Falling For The True Heiress

"Oh! That’s really nice, my daughter," Dad said, nodding his head and smiling.

I was so surprised I had to blink just to convince myself this was actually real.

"That’s the right choice, Sylvia," the middle-aged man said.

Sylvia was smiling. Her eyes sparkled with what looked like happiness, though I couldn’t tell if it was real or just well performed.

"Amelia," Mom said, turning towards me and smiling. "You’ll have a sister now."

Sister? That would have sounded nice if I didn’t know how all this would end.

I forced a smile, turning to Sylvia with questions written all over my face. She didn’t seem to notice, or care.

I stood up. "Mom... Dad, I’m heading to my room."

I didn’t even wait for a response before I started walking up the stairs, the carpet swallowing the sound of my footsteps even as my chest pounded loud enough to hear.

I slammed my door hard enough that they probably heard it from downstairs. I didn’t care.

I let out a scream I hadn’t realized I had been holding in. The sound echoed off the walls of my room before dying away. And I sank onto the sofa in my room, and pulled my old teddy bear into my lap, its fur worn soft from years of being held exactly like this. I buried my face against it and inhaled the faint scent of lavender from the fabric spray my maid always used.

What was all this? Why did all this have to happen all in one day?

I couldn’t think straight. I stood and started pacing the room, the polished marble floor felt cold under my bare feet. Every step sent a faint chill up my legs, but it wasn’t enough to quiet the storm raging inside my chest.

I was still unable to understand why Sylvia had looked so comfortable and happy.

I heard a knock on the door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I turned around to see if anyone would come in, because if it were Mom or Dad, they would have come in already, but no one came in.

"Amelia, are you fine?"

It was Sylvia again.

Why is she always haunting me like a ghost?

I walked over and opened the door.

"What do you want?" I said, looking at her more seriously this time. "Why are you always everywhere?"

She looked at me with a surprised and confused expression.

"Am I disturbing you, Amelia?" Sylvia said, pouting.

"Yes," I said, without even caring about her sulking.

"Umm, I’m sorry if—"

"Then stop showing up in front of me. Except when you want to torment me, then you can show up."

I closed the door before she could respond and headed straight for the bathroom. Steam quickly fogged the glass as hot water poured from the showerhead. The warmth soaked into my stiff shoulders, washing away the lingering cold from the rain, but it couldn’t wash away the thoughts crowding my mind.

Because today had officially become the worst birthday of my life.

When I finished showering, I changed into my pajamas and climbed back into bed. I lay down on my bed and stared at the ceiling. The sheets felt cool against my skin, and the soft hum of the air conditioner filled the room. Normally, the familiar sounds helped me sleep. But tonight, they only made the silence in my head louder.

How would everyone start treating me? They had treated me well because I was the heiress.

How would they look at me now?

I didn’t notice myself falling asleep.

When I woke up, I checked my phone on the bedside table. It was 3:00 AM. I tried to stretch my hand and felt something warm on my bed.

I jumped up immediately and looked at the other side of my bed.

It was Sylvia again. Her dark hair was spread across my pillow, and her slow, steady breathing was the only sound in the room besides the ticking clock on my wall.

Sylvia? This must be a dream.

I closed my eyes for a minute and opened them again. She was still there.

Immediately, I screamed and shoved her straight off the bed.

"Ouch!" She yelped, landing on the floor and rubbing her waist.

"What are you doing on my bed?" I shouted angrily.

"I’m sleeping," she said, still rubbing her waist.

"Don’t you have your own room?"

"I can’t sleep alone." She said, now opening her eyes fully.

"Are you still a child?"

She didn’t reply. She just sat there on the floor, looking up at me.

I stared at her. I didn’t know what to say or do.

Should I let her sleep for the night?

No.

What if she was only pretending to be nice?

What if she woke up tomorrow and decided she wanted everything that belonged to her?

What if this was only the beginning?

But she didn’t seem like that kind of person.

Amelia, wake up. She’s the true heiress, and nothing is impossible.

Sylvia was sitting on the floor, and if I didn’t let her stay, Mom and Dad would be unhappy. So I didn’t have any other option left.

"Fine. But don’t cross this line,"I said, dragging a pillow down the center of the bed to mark the boundary.

"Okay." She said, already smiling as she climbed back up onto the bed.

I shook my head, wondering what I had just done. I turned onto my side and slept off.

By morning, Sylvia was already gone, the indent of her in the sheets the only proof she had ever been there. I got up, freshened up, and went downstairs.

My parents, Sylvia, and her foster parents were already gathered around the dining table. The smell of freshly brewed coffee, buttered toast, and scrambled eggs drifted through the room. Usually, I would have been the first person seated at the table. Today, the scent only made my stomach twist.

I don’t think I belong here anymore, I thought smiling bitterly.

I turned to leave, but Sylvia’s voice stopped me.

"Amelia, come on."

"I’ve lost my appetite." I said, not looking back, and walked away.

I felt Mom and Dad’s eyes on me the whole way up the stairs.

I walked into my room and locked the door. A knock came immediately after I walked to my bed.

"Amelia... Amelia." Mom’s voice came softly.

I didn’t move. I pressed my face into the pillow and let myself cry. The fabric grew damp beneath my cheek as tears soaked into it. My throat burned from trying to stay quiet, and each breath felt heavier than the last.

Crying because I felt like a bad person. I didn’t know what would happen next.

"Amelia, please, darling, open the door for Mom."

"Honey, open the door; let’s talk." Dad knocked, joining her.

They knocked for a while before giving up. After some time, Sylvia came knocking too.

"Amelia, open the door; I want to sleep."

"If you don’t open the door, I might as well break it down."

I didn’t move from the bed. I grabbed my earbuds, plugged them in, scrolled through my favorite playlist, and clicked on one.

Like Jennie by Jennie.

I wasn’t disturbed by Sylvia’s knocking anymore.

I remembered I still had an online assignment due on Monday, so I pulled my laptop onto my lap and got to work, the glow of the screen the only light left in the room.

Even if I’m not the true heiress anymore, I still have to graduate high school, right?

"Amelia, open the door. Mom hasn’t eaten because she’s worried about you." Sylvia called again, still knocking.

I glanced toward the door and turned my volume up instead.

"Amelia."

"Fine. If you won’t open the door, I’ll just sit here until you do."

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