Chapter 1
My twentieth birthday party was halfway through, and the seats reserved for my parents remained empty.
Just as I was about to call and ask, my phone lit up.
It was a notification from the city's elite lifestyle channel. Delilah, the true daughter who had been recognized just a week ago, had merely fed some fish in the backyard.
Yet, our parents had booked the prime time slot of the entire television station for an exclusive interview with her. It was titled, [The Goodman Family's Daughter Comes of Age.]
In the photo, they were gathered around Delilah, their faces filled with pride and affection that nearly overflowed from the screen.
In that instant, I felt that Delilah made my twenty years of effort to play the role of their perfect daughter seem like a complete joke.
I turned off my phone and calmly cut into the birthday cake that no one shared with me.
After the party ended, my phone showed dozens of missed calls from my dad, Ralph.
There was also an apologetic voice message from my mom, Harley. "Maeve, Delilah just came back and needs our care. You should be generous; she didn't mean to steal your thunder.
"Next year, we'll make it up to you with an even grander one, okay?"
I looked at the letter of admission to the overseas university in my hand.
There would be no next year. In just seven days, I could leave.
They were the real family bound by blood. That home no longer needed me.
*****
Once the guests had all left, I was alone in the banquet hall.
I popped a piece of birthday cake into my mouth. It was way too sweet, but I couldn't taste a thing.
At one in the morning, the front door creaked open.
My parents swept in with Delilah between them, laughing and chatting, not even noticing me in the living room.
"Delilah, you must be worn out today. Go take a nice hot bath. Mabel made some soup just for you," my mom said warmly.
"Thanks, Mom," Delilah replied, her voice sickly sweet.
Only then did my mom notice me sitting on the couch as she turned to head to the kitchen.
Her smile froze instantly.
My dad looked over as well, his brows furrowing. "Maeve, why aren't you in bed yet?"
I didn't say a word. I just stood up and looked at them.
What a perfect little family of three they were. Standing off to the side, I was nothing but an intruder in their world.
An awkward silence hung in the air.
My mom cleared her throat and pulled an elegant gift box from behind her, handing it to me. "Maeve, happy birthday. I picked this out for you. I hope you like it."
I took the box and opened it.
Inside was a limited-edition handbag.
Delilah leaned in for a peek, scrunching up her nose. "Oh, isn't this the bag I said was hideous and told Mom to return the other day? Why is it here again?"
She quickly covered her mouth, feigning regret. "Oops, sorry, Maeve. I didn't mean it."
My mom's expression soured.
I put the bag back in the box and pushed it toward her.
"Thanks, but I don't want something someone else rejected," I said.
"Maeve!" my mom snapped. "Why are you being so unreasonable? Delilah just got back. Can't you cut her some slack? You're her sister."
"I'm just being honest," I replied.
"You!" My mom sputtered, her finger shaking as she pointed at me.
My dad strode over, clearly annoyed. "Enough. Why are you making a scene over something so trivial?
"Delilah's here for the first time, and you're acting this way as her big sister. You're only making Delilah feel awkward."
I looked at him, and honestly, I found it funny.
Awkward?
All I saw in Delilah's gaze was the swagger of a winner.
I got up and made my way upstairs.
"I'm going to bed," I said.
I heard my mom mutter under her breath behind me. "Look at her. She's not even ours by blood. No matter how much we tried, she'll never be family. What an ungrateful wretch."
I didn't stop walking.
An ungrateful wretch, huh?
Maybe I was.