10 YEARS LATER
Vivian I lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts when I heard the familiar creak of the floorboards. Before I could sit up, I felt the gentle touch of a hand on my shoulder. I didn’t need to look to know who it was- Clara, my only friend here at the orphanage. She always had this way of sneaking up on me when I was deep in thought. “Vivian,” she whispered, giving me a gentle nudge. I turned to look at her, forcing a smile. “Hey, Clara. What’s up?” “What’s up?” she repeated with a soft laugh. “Viv, tomorrow’s the big day! You’re turning 18! Can you believe it? You’re finally going to be free of this place.” I sat up, crossing my legs beneath me as I played with the edge of my blanket. “Yeah… tomorrow,” I repeated, trying to sound as excited as she did. Clara’s smile faltered for a moment as she leaned closer. “Viv, are you okay? I mean, I know you’ve been counting down the days, but now that it’s here… it’s okay to be scared, you know.” Her words hit me, and I felt a lump forming in my throat. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “It’s just… I’ve dreamed about leaving for so long, but now that it’s happening, I don’t know what to feel. What if I’m not ready? What if I fail out there?” Clara reached out and took my hand in hers, squeezing it gently. “Vivian, you’re the strongest person I know. You’ve survived everything this place has thrown at you, and you’ve come out stronger. So don't worry, babe.” Her words weighed on me, reminding me of everything I’ve endured here. When I first arrived here, everything felt so devastating, so hostile but then I had no choice but to adapt, to learn quickly, or face the consequences. The harsh treatment from the other kids, the stern discipline from the matron, it all felt unbearable at times. My charm and quick thinking often got me out of trouble, and soon enough, I found myself in the matron's good graces. She began to rely on me, trusting me with more responsibilities around the orphanage and it wasn’t long before I became her favorite. But even with the matron’s favour, there was one thing I could never seem to get…..adoption. Year after year, couples would come through, looking for a child to complete their family. They’d smile at me, ask questions, and sometimes even compliment me on how pretty and smart I was. But that’s where it always ended. They’d choose someone else…..always someone else. So yeah, I was ready to leave. I had been ready for a long time. The outside world couldn’t be any worse than this place, could it? I had nothing left to lose. “Vivian!” I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of a familiar voice calling my name. I turned to see the matron standing at the entrance, with a wide smile spread across her face. She didn’t smile often, and when she did, it usually meant something was about to change. “Come with me, dear. There’s someone here who wants to meet you,” she said, her voice surprisingly gentle. My heart skipped a beat, and a rush of adrenaline surged through me. I glanced at Clara, who gave me an encouraging nod. This had happened before, but something about the matron’s demeanour made this time feel different. Maybe it was the way she looked at me, almost as if she believed this could really be it. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my emotions in check. “Alright,” I whispered, standing up with shaky legs as I followed the matron out of the room. We reached the entrance, where a couple stood waiting. Well, perhaps not exactly a couple…..the woman looked far more elegant than the man. She was well-dressed, the kind of woman who looked like she belonged in a magazine…perfectly polished and poised, everything about her screamed wealth. The man, in contrast, appeared more like an escort, because of the way he appeared. The woman smiled warmly at me, and the man extended his hand in greeting. “Vivian, this is Mrs. Anderson and her good friend,” the matron introduced. “They’ve come all the way from the city to meet you.” I said it, he wasn't the husband. Mrs. Anderson placed her hands gently on my shoulders and said softly, “Hello, Vivian. The matron has spoken so highly of you. I can’t wait to spend more time with you.” I felt a warm sensation in my chest. For the first time in years, someone wanted to spend time with me, someone who might actually see me as… family. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face, my earlier fears and doubts temporarily pushed aside. Maybe, just maybe, this was it. Maybe I was finally getting the family I had always dreamed of. “Why don’t you go pack up your things, Vivian? We can leave as soon as you’re ready.” she continued. A small smirk formed on my lips as I thought about my lack of personal belongings. “I don’t really have anything to pack. We…” “We don’t keep personal belongings here, Mrs. Anderson. Everything is shared among the children. Vivian has nothing of her own to take.” the matron interjected. Mrs. Anderson’s expression shifted slightly, but she quickly masked it with a warm smile. “That’s alright,” she said, calmly. “We’ll take care of everything you need from now on, Vivian. Let’s not worry about anything else.” “Errmh…let me go say goodbye to my friend first, and then we leave,” I said, running a hand through my hair as I headed towards the room. As I walked down the corridor, my heart felt like it was about to burst from excitement. This was really happening. I was finally going to have a family. I barely noticed Clara until she practically jumped in front of me, her eyes wide with excitement. “Vivian!” Clara squealed, dancing with joy. “Oh my God, Clara, keep your voice down.” I cautioned, dragging her playfully inside the room. “Oh my gosh, do you know who that is?” she asked, trying to keep her voice down but failing miserably. I blinked at her, still dazed. “What? Who?” Clara grabbed my arm. “That’s Mrs. Anderson! The Anderson family! They own StellarTech and a bunch of other companies. They’re like super billionaires!” I froze, the pieces suddenly clicking together in my mind. Anderson. The matron had introduced the woman as Mrs. Anderson. OH My God! How had I not noticed? The woman who might be taking me home… was Jack’s mother. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and for a moment, I couldn’t breathe. Jack. The boy who had been my best friend, the one who had given me that bracelet, was now connected to the family that might become my new life.Vivian I couldn’t believe it. Jack’s mother was here, in this orphanage, potentially about to change my life forever.Why did she want to adopt? I hoped Jack and his sister were alright.Did he even remember me after all these years? What if he had forgotten all about me? And if his mother took me in, would I ever be able to face him again?I couldn’t think straight, as a million questions spun in my mind. I had always dreamed of leaving this place, of finding a new family, but I never imagined it would be his family. It felt like life was playing some cruel joke on me.Suddenly, the blaring sound of a car horn snapped me out of my thoughts."We're here.” Mrs. Anderson announced.My breath caught in my throat as we drove into the Andersons’ compound. The house itself was more like a mansion, It was the kind of place I had only ever seen in movies, and now, somehow, it was supposed to be my new home.As the car finally came to a stop in front of the grand entrance, Mrs. Anderson tu
VIVIAN I sat on the edge of the bed, sobbing uncontrollably, my tears soaking the pillow I clutched tightly against my chest. My face was swollen, my eyes red and puffy from hours of crying. I felt so utterly helpless, trapped in a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from. I really wish I could. I couldn’t think straight as Mrs. Anderson words kept echoing in my mind- I was bought. Not adopted. Forced to live as Lily.I just wanted to disappear, to fade away and escape this madness.A knock on the door startled me from my thoughts, but I didn’t move. I couldn't face anyone right now, but the knock came again, more louder this time.Taking a shaky breath, I wiped my teary face with trembling hands and then forced myself to stand and walk to the door. My legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but I managed to reach the door and opened it to find a maid standing there, holding a neatly folded dress.“It’s time for the ritual,” she said softly. “ Put this on.”Numbly, I took
JACKA soft knock on the door interrupted the thoughts raging in my mind as I lay shirtless on my bed.I didn’t respond, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave me alone, but no the person didn't, as the knocking persisted.“Mr. Jack?” came a voice from the other side of the door. It was Mary, one of the younger maids. “Your mother asked me to call you. It’s time for dinner.”I stared at the door, my fists clenching in frustration. Dinner. The thought of sitting at that table, pretending everything was normal while that girl……Vivian…….sat there as if she belonged, made my stomach turn. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to face them. Not now. Not ever. But I knew I had no choice. In this house, family dinners were non-negotiable. It was a tradition my mother held on to fiercely, especially after Lily… after she was gone.With a resigned sigh, I pushed myself off the bed, put on my shirt and walked out. I opened the door to find Mary standing there. “ I'm coming,” I sa
JACK “The decision is final. You both need to start preparing. The new session begins next week.” my father snapped back.Before I could respond, my mother’s attention shifted back to Vivian. “Did you think I’d forgotten? You must eat the lamb. Keep practicing so you can get used to it.”Vivian looked like she was on the verge of tears, her hands trembling as she stared at the plate in front of her. Something snapped inside me. I couldn’t watch this anymore.“Leave her alone!” I yelled, my voice echoing through the room. I could feel the heat of anger rising in my chest.But my mother wasn’t having it. “Shut up, Jack,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “This is for her own good.”I tried to stay put, to control my anger but then I couldn’t anymore, and before I knew what I was doing, I stood up so fast that my chair scraped against the floor with a loud screech. I marched over to Vivian’s side and without a second thought, I grabbed her hand, pulling her up from the table.
VIVIAN I stood in front of the sleek black limousine, my heart heavy as I watched the maids load our luggage into the trunk.Just days ago, Jack had been rushed to the hospital, battling that awful illness, Asteron Syndrome. And now, here we were, packing up for college as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t been on the verge of death not too long ago.They said he’d have to take medication every single day, and that I needed to keep getting injections to immunize myself… but I still didn’t understand why. It all felt like I was trapped in some twisted dream.The entrance door opened and Mrs Anderson stepped out. “Lily, darling, I hope you’re fully prepared?”I nodded, forcing a smile. “Yes, I’m ready.”"Good," she said, putting on a smile as she approached. "I've transferred $50,000 into your new account for your upkeep. That should cover all your expenses for this month. Enjoy college, darling.”I froze, barely managing to keep my expression in check. Did she just say $50,
VIVIAN Two weeks had passed since I arrived at college, and I was beginning to enjoy my new life. The campus was alive with energy, and for the first time, I felt like I had space to breathe, to explore, and to be myself…or rather, to be Lily. I glanced at the clock. It was already time for Jack’s checkup. I had to head over to his room, make sure everything was in order, and then we’d be off to the hospital for his scheduled visit.Pulling off my top, I reached for a fresh one when the door suddenly swung open without a knock. Startled, I looked up to see Jack standing in the doorway, his eyes widening as he stared at my bare chest. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, “What the hell, Jack?!” I screamed, “Get out!”But Jack didn’t move. Instead, he leaned casually against the doorframe, with a nonchalant look on his face. “Why haven’t you come to run my checkup yet? I’ve been waiting.” his voice was annoyingly calm like he hadn’t just barged in on me half-naked. My cheeks f
JACK I slammed the door shut behind me, frustration and confusion bubbling inside. I could barely stand being in that room, watching that smug doctor flirt with Vivian. What kind of doctor was he, anyway?He wasn’t doing his job..he was asking her out for coffee. How unprofessional could you get?I tossed my jacket onto the chair, running a hand through my hair, still fuming. "Isn't his job to focus on the patient?" I muttered under my breath. "Not to flirt with my… sister?"I paused, the word feeling foreign in my mouth. Sister. I’d never really thought of Vivian like that before. I mean, technically, she was, but I never acted like it. Never really cared to. So why did I say it back there? What was I even thinking?Shaking my head, I tried to brush it off. I pulled my shirt over my head, tossing it aside. My arms felt heavy, the effects of the injection already making me sluggish and weak. Damn it. I hated this feeling.I lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind
Vivian I sat in the backseat of the car, staring out the window as the familiar gates of the Anderson estate came into view. Mrs. Anderson had insisted that I come back home for a proper checkup at the family hospital after the nosebleed incident.My mind was still racing with the incident from last night……the kiss with Jack, the shock of waking up to blood all over my pillow. The more I thought about it, the more something felt… off.The car slowed to a stop, and the driver opened the door for me. As soon as I stepped outside, I took a deep breath. Just get through this, I told myself. A quick checkup at the family hospital, and I’d. be back to my life, to be back to college.“Lily, darling!”The sound of Mrs. Anderson’s voice froze me in place. Lily.She had called me Lily. Again.“Come inside, sweetheart. You must be exhausted. Let’s get you settled before we head to the hospital.”I swallowed hard and made my way up the steps, the knot in my chest tightening with every step I