“I don't deserve it.” This is what I have always been taught. Everything was made for him. He was the sunshine of our family because my parents believed he was.
Well! I'm Bella, the only daughter of the Wilson family. My family is the richest in the country, but the environment here is rotten. My family only loves my elder brother.
I'm saying this because it's my seventeenth birthday, and I'm sitting alone in my room at nine p.m., with no cake and nothing but wishes that will never come true.
“This house is so cold without you,” I murmured between my silent sobs.
I really do miss my brother. I've been constantly bullied ever since he left to study abroad.
My parents never let me talk to him because they believe that the future heir of the family shouldn't talk to trash like me.
“Baltazar, my son! Why this sudden visit?”
I heard my mother's shrill voice echo throughout the mansion.
“Nothing much. I just want to meet my sis.”
It's him.
“Oh! Bella can't possibly be the reason. Come, let's eat first. We were just about to have dinner.”
This time, it was Dad. At his suggestion, Baltazar walked towards the dining hall.
I watched him from a reasonable distance. After their figures disappeared from sight, I returned to my room.
Just below my room was the mansion's hall, where the family gathered. Listening to their chatter, I started crying again. This time, my tears ruined my journal. The harder I tried to stop them, the more they fell.
I didn't even realise when I fell asleep at my desk. But soon, my slumber was interrupted by someone's footsteps.
I hurriedly closed my journal, almost in a panic, and hid it among my numerous schoolbooks.
Before I could think of anything else, there was a soft knock on the door.
I was surprised. What I had expected was someone barging straight into my room.
“Are you still up?”
As soon as the familiar voice reached my ears, I ran straight towards the door. I flung it open, and standing in front of me was my brother.
“Mom told me you refused to eat dinner. May I ask why?”
So, she'd even told him something I had never said.
“I already ate with my friends.”
Well! It's not as if I'm going to tell him about my situation.
“Liar.”
“I—” I tried to defend myself, but he cut me off.
“I bought something for you. Have a look.”
He handed me a neatly wrapped blue box. I didn't waste a single second opening it.
“That's—”
I looked up at him, my eyes wide with amazement.
“Do you like it?” he asked, taking the dress out of the box.
“A lot!”
I threw my arms around him.
“Happy birthday, kitten.”
He gently patted my head.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
“For what?” he asked, tilting his head.
Oh! How could I forget? In his eyes, his family was so caring. He believed I was the most loved girl in the world.
He never knew what his parents were really like. And maybe he'd never find out, either.
“For coming home,” I said with a smile.
We talked for hours about everything that had happened while we were apart. Before we knew it, it was already two in the morning.
“Fine, now go back to sleep. It's late.”
He stood up from the bed and closed the door behind him.
The next morning, when I woke up, I saw Baltazar already preparing to leave the house. When he noticed me, he waved at me with his usual bright smile.
The moment his car pulled away, my heart sank again.
I watched everything from my window—how Dad proudly patted him on the back and how Mom kissed him lovingly. These were things I'd never experienced.
Soon, the metallic vehicle disappeared from sight, leaving me alone with the cold morning breeze.
My parents prayed for his well-being.
I realised that it wasn't time to dwell on my sadness anymore. I had to get ready for school.
I put on my neat school uniform, ready to leave the house.
I walked downstairs slowly.
“Is breakfast ready?” I asked the chef, peeking through the kitchen door.
“Here you go, young lady.”
He handed me a neatly packed lunchbox with a smile.
Obviously, I had to sneak my meals. Before anyone could see me, I shoved the box into my bag.
In the hallway, I ran into Mom.
“Where are you going? We're expecting guests today. You'll stay here.”
“But, Mom, I have an exam today.”
“First, don't call me Mom. Second, you're staying here. That's my order.”
“But—”
“Don't eat anything today. You have to look good.”
“Are you going to starve me to death? I didn't even have dinner last night!”
SLAP.
“You're nothing more than a burden. Do as you're told.”
With red eyes and a clenched jaw, I found myself trapped in that room once again.
After some time, a maid came in.
“Miss, the guests have arrived. Please come downstairs.”
The servants are far too kind compared to my own family.
I walked towards the lavish guest room, accompanied by the maid.
“Miss, did you eat the food I brought you?” she asked in a low voice, concern evident as she noticed my slow steps.
“I did. Otherwise, I might have ended up in a hospital by now.” I forced a smile, but it didn't last long.
“Here's my daughter!” Dad exclaimed, his voice dripping with artificial pride.
“She's the centre of my life. Come here, sweetheart. Sit with me,” Mom said in a soft voice that melted the guests' hearts, but not mine.
I settled down with them. Time passed with business discussions and small talk. Somehow, the conversation eventually turned to planning my engagement with Mr. Voss's son, Ryan.
I had nothing to say, so I didn't bother trying.
Yet, wherever I went, it would surely be better than this place.
“Phew! Finally, it's over,” I sighed when the guests had left the room.
I returned to my bedroom and plopped down on the bed. I was so lost in the ceiling that I didn't come back to my senses until my phone rang.
Baltazar's name was shining on the screen.
I picked up the call, and the first thing I heard was his concerned voice. That left me in shock.
“What happened, Bella? Your teacher called me. Why did you leave your exam?”
He wasn't blaming me, nor was he angry. He was simply worried.
“I had some work. I'll ask for a re-examination.”
“What work is more important than your studies? Don't tell me you're not feeling well.”
His concern kept growing. My brother really did overthink things.
“Bro, that's not the issue.”
“Then what is?”
Silence.
A silence that lasted longer than expected.
“Did you like it?”
He had stopped asking me what it was and started asking whether I liked it.
“No.”
I couldn't lie to him.
“Then why did you choose it over your studies?”
“I can't tell you everything.”
“Have I made a mistake? Or am I not a good brother? Is that why you're keeping secrets from me?”
His voice was barely loud enough to hear.
“It's not like that!” I snapped instantly.
“Then tell me why you're hiding things that are clearly hurting you. I can help you.”
He wasn't ordering me or even asking me anymore. He was pleading with me to lift the veil that concealed my suffering.
The day Mom married his father, he became the only light in my life.
Mom hated me because I reminded her of her ex-husband, my biological father. Dad hated me because the woman he loved—my mom—hated me. He had no other reason.
But then I found a boy who promised to be my brother.
And he kept that promise.
Throughout the years, he had never once made me feel that I was anything less than his sister.
“You won't believe me, so I think it's better to forget about it.”
“Why wouldn't I believe my own sister? Bella, whatever it is, tell me. I'm always on your side.”
“Our parents—” I tried to explain the situation, but my mouth shut on its own.
“Yes?” His voice encouraged me to continue.
“They hate me. They bully me. They don't treat me right.”
Finally.
Finally, I let it all out.
“What are you saying?”
His voice was louder this time, just as I'd expected.
He would tell me that I was misunderstanding things, that perhaps the situation made everything seem worse than it was, or that my parents didn't really mean it.
But he didn't.
“Since when have they been behaving like this?”
Well, that was unexpected.
“Mom, since the day of her divorce. Dad, from the day I came into this house.”
I no longer loved them, so why should I keep following their orders?
“And you're telling me this now?!”
A hint of annoyance was evident in his angry voice.
“They ordered me not to.”
“And you obeyed them?!”
“Sorry.”
“Hey, I'm not angry with you. I'm angry with them, okay?”
For a moment, neither of us said anything.
But when he heard my quiet sobs, his voice began to tremble.
“I'm sorry I'm not there for you. And please forgive your brother for not figuring it out sooner.”
“Bye,” I whispered, my voice cracking as I ended the call.
I curled up on my bed as the tears refused to stop falling.
---
The next morning, I heard a commotion downstairs.
I got out of bed and walked towards the lobby.
I was shocked.
My brother was sitting on a sofa, his face red with anger. Across from him sat our parents. Mom was crying on Dad's lap, while Dad held some papers in his hands. He stared at them as if he couldn't believe what he was reading.
“What's happening?” I asked in a shaky voice.
“You vicious girl! You're just as cheap as your father! How dare you do this?!” Mom shouted at me.
All her elegance had vanished. Her face was red with anger, making her look no better than a ripe tomato.
“There's nothing to worry about, princess. Pack your things. We're moving to London today.”
Baltazar's expression changed completely the moment he saw me. The anger on his face softened, replaced by the familiar warmth I knew so well.
I nodded and went back to pack my things.
It took me about two hours, but finally, my bags were ready.
So was I.
I walked downstairs, but the lobby was empty. Only Baltazar stood there, waiting for me.
“Ready?”
He took the bag from my hands.
“Hmm.” I nodded.
Once we were in the car, I finally couldn't hold back my curiosity any longer.
“What was all that about?”
“Nothing. I just made them nobodies.”
“What?! I don't understand.”
“I cut ties with them. I'm your legal guardian now. Don't worry about the money; I have a business of my own. It's quite popular there.”
“So, we're no longer the richest family in the country?”
“No, but you're still the sister of the smartest man alive.”
“Dream on.”
I laughed. It wasn't a fake smile or a forced laugh like all the others I'd given before.
“But still, why did you go this far?”
“They don't deserve us. And I can't live with them, knowing how they've treated my sister.”
“Thank you.”
“Don't thank me. You'll have to cook three days a week. Don't think I'll treat you like a real princess.”
“Whatever.”
I rolled my eyes at his words.
“Just kidding, my kitty. We have a cook.”
He ruffled my hair with one hand while keeping the other on the steering wheel.
---
Time passed more quickly than I could have imagined.
I'm doing well here in London, working alongside my brother as his personal assistant and as an assistant manager on the marketing team.
“Miss Bella, I need to talk to you about something.”
Baltazar approached my desk and asked me to come to his cabin.
I nodded, closed my laptop, and followed him.
“Here's an offer for you. The salary is twenty thousand dollars more than what you're currently earning. You can join them next week as the senior manager of their marketing team.”
He handed me an offer letter from a prestigious European company.
“That's a nice offer, but I refuse.”
“Why?”
“Because, Mr. Baltazar, at that company, I'll just be a manager. But here, I'm the assistant manager, the CEO's PA, one of the largest shareholders, and, more importantly, the sister of the founder himself.”
“Huh! My sister loves me so much that she's willing to turn down such an offer.”
“Don't get too full of yourself. Here, I could even beat the CEO.”
We both burst into laughter as I finished speaking.
---
Our parents never bothered us again.
I found myself once more.
That's how a simple confession changed my entire life. I finally found a true family—the kind that would do anything for me, the kind that would trust me no matter what.
And, for the first time in my life, I knew what it felt like to belong.
