Chapter 1

The welcome party

Cars, luxury, vacations, and expensive shopping, anything that had to do with excessive money spending was the life I was used to. I didn't ask for it, but it was given to me from birth. What do they call it again? Ah! born with a golden spoon.

Like right now. I was currently seated in my father's private jet waiting for the perfect time I would be signaled to present my beautiful self, the daughters he was so proud of.

To any onlooker they would be filled with so much envy and jealousy, screaming how lucky I was. Having such a life, being treated like a princess. But they didn't know what I go through every day. I didn't have a life, I only lived the one that was designed for me. The perfect daughter.

My father had prepared a whole welcome party at the airport to welcome me back home. If it were left for me, I would be back without anyone's notice, that was the type of life I liked. Living a peaceful and quiet life but well, fortunately, or unfortunately for me, I didn't get such luxury. Like they say, not all your wishes Come to pass.

" Miss Vincent." Well, it was time to show my face to the world. Fake smiles, and happy waves, show them you're the perfect daughter they all aspire their daughters to be.

I took a deep breath as I stepped on the first stair of the plane and I came into view. The whole place erupted in cheers and applause, I guess the louder they cheered the bigger my father was going to pay them.

There they were, my mom and dad, waiting just at the end for me and holding the biggest smile on their face. The smile wasn't fake, but something was wrong with just how big it was. They were trying to paint this overly happy family we were not.

A red carpet? Seriously wasn't this all too much, I was sure my friend would be laughing at me, like come on, all these weren't necessary.

As soon as my feet hit the carpet my mother rushed to me with so much joy, half of it was true joy, and the other was acting for the press. It was no doubt I had missed her, I had been away for six years.

My parents decided that I should go to college in my mother's country. She was American, while my dad was from Italy, a nice combination, right?

" Oh my darling, look at you, you have matured into a beautiful woman, I am so proud of you." She said as she hugged me in a tight embrace. Wow, this show of love is strange, it isn't like my parents didn't love me, don't get me wrong. But I knew they were perfect actors whenever the press was involved.

" Mum, I can't breathe." I squeezed out and she finally released me but I didn't get time to breathe as my dad's embrace welcomed me, to make matters worse my mom joined making everything more unbearable and showing the perfect and lovely family. How wonderful.

I waved at the people who came to welcome me as I walked with my family to the car that was waiting for us. Did my father bring his whole company to welcome me? I doubt that my father loved money too much. At the same time, he would do anything for a perfect image.

The guard opened the door while I got into the car, I was expecting my parents to get in with me but the door closed which meant they were taking a different car. That was better, it allowed me to talk to my friends.

" Are you fucking Princess Diana?" My friend Mickey asked as soon as she picked up the video call.

" Don't you guys laugh at me, I didn't ask for all of these, you guys know how my parents can be, and there's nothing you can tell them to change their mind when it's made up," I said as I facepalmed.

" Lemme guess, they have a special welcome party planned for you at home." Lola my other friend added.

" I doubt that they've gotten the perfect image they were looking for here at the airport, they would both be returning to their jobs respectively like they always do," I said as I looked outside the window at the buildings I was passing by, I couldn't say I missed this city, I couldn't say I didn't.

As much as I grew up here, I didn't have the best childhood. My parents weren't always there for me and the moment they got the perfect opportunity they sent me to America, the best thing they've actually done for me since I was born. I met the best people in America.

" Miss Vincent?" I blinked as I came out of my thoughts.

" We're home." I looked at my screen and my friends were just staring at me like I had gone nuts.

" What?"

" Do you know how long we have been trying to bring you out from whatever world you put yourself in?" Lola said.

" Sorry guys," I said as I stepped out of the car, and at the same moment I heard the sound of something loud I almost thought it was a gunshot. confetti.

" Surprise!!" I heard and I quickly turned my head to see all my family members, both the ones I liked and the ones I hated looking at me some with genuine happiness while others with the fake look I was already used to.

" So they actually did plan a surprise party?" My friends. Before they could tease me further I ended the call.

I was surrounded by family members who couldn't hold their fake smiles for long as they shredded their evil skin to reveal their true identity. A crocodile will always be a crocodile. They were looking at me with so much hate like I had puke running down my body.

I didn't ask them to be part of my family, they could go hang themselves for all I care.

" Oh my gosh Lilly, you've changed so much." It was one my my cousins, Jennifer.

" Thank you."

" Look how lovely she looks."

" Of course, she looks good with money she doesn't have to work for." I heard someone mutter, I didn't have to look to know who it was, I could recognize her voice anywhere.

My archenemy.

" Guys give her space. Let's take the celebration inside." My mom came to my rescue. I gave her a smile as everyone happily, well not everyone, walked inside the house to continue a welcome party I hadn't asked for.