2/ MY TURN

A sob escaped my lips once I entered a cab. I couldn't believe I had done it.

For several years I dreaded the moment I would take over from my mother and manage the finances of our family. I wanted a simple life; That wasn't too much to ask, was it?

Yet in my family, it had always been different.

Mother was obsessed with dictating our futures and playing chess with the outcomes. Everything went downhill after my father died. She changed completely and she became a control freak. Sometimes, I wish I could go back in time and fix whatever broke in her the day he died.

The car pulled to a halt and I gasped at the movement.

"We're here ma'am" The driver's thick voice pulled me back to reality.

I swallowed. The last time I had been here; It ended in a huge argument. Belene would not be pleased to see me. But she would be pleased to know my decision.

I paid for the cab and got out of the car. I took in a deep breath and stared at the apartment in front of me for a few moments. Well, here goes nothing.

I took quick steps toward the front door and knocked.

"Bele? Belene? Are you in there?" I called out and the door opened swiftly. I locked eyes with my best friend of six years and she glared at me.

"You are lucky I care about you." She spat and I smiled. "What are you doing here?" She added and took quick steps away from me.

"Would you believe me if I said; I ran away from my wedding?" Belene paused. She spun around and we locked eyes. Her perfect blue orbs shone brightly at me and the edges of her lips struggled to stay down.

"This better... this better not be a joke." She warned. I let out a breath of relief and a tear rolled down my cheek.

"I'm ready.” I breathed and my eyes stung with fresh tears.

“I am ready to go to Los Angeles with you. I am ready to start afresh. To rebuild my life. To go back to being Dr. Amber Scottland and not someone's indoor housewife." I confessed and Belene pulled me into a tight hug.

"I knew you would make the right decision." She informed me and pulled away. I smiled.

Belene and I studied together in college. she specialized in Psychiatry, while I branched into Psychology.

We had been roommates for six years and we schooled in Los Angeles.

During that time, we developed a strong bond. She was used to defending me from everyone, and I was used to listening to her rant all day.

We had initially planned to have our hospital here in Miami, but when I returned; The news of my father's death changed everything.

One moment I was trying to navigate life after College and the next I was getting engaged to James. It was hard to keep up with.

The last conversation I had with Belene ended in a huge argument because of the issue. I recall how she had yelled and demanded that I make the right decision and not ruin multiple lives out of obligation.

She was right.

"Booked!" Belene snapped me out of my thoughts. I blinked and smiled at her. "So, where's your luggage?" She asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"About that,” I paused and the edges of my lips curled downward.

“Leaving the wedding meant leaving everything behind." Silence tugged on our vocals as the weight of my words sunk in. "I don't want to think about that though, I want to think about the job offer from Los Angeles, is it still open?" I asked and recomposed myself.

"Yes! Yes, it is!" Belene confirmed and went inside to pack up her things. I plopped down on the blue couch in her living room and dug my face into my palms.

I had to do something about how I felt; How my insides twisted and my stomach churned. I needed to let all this anger out and dilute it somehow.

A sob escaped my lips and my eyes stung.

This was what I wanted right? To start my life and focus on my career?

Yet, the pain from the circumstances felt like too much of a price to pay.

How would I pretend? How long could I lie to myself and tell myself that everything was perfect when I just lost my family?

I just chose my career over my family. What sort of a monster does that?

But then again; They chose their company and moral obligations over me. We were no different after all. My fists tightened and a new sensation ran through me.

They lied to me.

They kept secrets from me and wanted to make me the wife of someone else's husband.

I would have had to live with the guilt of knowing those two children would never have their parents together.

I forced myself to stand up and held onto the wall for support. My chest tightened in pain and took quick strides to the bathroom.

The last thing I needed was for Belene to find me like this — Weak.

I let out sad laughter when I locked eyes with the Mirror in the bathroom.

I looked nothing like Amber Scottland, the heir and next CEO of Scottland Industries.

Instead, I looked like a little girl, a little girl who wanted nothing more than to curl up in her father's arms. A father that she never got to reunite with.

But now. Now things were going to change. All my life, I had lived for everyone but myself. This time;

This time I was going to focus on myself. No more playing around, no more lies, no more secrets, and especially; No more getting betrayed and treated like a piece of crap.

I wiped my tears and let out a breath I did not know I had been holding. Now, The story was going to start and this time; I would write it on my terms.