Chapter 1

Sarah P.O.V

Life isn't as simple as a fairytale; it has its lighter and darker shades. I used to believe that everything would always have a happy ending. Maybe it was because I was too naïve growing up, but I always thought my life would be like a fairy tale, or at least I hoped it would get better one day.

My mom, Sophia, passed away when I was just 5, and a few years later, my father, Neil Darrell, started dating Lisa. Soon, Lisa and her daughter Chloe moved into our house. In the beginning, Lisa was kind to me, but as soon as she married my father, she began showing her true, darker side. Chloe and I were the same age, but Lisa made sure that Chloe received all the attention from both her and my dad.

After a few months, I noticed how Dad started to ignore me as he got caught up in his "perfect" new family. Over time, I became just an extra, unwanted family member that no one cared about.

My only happy place was with my maternal grandparents, who lived in Italy. We made sure to visit each other whenever we could. Besides my grandparents, I loved only two other people in the world as much as my family—my childhood best friends, Jessica Martin and Adrian Parker. The three of us were inseparable until Adrian moved to a boarding school in London.

Jessica and I stayed close and kept in touch with Adrian every weekend. However, as soon as I started high school, Jessica began to ignore me, preferring to hang out with Chloe instead. Soon, they became best friends, and even Adrian stopped replying to my messages and calls.

As time passed, everyone around me seemed to compare me to Chloe or other girls. Lisa constantly insulted my looks and clothes and made sure others treated me the same way. Even my dad started to see me as a disgrace. I tolerated all the insults, abuse, and mistreatment, but eventually, I realized that enduring it only made them stronger.

As little girls, we're often told stories of distressed damsels who need saving. But as I grew older, I realized I didn't need a Prince Charming to save me.

The only person capable of saving me was myself. I needed to become a strong, independent woman and stand up for myself. I had to overcome my obstacles and fight my own battles.

I was clear about my future and goals by the time I finished high school. I worked hard to get into a top university, and my efforts paid off when I was accepted into Harvard with a full scholarship. Moving to Boston from New York was a whole new experience for me. It was the first time I was escaping the hell of my family and my old life. In Boston, no one judged me for my clothes or looks—people wanted to be my friend because of who I was.

University life opened up new experiences for me; it helped me discover the real me. I balanced my studies during the day with a part-time job in the evenings to manage my expenses.

Five years later, I now hold a dual master's degree in engineering and an MBA. Tomorrow, I'll be leaving Boston and returning to NYC after almost five years. During this time, neither my family nor Jessica or Adrian tried to contact me. My grandfather offered financial support, but I barely touched it.

As I packed my belongings and prepared for the airport, I tied my hair into a ponytail and examined my reflection in the mirror. My brown hair now cascaded down to my waist; I used to prefer short hair until high school. My round face was almost bare, with minimal makeup. My glasses were gone, and my hazel eyes, framed by thick lashes, were perfectly coated with mascara.

Before coming to Boston, I had little knowledge of makeup, but after moving here, I learned to groom myself well. My roommate, Ester Caswell, supported me through these five years; she's the sister I never had. When I initially moved here, I was pale and thin, mainly because I hardly got anything to eat at home—most of the food was leftovers.

Throughout my university days, I focused on my studies, career, and health. Standing at 5'6", I'm neither too fat nor too thin. Although I'm still a bit insecure about my body, according to Ester, I have curves in all the right places.

Ester is visiting her parents for a week, and she'll be moving to NYC soon as well. After taking one last look in the mirror, I grabbed my belongings and called a cab. Soon, I was on my way to the airport, hoping that everything would go well.

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Little did I know, this journey back to NYC was going to turn my life upside down.