Biological Daughter vs Adopted Daughter

Emily's POV

I didn’t think Barbara would be waiting outside the building for me because as soon as I step out, she rushes towards me.

She just doesn’t know when to give up.

“I saw the smirk you gave me earlier. Don’t rejoice so soon because I will definitely get this position and stomp all over your face!” Barbara says, stopping in front of me as she glances me up and down. “You lost your boyfriend to your adopted sister. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to lose this position as well. You know, celebrating double losses would be perfect instead of one.”

For the records, Barbara is talking about the look I gave her after Mr. Moore crushed her confidence. I didn’t even know she saw it. Also, I had no idea she knew what happened to me at that party yet presented the situation to Mr. Moore like I was caught fighting Brenda for her man.

At this point, I’m not even thinking for myself. Anyone but Barbara can secure the position of Personal Assistant to the CEO of Transcorp.

I know Barbara thinks I’m waiting around to listen to her nonsense and it surprises her when a cab pulls up in front of me and I open the back door and climb in.

I hope the exhausts from the car blow on her proud ugly face!

I don’t forget the morning-after-pill that sent me on a frenzy and stop at a pharmacy to get it.

This is not the time to be embarrassed when everything about me is at stake, so I ignore the side glances from the cashier and swipe my card to pay for the pill and bottle of water.

Relieve washes over me as I sit at the back of my fourth cab for the day and turn off the aeroplane mode after reconfirming from the cashier that the pills will be effective.

I don’t stare out the window for long before the loud ringing tone of my phone calls back my attention. I turn my phone screen to face me and it’s my mum.

“Mum,” I manage to say just before her loud voice pierces through the phone and into my ears. She throws a series of questions at me without letting me answer them until she was done.

“How dare you not come home last night?! Why did you turn off your phone?! Brenda came home crying last night. What did you do to her?!”

I am pissed as I fire back without minding my tone, “Did she tell you I did something to her?! I didn’t do anything to her! She’s the one who stole my boyfriend! I hope she told you how she got engaged to Oliver last night?!”

“That serves you right!” I hear Mum bark and I still. “You couldn’t even keep the man your father and I delivered to your doorstep and let him slip from your hands. Now, the one who is capable has secured him, what are you shouting for? You are so worthless! Come back home this instant!”

“I’m on my way,” I say to her and when I’m about to hang up, she beats me to it.

My eyes sting with hot tears at my mother’s hurtful words. I am totally disappointed even though I wasn’t expecting any better from her.

The conversation with her is clear. She knew about the engagement between Oliver and Brenda yet she didn’t caution Brenda about stealing my boyfriend, instead, she heaped the blame on me.

Maybe she is right. I am not capable of keeping the people, the things and the rights that belong to me.

This was how Brenda stole the affection and attention of my biological parents from me. And now, she has stolen the one man I love and would have been married to.

My tears have dried up by the time I arrive home.

To my surprise, I meet Brenda as soon as I walk through the door. It seems she has been waiting for me. Immediately, she rushes towards me.

“Emily, I’m so sorry about last night. I-I D-Didn’t know Oliver was going to propose to me instead of you. I felt so bad after you left. I didn’t mean any of that…”

I wish Brenda can hear herself and realize just how ridiculous she sounds right now.

What does she mean by she didn’t know Oliver was going to propose to her when she has been dating him behind my back?

Do I look like a fool to her?

When I don’t say anything, Brenda grabs my hands and before I can blink, she pulls me into a hug.

“Please, I’m so sorry. Forgive me. I made a mistake. I know I don’t deserve Oliver, but please give us your blessings!”

Brenda’s voice gets louder and I’m so irked by it apart from the disgust I felt. Also, why is she hugging me?

“Let go of me!” I shout with anger laced in my tone, but she is determined to not let go.

I am tempted to grab her shoulder and push her away but before I can finish with my furious thoughts, she releases me and the next moment, she staggers and falls on her bum.

“Ah!” she screams as her head touches the wall.

“Brenda!” Mum shouts from behind me. Before I can turn around, she pushes me out of her way. I fall and twist my ankle as she rushes towards Brenda to help her to her feet. Then she turns around and fixes a death stare on me.

“Have you lost your mind?! What are you doing being violent towards your sick sister?! Are you trying to kill her so you can take her place?!”

Mum scolds me with contempt while Brenda stands beside her with an apologetic look on her face and I know she is not sorry about anything.

Brenda is such a good actress. I didn’t even know when tears formed in her eyes, but I’m more heartbroken at what Mum just did to me.

She pushed her biological daughter out of the way to run to her adopted daughter’s aid and drew a conclusion without asking questions.

How could Mum tell me I’m trying to take Brenda’s place?

If there is anyone trying to take anyone’s place in this house, then it’s Brenda. She has stolen a lot of things from me already.

I barely help myself off the ground and when I do, I try to argue with Mum that what she is thinking isn’t so, but she doesn’t want to hear any word coming out of my mouth, so I let her be.

I go to my bedroom crying and reeling on all the maltreatment and negligence I’ve received since I found my way back home. I’ve been hurt continuously and I can barely take the pain anymore.

Everyone cherishes Brenda and they all end up taking her side. I wonder why I’m not lovable. Is it because my parents didn’t raise me?

My biological parents are supposed to protect and pamper me after the ugly incident that separated us for seven years but I don’t get any of that.

The feeling their neglect leaves me with is worse than Oliver’s betrayal.

The sharp pain from my left ankle brings my thoughts to a complete halt. I glance at it, and that spot is red and a little swollen. I think it needs some ice but I don’t want to get out so I don’t bump into Mum or Brenda. I can’t stand them for the time being.

Fortunately for me, a servant comes into my room some minutes later. “Lunch is served. Your father is back, and he wants to see you,” the maid reports.

My heart sinks.