From her room, Cynthia pressed her hands lightly against the window, watching the driveway come alive below. Cars pulled up one after another, and elegantly dressed guests stepped onto the red carpet, smiles bright and eyes curious. The soft hum of chatter and laughter floated up to her, mingling with the gentle notes of the string quartet stationed near the entrance.Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Sinclair, moved gracefully among the guests, shaking hands, greeting with warmth, and guiding everyone inside. Every arrival made her chest tighten with anticipation and a faint thrill. She had imagined this scene countless times, but seeing it unfold from above felt surreal.The front doors opened again, and Cynthia’s eyes widened as she spotted the Sancheses entering the hall. Mrs. Sanchez glided in, radiant in an emerald gown that shimmered under the chandeliers. Mr. Sanchez followed, confident and composed, their presence commanding the attention of the entire room. The guests paused politel
Cynthia stood by the window, watching the garden fill with soft evening light. The distant sound of laughter and music drifted through the open air. Her room still glowed with the gold shimmer of the gown standing proudly on the mannequin. It almost looked alive like it was watching her, waiting for her to give in.She had just finished her shower when a cheerful knock came at the door.“Birthday girl! Open up!”She swung the door open to see Louisa standing there, holding a small, neatly wrapped box in her hands. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she practically bounced on the balls of her feet.“Happy birthday, Cynthia!” Louisa exclaimed, pulling her into a tight hug. “I got you something. You have to open it!”Cynthia laughed softly, feeling a warmth in her chest. “Lou, you didn’t have to.”“Of course I did! It’s your eighteenth! This is huge!” Louisa said, handing her the gift. “Now open it.”Cynthia carefully untied the silver ribbon and peeled back the wrapping paper. Insid
The gentle rays of morning sunlight slipped through Cynthia’s curtains, painting soft streaks across her room. She was half-asleep when she heard quiet whispers outside her door. Before she could sit up, the door creaked open, and her parents stepped in both smiling, carrying a small breakfast tray and a neatly wrapped box.“Happy birthday, sweetheart!” her mom said brightly.Her dad joined in, his deep voice softer than usual. “Our little girl is eighteen. Can you believe that?”Cynthia blinked, caught between sleep and surprise. “You two planned this?”“Of course we did,” her mom said, setting the tray on her lap pancakes, strawberries, and a heart-shaped chocolate on the side. “You deserve something special today.”Her father handed her the small box, wrapped in gold paper. “Just a little something from us.”Cynthia smiled faintly and untied the ribbon. Inside was a delicate silver bracelet, with her initials engraved beside a tiny heart.“Dad… Mom… it’s beautiful,” she said, her v
The next morning arrived with a burst of sunlight and the sound of her mother’s voice echoing through the hallway. Cynthia sat at the breakfast table, half-awake, stirring her tea as her mom ran through yet another list of things that needed to be done.“The decorator will be here by noon, the baker’s coming to confirm the cake, and oh, Cynthia don’t forget to stop by the mall after school. You still need to pick up your dresses for tomorrow.”Cynthia looked up slowly. “After school?”“Yes, I already told the driver to take you and Louisa. You two can help each other choose something nice,” her mom said brightly. “It’s your eighteenth, sweetheart. You should look perfect.”Her dad folded his newspaper and added with a small smile, “It’ll be a special day for you, Cynthia.”She nodded quietly, not trusting her voice. Special. That word didn’t feel right anymore.By the time she got to school, she was grateful for the distraction of routine. Louisa greeted her at the gate, waving her lu
The morning sunlight slipped through the curtains, spilling soft gold across Cynthia’s room. She blinked awake, her head heavy from a night of restless thoughts.For a few quiet seconds, she just lay there, staring at the ceiling, replaying yesterday’s argument in her head. The anger was still there sharp, quiet, and unspoken.When she finally came downstairs, her parents were already at the dining table, their laughter mixing with the smell of toast and coffee.“Good morning, sweetheart,” her mother said brightly. “You’re up early.”Cynthia sank into her chair. “I didn’t sleep much.”“Well,” her father said, folding his newspaper, “that’s understandable. You’ve had quite a week. But we have some exciting things to discuss today.”She looked up, wary. “What things?”Her mother exchanged a smile with him, then turned toward her. “Your eighteenth birthday, of course! It’s only a few weeks away. We need to start making preparations.”Cynthia froze. “Preparations?”“Yes,” her father said.
The night stretched endlessly, every hour dragging her deeper into restless thoughts she didn’t want to have. The moonlight that spilled across her room only made it worse too quiet, too cold, too real.The bracelet still sat on her vanity, sparkling under the pale glow like a taunt. She’d tried taking it off the moment she got upstairs, but her mother’s voice kept replaying in her head:“You’ll be part of their family soon.”It didn’t sound like a promise. It sounded like a sentence.Cynthia sank onto her bed, hugging her knees. She could still see Xavier’s smirk in her mind that effortless arrogance, the way he spoke as if the world existed on his terms. Everything about him screamed control, confidence, power. And what scared her most was that he knew it.She hated how her heart had skipped when he looked at her.She hated that part of her had noticed how striking he was.And she hated herself most of all for caring.---By morning, her mood had hardened like glass.She came downst