No Return from Yielding

Synopsis

As Julian Sinclair led his adopted daughter, Chloe Sterling, to the center of the coming-of-age ceremony, I was adjusting the hem of my dress. "Chloe's tiara doesn't fit. Let her wear your custom-made crown just for tonight," Julian said. I froze for a moment, and he added, "Everyone knows you're the true daughter of the Sinchair family, so whether you wear the crown or not doesn't really matter." Chloe stood behind him, holding up her dress, and called out timidly, "Melody." My cousin Evelyn Sinchair stepped in front of me. "This is Melody's coming-of-age ceremony. She's been waiting for this crown for half a year." Julian gave me that look. Ever since I returned to the Sinchair family five years ago, whenever he looked at me like that, I'd always cave. I held Evelyn back and slowly released my grip on my dress. "Let her wear it," I said. Julian gave my shoulder a satisfied pat. "I knew you'd always be the sensible one. When you graduate from college, I will order you an even better custom crown," Julian said. Julian personally placed the crown on Chloe's head, bending down to gently tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Julian whispered, "You look so pretty, Chloe." I'd once begged Julian to tuck my hair behind my ear like that, just like he did for Chloe. On my birthday, the first year I came back to the Sinchair family, I asked him to put the party hat on me, but he just brushed me off, saying it was childish. I took off the matching jacket that went with my dress. This time, I was done giving in.