache blo

er want me around when her favori

es of my childhood rushed to the

very routine, painting until my fingers were stained with ink and pigment. Yet, no matter how many top marks I brought home or how many dance awards I place

and, had been celebrated

s, yet our mother coddled her as if she were a fragile genius. Vivienne had chased dreams of becoming an actress, though her talen

nnual school drama. My mother had marched straight to the principa

d insisted without a shred of shame. "Vivienne is the elder

d through blood, sweat, and tears was casually snatched

ultimate betraya

oyed our family's standing, dragged the Kingsley name through scandal, broke Xavier's heart, and crushed my lifelong dream of becoming a professional dancer. To save face

world and seeing her career crumble

rything. The wreckage she left behind was instantly erased. Her sins were forgotten, Xavier was back a

ather's voice crackled through the

n't a

ng the red button to cut the call before the t

g foyer of the Kingsley mansion, I

aight back to my room, and lock

k sanctuary of my bedroom where I could hide the humiliation clawi

top

ogany banister, trembling slightly be

y

my mother love me, it wouldn't make Xavier care, and it certainly wouldn't stop Vivienne from reclaiming what she thought was hers. Hidin

t mattere

et, unyielding stillness. I lowered my foot back to the marble fl

t of the frame, I was done beggi

the console and walked st

cating injustice was too heavy to carry. I needed to look my mother in the eye. I needed to hear her say why she despised me so deeply-

ate passed in a blur of bli

. The door opened a moment later, the family ma

Kingsley," she stammere

warm, rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee and buttered pastries, accompanie

against the hardwood as I

sunlight. My mother was beaming, pouring orange juice with an affectionate smile I

er side of the table, and the air w

sat

." The man who had looked at me with cold disgust only hou

ng right bes

ive long years, I saw him smile-a genuine, warm curve of his lips as he leaned slightly toward my sister, listening intently t

n't pu

ything snapped into

d into the phone. Why she had fought so de

protect Vivienne

ever gone to his office this mo

erfect family portrait unfolding before me-the prodigal daug

five years, I realized tha

longed in thei