THE ANDERSON'S LOST SISTER

The soft sound of a woman’s laughter echoed through the bedroom door before the sun had fully risen.

Elena slowly opened her eyes.

She had only slept for a few hours after waiting late into the night for Aaron to return home. She rubbed her tired eyes and listened carefully.

“Aaron, you’re impossible,” the woman laughed into the phone speaker.

Aaron chuckled. “I know you like it when I tease you.”

Elena’s heart tightened.

One thing was that Aaron did not know that Elena was awake and was listening to what he was saying. 

Even though he knew, he did not look like he was going to be bothered, and, listening carefully to the voice, Elena did not even need anyone to tell her who the person was. 

Tiffani.

She stayed still on the bed, staring at the ceiling as the conversation continued. Aaron’s voice sounded warm and relaxed, a voice he had not used with her in a very long time.

“I’ll see you at the office,” he said. “I’ll save the first coffee of the day for you.”

Now, everything was beginning to look crazy. 

Another laugh came from the phone before the call ended.

Elena slowly closed her eyes again. A sharp pain spread through her chest.

It has been a very long time since Aaron spoke to her like that. He smiled when he called her name. He teased her until she laughed. 

But now, everything has suddenly died off.

Now every smile was for Tiffani. Every kind word belonged to someone else.

Elena wanted to cry. She wanted to ask him why. She wanted to know what she had done wrong.

But she already knew the answer she would receive.

He would call her jealous. He would say she was imagining things.

So she swallowed her pain like she always did. She quietly got out of bed without making a sound.

She tied her long hair into a simple ponytail and walked out of the room, heading down the stairs.

The Calvalli mansion was still quiet.

The first thing she did was open the kitchen windows. She took vegetables from the refrigerator and started preparing breakfast.

She moved quickly because everyone expected breakfast to be ready before they woke up.

While the eggs cooked, she swept the kitchen floor.

Then she wiped the dining table.

She washed the dishes left in the sink from the night before because nobody else had bothered to clean them.

By the time she finished, sweat covered her forehead.

Just as she finished with everything, Aaron’s mother entered the kitchen.

She looked around the room with narrowed eyes. “Why is the table set like this?” she asked sharply.

Elena blinked. “I’m sorry. I’ll fix it.”

“You never do anything properly.” She yelled at Elena and this time, Aaron was still in the bedroom.

Elena quietly adjusted the plates.

Aaron’s mother clicked her tongue. “And these flowers look terrible.”

“I changed them this morning,” Elena responded. 

“You clearly have no taste.” She shouted again and this time, her voice was getting louder than usual. 

Elena lowered her head. “I’m sorry.”

No matter what she did, it was never enough. A few minutes later Aaron walked downstairs.

He did not even look at her. He sat at the dining table and picked up his coffee.

He took one sip before placing the cup down. “This coffee is cold.”

Elena looked surprised. “I made it only a few minutes ago.”

Aaron frowned. “So now you’re arguing with me?”

“No…” she responded most immediately.

“Then make another one.” He instructed immediately. 

She immediately picked up the cup. “I’m sorry.” She hurried back into the kitchen.

Behind her, she heard Aaron’s father sigh. 

“I still don’t understand why Aaron married someone so useless.”

The words cut deeply. She stood in the kitchen for a second, gripping the coffee cup tightly.

Then she forced herself to continue. She served everyone breakfast. She remained standing while they ate.

Nobody asked her to sit.

When they finished eating, she quietly cleared the table and washed every dish before rushing upstairs to change into her office clothes.

Twenty minutes later she was sitting in the passenger seat of Aaron’s car.

The drive to the company was silent. Aaron kept his eyes on the road.

He never asked if she had eaten. He never asked if she was tired.

He simply drove.

Elena looked out of the window. Sometimes she wondered if she was invisible.

When they reached the office building, Aaron stepped out without waiting for her.

She followed behind him, carrying several files.

The workers greeted Aaron with bright smiles. “Good morning, Mr. Aaron.”

“Good morning, sir.”

He nodded politely.

Some employees noticed Elena.

Most ignored her. To them, she was simply another secretary. Very few people knew she was actually Aaron’s wife.

Aaron preferred it that way.

She walked to her desk and immediately began working.

Reports were waiting.

Several proposals needed editing.

A new business project had to be completed before noon. She worked carefully, checking every detail twice.

Hours passed.

Finally, she finished the proposal and she smiled faintly. She believed this project could help the company secure a valuable partnership.

She carried the file to Aaron’s office.

His assistant knocked first. “Sir, Elena is here.”

“Send her in.” The voice came from inside. 

She entered quietly. Aaron barely looked up from his laptop. “What is it?”

“I finished the proposal for the New project.” She placed it on his desk. “I added a few new ideas that might increase the company’s chances.”

Aaron lazily flipped through a few pages. After less than a minute, he closed the file. “This isn’t impressive.”

Her smile disappeared. “I spent several days researching…”

“I didn’t ask how long it took.” His voice was cold. “It’s average.”

Aaron pushed the file back toward her. “You always think your work is special.”

Elena looked down. “I’m sorry.”

“Fix it.” He slammed his hand on the desk.

She nodded and quietly left the office.

She spent another hour making changes even though she could hardly find anything to improve.

Later that afternoon the directors gathered for an important meeting.

Aaron picked up Elena’s proposal.

Without saying a word, he carried it into the conference room.

Elena watched through the glass wall.

She was not invited.

She waited outside. Nearly two hours later, the meeting ended.

The directors walked out smiling. “I love that proposal,” one of them said. “It could bring us millions.”

Elena’s eyes widened.

Her proposal had been accepted.

Maybe Aaron would finally appreciate her work.

She stood as he approached. “Sir…”

Before she could finish speaking, Aaron handed the file back to her.

“Don’t get excited.”

She looked confused.

“It was only accepted because I corrected your mistakes.”

No matter how hard she worked… No matter how many successful ideas she created…

Aaron would never admit she was good enough.

Just then the elevator doors opened.

Tiffani stepped out wearing a beautiful white suit and high heels. She smiled brightly the moment she saw Aaron.

“Aaron.”

He smiled back. But then, Aaron turned toward Elena. “You.”

She quickly stood. “Yes, sir?”

“Wait outside my office.” His voice was cold and his face hard.