Chapter 2

It was my first time setting foot in the Bennett estate.

Everyone I passed in the mansion greeted me respectfully as Miss Sophie.

Mrs. Bennett was bubbling with energy as she led me around, like she never got tired.

But somehow, it fit perfectly with her gentle, caring vibe.

Whenever she spoke to me, her voice was always soft and gentle, like she was telling a story just for me.

An elderly lady asked her about dinner, and while she tapped options on her iPad, she turned to me and asked for my opinion.

"Sophie, what do you like to eat? Is there anything you can't have? You should have an extra glass of milk after dinner, you're so thin," she said, her voice full of concern.

The elderly lady and I exchanged a knowing smile, just listening to her rambling, like we were sharing a little inside joke.

After a while, she realized she was the only one talking and put on a mock pout.

"Sophie, really? Are you and Grace teaming up to poke fun at me?" Mrs. Bennett joked, pretending to pout.

She wasn't a joke. She was just really cute.

"Mrs. Bennett, Miss Sophie just arrived. She'll need some time to settle in with the Bennett family. We can take it slow and get to know her," Grace said gently.

Mrs. Bennett visibly relaxed.

"I thought I was doing a good job hiding it, but I guess I was too eager. Sophie, you're not feeling any pressure, are you?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

I shook my head. "I'm not feeling pressured," I replied.

"That's good," Mrs. Bennett said, sounding relieved.

The Bennett estate was huge, and by the time we'd only seen half of it, it was already dinner time.

At the dinner table, Mr. Bennett put his phone on airplane mode and personally served Mrs. Bennett and me.

As we ate, Mrs. Bennett said, "Later, I'll take you upstairs to pick your room. I asked the Carters about your style, and Mrs. Carter said you're okay with anything. Are you really unsure what you like, or just too polite to say?"

I lowered my eyes.

Honestly, I never really knew what I liked. Growing up in the orphanage, choices were rare.

Sometimes, a box of colored pencils would get passed around between a dozen kids, and before I could even decide which color I liked best, someone else would grab them away.

After I went to the Carter family, Mrs. Carter loved pink and just assumed every girl did too, so all my clothes and things ended up pink.

I stared at the bowl of stew in front of me, feeling awkward as I spoke.

"Sorry, I'm not really sure what I like yet," I said softly.

The air hung heavy for a few seconds before Mr. Bennett spoke up.

"It's totally normal not to know yet. You're just a kid, and your whole world hasn't even settled yet. How could you already know what you like?" he said gently.

No one had ever said that to me before. I looked up at him, in disbelief.

Wasn't one supposed to have it all figured out from the start?

The teachers at the orphanage and Mrs. Carter always told me, "Only you really know yourself."

Seeing me stunned, Mr. Bennett chuckled. "Even my wife still can't decide whether cotton or silk pajamas help her sleep better. There's nothing wrong with being unsure."

"You don't have to apologize just because you're uncertain," he added gently.

*****

Mr. Carter called after dinner.

Mr. Bennett was on the phone for a bit, then looked in my direction.

Mrs. Bennett picked up on his cue and, with a gentle smile, asked me in a soft voice, "Would you like to see the Carter family?"

I fell silent.

Back when I was with the Carter family, I always felt so small, like I just wasn't good enough.

Especially at those family gatherings, I felt totally out of place compared to the other kids. Mr. Carter kept nudging me, always pressuring me to catch up.

During those six months, every day was filled with lessons, schoolwork, and endless drills on manners and etiquette.

It was busy, but I was constantly tense, always stressed out.

The Carter family used to bring a bunch of people over to watch me, critique me, and judge how well I was doing with all the stuff they made me learn.

Everyone staring at me, it was suffocating.

When the Carter family sent me back to the orphanage, I was disappointed, but honestly, I actually felt kind of relieved.

I thought to myself whether I really wanted to see them again.

I found myself clutching the edge of my shirt without even thinking.

*****

Mr. and Mrs. Carter showed up at the Bennett estate late at night, and they made sure to bring Lily with them.

Lily looked a little fairer and healthier, floating in wearing a pink princess dress.

Lily grinned, "Long time no see, Sophie!"

She rushed over and hugged me tight, like we were best friends who hadn't seen each other in forever.

I gave her a gentle hug back, then stepped away to put some distance between us.

"Sophie, I've made so many friends here! Everyone just loves me," Lily bragged, her voice full of excitement.

She grabbed my hand and swung it back and forth, practically showing off, looking smug and proud.

"Lily really is a charmer. Lots of people say she gets her personality from me," Mrs. Carter said, beaming with pride.

Mrs. Carter was beaming too, clearly proud.

"When we first brought Lily home, John was worried she'd be too energetic and wear me out. But now, she keeps him laughing every single day," Mrs. Carter added, her voice full of affection.

"Sure, it's tiring, but raising a kid is never easy. Still, we're both loving every minute of it," Mr. Carter chimed in, his expression overflowing with affection for Lily.

I just stood there quietly, watching them, and a bitter ache welled up inside me.

Back when I got first place in my class, it just so happened to be Mrs. Carter's birthday party. One of my teachers was invited and gave me a shout-out for my grades right in front of everyone.

What Mr. Carter had said back then.

"Kids are unpredictable. Don't praise her in front of everyone, it'll make her forget her roots and get all full of herself," he said, sounding totally indifferent.

Everyone was watching, and Mr. Carter's words made the teacher look down in embarrassment.

Mrs. Carter took a sip of her wine, gave the teacher a lazy look, then turned to me.

"Sophie, you really need to ask yourself, why are you just top of your class? You're still nowhere near the best in the whole grade," she said.

After that, the teacher never smiled at me again.

They treated Lily so differently now. It was obvious she was the one they truly cared about.

They just never wanted me around.