7

Emma Whitcomb

My chest tightened the moment I found my way back home. Every single detail reminded me of my dying moment.

My legs stilled in the living room, my eyes spun as they wandered to the same spot where I took my last breath.

My knees buckled beneath me as memories of everything flashed back into my head… my heart was pounding hard as the image of my body in a pool of blood clung to my head.

“Pull yourself together, Emma… You're not dead… You're alive now,” I whispered to myself, tears blurring my vision.

Finally, the sound of footsteps snapped me out of my trance, and I gasped sharply.

I lifted my gaze. Mom and dad were descending the staircase, their faces burning with rage.

“How dare you embarrass your dad and I back there…” mom gritted angrily, raising a hand to slap me.

I grabbed her hand mid-air, eyes locked on her.

Colors drained from her face.

This was the first time I ever disobeyed them. I'd do everything they asked for ever since they adopted me… I lived for them, so they never really had any reason to raise a hand on me.

But all that changed ever since Eleanor returned. Mom would slap me for her sake at every slight provocation… That was when I saw the demon in her.

I guess my decision to cancel the engagement brought out her demon earlier.

“Emma!” She shrieked as I yanked her hand back.

“I would appreciate it if you don't put your hands on me, mom…” the last part burned my tongue down to my chest.

Mom? She doesn't deserve to be called that.

“Emma! What has come over you? How could you treat your mom like that?” Dad stepped forward, wrapping his arms round his wife's shoulder in a comforting way.

“First, you embarrassed us back there, ignored our calls and texts, and instead of falling to your knees and apologising, you're disrespecting your mom?” He snapped, his eyes burning with fury.

“Apologise?” I scoffed, “why should I apologise for calling off my engagement?”

“Did you say embarrassment? Having you two as my adoptive parents is the biggest embarrassment of my life,” I screamed in my head, but just rolled my eyes.

“Emma…” mom stepped forward, her face softening, “what's wrong, huh? You can speak to mom about it, alright? You know how much this engagement means to us, right? You know how much it means to our company, right?”

My fingers tightened at my sides.

Right… I haven't mentioned this yet… the reason my parents want me to marry Daniel. It wasn't because I was in love with Daniel… It was for a business deal.

To them, this was supposed to be a win-win situation for us. I get to be with the man I love, and in turn, the marriage will favor them, because Daniel's granddad is an influential man, and my marriage with him was going to pave the way for them.

I scoffed, not saying a word.

“Emma… why are you not saying anything, huh?” Her voice cracked as she stepped forward, reaching to touch me.

I took a step back, leaving her hands hanging in the air.

I watched her face closely… that pathetic mask on her face. I was waiting for it to slip off… That rage she was bottling inside… I wanted her to let everything out.

Then she snapped, switching to her manipulative side, “is this how you're going to treat me after everything I did for you?”

“I took you out of that pathetic orphanage, gave you a life… an identity you could call yours! And this is how you pay me back? How ungrateful of you!” She yelled, the veins in her neck pulsing.

“A life?” I scoffed, “Do you mean your missing daughter's?” But I didn't say the last part.

My gaze dropped to my dress, and I huffed. Even the dress mom prepared for my engagement was in Eleanor's favourite color.

I didn't think much to it back then because I was too excited to be with Daniel, but right now… I think this engagement was never really about me. I was a substitute from the onset.

Without a word, I grabbed the dress and ripped it apart, letting it slide off my body, remaining just my inner dress.

They both gasped, eyes widening.

“What the hell! That is Eleanor's favourite dress!” Mom shrieked, bending to pick it up.

I lifted my hand to my head, detangling my hair.

Hmph! Even my hairstyle was styled in the way Eleanor would've had her hair styled if she was here.

Mom made that happen.

Without another word, I left for my room.

“Emma! We're not done talking!” Mom's voice faded past my ears, but I didn't stop to glance back at them.

I stood in my supposed room, tears blurring my eyes. The room was designed to Eleanor's taste. Painted in her favourite color… Everything here was about her, down to the clothes.

This was the room I was occupying before Eleanor came back by the way.

I didn't restrain myself… I grabbed everything my hands could reach, thrashing it round the room until everywhere was in a mess.

In a moment, all the clothes in my closet were lying shredded on the floor, the flower vase… broken.

I paused as my eyes wandered to the painting hanging on the wall.

I scoffed, tears finally streaming down my cheeks.

Growing up, I've always loved modeling and fashion designing… I've always dreamt of being a model and a fashion designer when I grow up, but that changed when I was adopted.

They didn't just force Eleanor's life on me, even her dreams too. They killed my dream of becoming a model, and forced me to learn painting because Eleanor loved it.

I became a professional artist, painting almost every single painting collection of dad's company.

For years, I slaved away for them while they took the credit. Not once did they ever put me in the spotlight… I was always behind the scenes, making millions for the company.

My hand moved to the painting… I had painted this family picture of them and myself on dad's birthday.

My hand trembled, hovering over the painting, tears blurring my vision again.

I'm going to take everything back… I refuse to be a pushove in this lifetime.

My phone buzzed against the bed, and I looked back before going to pick it up.

I just hope it's not that bastard, Daniel.

However, my eyes brightened the moment the email notification flashed in my face.

C&H ANNUAL RUNWAY FESTIVAL COMING SOON!

My grip tightened on my phone. I had disregarded this email back then because I had given up on my dream, but I won't make the same mistake this time again.

I'm owning my life now…