Chapter 2

Marcella’s POV

When she left I felt a certain feeling, a thirst burned inside me, a hunger so deep.

She mentioned ‘The rose’. Finally, it was about time. Seemed like she was ready to take the step but was too scared to do it, maybe she feared rejection.

My sister called out my name but I was staring at the door where she left, my mind was still fixed at her words.

“What signs are you talk about about!!” She hit my arm.

“The Rose”. I said quietly my sister tilted her head to the left corner looking at me strangely.

“What are you talking about?” She asked me confused.

“I’m going to tell my truth”. I immediately told my sister in a swift turn.

“Uh….. that was unexpected…” she stood surprised but I wasn’t going to let her judgment change my mind.

“I think it’s time”. I spoke to my sister feeling confident with my decision.

“Now? Are you sure you want to do this?” Maya asked, her voice hushed as the reality of my plan sank in. “This is big, Marcella. Do you really think you can pull this off? It’s not just Mom and Dad down there, everyone is here and they will all be listening, I’m not trying to scare you but….can you really do it? She reminded me.

I had felt so confident some minutes ago, but hearing her say all this out loud made my stomach do a nervous flip. For years, I had hidden behind fake smiles, expensive fabrics but my acts was telling something different. I knew people suspected something was different about me, but no one had the audacity to voice it. Well…. How could they? They were all far too dependent on my parents' empire. They wouldn’t want to be in their bad book.

I am the heiress of SK group, the only legitimate child of Melvin and Meribeth Solis. Their only child after 17 years of marriage, yeah you could say I am a miracle baby that added joy to their marriage. But for twenty years, I had been a stranger to myself and tonight being my twenty-first birthday, that was all going to change.

Tonight was the night, my 21st birthday, the perfect opportunity to let them know, I’ll tell them the truth about the real me, the true me… and it’s left to them to decide if they’ll still love me or not.

They were all waiting for me downstairs, goodness it’s my birthday party and it’s the Solis family, it’ll always be glamourous, my mom was a show off and a woman of excessive flair and my dad was a man of uncompromising standard so yeah I’m left with no choice than to have a grand entry.

I had pulled my adopted sister, Maya, into a corner of the dressing room just as the makeup artist finished with my make up, telling her my plans which brings us back to the present.

“This is the only chance I have,” I said, my voice trembling slightly as I defended my choice. “This is the only time I can tell them the truth and have them listen.”

Maya took a deep breath, searching my eyes. “Okay... if you’re sure…I’ll support you”. She took my hands in hers, giving them a supportive squeeze. “I’ll be right behind you.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Anyway,” she added with a small, encouraging smile as she turned toward the door, “you look lovely.”

I smiled back at her. Her words had comforted me making me feel a sense of relief. Left alone, I turned to the mirror. I looked more beautiful than I ever had. My red hair tumbled over my shoulders in polished waves, and my skin shimmered under the led lights. The red silk of my dinner gown clung to me like a second skin. God I looked beautiful more than every ordinary day. I had put so much work into this transformation, and I prayed it wasn't for nothing.

I took one last look at my reflection, straightened my spine, and stepped out.

As I reached the top of the grand staircase, the pianist struck a soft note that made the room fall into a melodious trance. I looked down at the sea of faces in the hall. My sister was right, the crowd was massive. My heart felt contained by fear and the consequences of my actions, I became scared, was I really going to do this? How would my parents feel? Could I really pull this off? How would life be after that moment? I spoke in my heart feeling discouraged and for a second, I felt the urge to turn back and hide in my room forever.

But then, I saw her.

Standing amidst the crowd in a black dress, she looked like a vision. The world seemed to slow down. When she caught my eye and smiled, my fear vanished, replaced by a surge of defiant confidence. I smiled back and began my descent.

Midway down the stairs, I paused. I signaled to the maid following me, who promptly handed me a glass of wine and a silver fork. I tapped the glass three times. The music died instantly and all eyes fell on me.

“Hello, everyone. I have something to say.”

The silence was heavy. My parents exchanged a confused glance before looking up at me, I couldn’t ask for less from their reaction, they had no idea what was coming.

I looked back at her in the crowd. She was breathtaking, black wavy hair, a sharp black dress, and a smile that made the risk feel worth it. That white girl had me completely locked in.

“For a long time, I’ve carried something inside me, a part of myself that I’ve kept hidden,” I began. My voice echoed in the silent hall.

The room was so silent and all I could hear was my voice I felt like I should stop but that smile was pushing me beyond reason.

“I’ve always wanted to say it out, scream it at the top of my voice at the rooftops but for some reason I hid in my closet” her eyes was still fixed on me, giving me the courage to speak, I didn’t want my speech to be too long so I decided to let the cat out the bag and have everything ended so quickly.

“Mum, Dad, I’m…..” just as I was about to say it, my courage died when I saw what happened.