Chapter 2

SKY POV

I was still in my little world, completely consumed by my own thoughts when my phone buzzed from my pocket, and I quickly fished it out. I glanced to the side to find Diego already cutting the cake, completely oblivious of my shock and terror. My silence drew him in.

“Aren’t you going to answer that?” He asked sitting straighter and glaring at the phone with me.

“It’s Tobias,” I announced the obvious, trying to figure out why the hell he would call me.

“Pick it up. I don’t think it's anything bad.” He assured in a smooth voice, but everything inside of me was screaming a loud incoherent WHAT THE FUCK as I just stared at the name flashing on the screen.

“I don’t think he called to wish me a happy birthday…” I mumbled because I knew damn well he wouldn’t just call randomly. Tobias was a stern old man I have known my entire life, but he was more like a granddad to me.

“Maybe he is..” Just then, the phone stopped vibrating, causing me to heave a huge sigh of relief. But that was short-lived because he called yet again, and I knew that whatever it was, it was damn serious.

Looking at Diego who nodded once with a small smile, I clicked on the green icon, and his old, raspy voice boomed in the speaker,

“Skylar, your presence is required at the manor.” Not a hey, or how are you, always straightforward without wasting words.

“Ahhhhmmm… I cannot come by today. I have…” “Madam and Sir have returned from their trip, and you should be here before the end of today. You have to come.” His words held some kind of urgency and I knew that things weren’t really pretty. My parents’ presence was a big no-no for me and I would do whatever it takes to avoid them. Unfortunately this time, I couldn’t.

“Okay, Tobias. I will be there.” I said, defeated. If I knew this day was going to end up like this, I would have driven out of the state and gone somewhere far, where I will be unbothered. But still, I couldn’t break the tradition. Spending my birthdays on my sister’s grave has always been something that made me feel connected to my origin. Apart from that, I was just a Campbell in a name.

“And Skylar?” He paused. “Yes?”

“Happy birthday, young miss.” A huge grin split on my face as I imagined that old face stretching into a small smile. Although Tobias was stern and that kind of person you wouldn’t just share a good laugh with, he had a heart of gold.

“Thank you, Tobias. Thank you so much.” I was almost emotional.

He hung up and I let the phone drop to between my legs, then glanced at my sister’s grave, silently begging her to help me out of this.

“What was he saying?” Diego who was almost forgotten suddenly asked. I glanced at him with a sad face and pouted,

“Mom and dad. They are back from their long 'honeymoon' and they want me to go home.” I said in an exasperated voice, already dreading the drastic moments I was going to spend in that house.

“Come on.” He nudged my shoulder gently, “I am sure it's not that bad. Besides, they made it home for your birthday.”

“Oh, I assure you, darling, that is not the case,” I replied rolling my eyes. There was no way in hell my parents came home just for my birthday. Trust me if that were the case, this sky would have been yeeting sausages!

Arriving home 2 hours later, I pulled the car into the driveway and greeted Noah, one of the man servants who was ready to take my car to the garage. Walking into my childhood home didn’t faze me, not even slightly. Instead of being excited by the idea of being home after… a whole eternity, I felt cramped, wanting nothing but to escape to my penthouse in the city. My family was rich, and that meant I had a few things to burn. A nice penthouse overlooking the busy Atlanta, a Porsche truck waiting for me in the parking lot… rich bitch syndrome!

Much better than all of these…

“Young Miss.” Maya, our head maiden and chef called out pulling me in a hug and kissing my cheek. I returned the hug and rubbed her back.

“Maya.” I greeted back. “We missed you. The house is so empty without you.” She said holding me by my arms.

“Oh, I am sure you guys manage so well without me.” She scoffed at my response.

“Come, they are waiting for you in the study.” And with that, I knew that it wasn’t just about parents missing their daughter. There was something fishy. Maya knocked on the door before slowly pushing it open, and I followed her in.

“Madam, Sir. The young miss has arrived.” She announced gesturing for me to step further into the room.

“Mom, dad.” I waved awkwardly as I took in the sight of my birth parents. My dad was sitting behind his big oak desk with my mom standing right beside her, looking like a power couple from the magazines. I tell you, not even Obama and Michelle held a candle to them. Mom was dressed in a white bodycon dress which hugged her perfect figure well. She had her usual heavy jewelry all over her, I am talking rings and watch and bracelets. You name them. My dad was wearing a navy blue suit with a wine red tie and a white shirt, and they looked so perfect standing there.

“Skylar.” Mom stepped from the table and made her way to me. Everything inside of me froze as she pulled me in a hug and kissed my cheek, but it was so quick that in an instant, it was gone, and I was glad. Her embrace felt so foreign and strange. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated my parents, they gave me a fancy life. I do wish I could say the same with them. Thing is, they didn’t really like me much, because instead of following Samantha’s path and majoring in business studies, I chose something entirely different.

Fashion.

That, followed by Samantha’s death that happened on my 18th birthday, well… let’s just say it all left a bitter taste in their mouths. So you get the idea…

“Maya, don’t prepare dinner for us. We are eating out today.” Dad announced, shocking me even further. What in the rotten bananas was all of this?

“Okay, sir. And the midnight snacks?” She asked on her way out. “Just the usual.” Mom was the one who replied, already making her way back to her husband’s side. Maya left shortly after that, leaving me in a lion’s den and making me wish I could be anywhere rather than here.

“So you are finally 22.” It was the way my dad said that made a sheen of cold sweat drizzle down my spine. It was humorless, cold, with not even a single emotion attached to it.

“Y-yes, dad,” I replied, eyeing the door which was near, yet too damn far.

“That’s great. We are going out tonight. You should dress well. Sweetheart?” He looked at my mom who beamed with the biggest smile ever as he pulled something from my dad’s drawer. A long black, velvet box. She gently placed it on the tabletop before pushing it with her finger and nodded to me. On unsure steps, I walked closer and took the open with shaky hands, then opened it to reveal a beautiful customized diamond pendant with my initials on it.

SCC

They were in beautiful italics that made my heart melt. I brushed my finger on the finely cut diamonds and looked up at them, but something about it was oddly familiar.

“It’s beautiful,” I said softly before refocusing my gaze on it. “It is, isn’t it? Now go get ready. We don’t want to be late.” Mom replied, already fed up with my presence. I nodded before turning and leaving. Right before I could open the door, I turned to look at them,

“Thank you. This is the best gift ever.”

“Oh, darling. This is nothing. The best is yet to come.”

If only I had known the meaning behind those words