The Daughter They Traded Away
My older sister Seraphina had always been the center of attention in New York's Upper East Side. Everyone worshiped her, protected her.
At the Montgomery charity gala, my father asked we to choose our future husband in front of every powerful family in New York.
Seraphina smiled and generously let me choose first.
But this time, I said no.
In my past life, I truly thought she cared about me.
I followed her suggestion and married Declan Thorne, a man whose immune system had failed after a car crash. He had been confined to a wheelchair for years, and people whispered that he was worthless.
I surrendered my place in the family and became his nurse, his support, the only thing keeping him from complete loneliness. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never reach his heart.
Then, at Seraphina’s gender reveal party, Declan stood up from his wheelchair in front of everyone.
"Brielle,I felt nothing for you. You were just a way for me to get closer to Sera."
The silence lasted only a second before the room turned on me.
Every whisper, every stare, every hidden laugh made me feel like the biggest fool in New York.
That night, I rushed out of the party and drove away before anyone could see me break down.
On the bridge, my hands shook so badly that the car spun out of control and crashed through the railing.
I made ninety-nine calls before the river swallowed the car completely, and every single one went unanswered.
Three days later, they found me trapped beneath the water, already suffocated in the wreckage.
Then I opened my eyes, and I was back at the gala where my father had planned to announce our engagements. This time, I picked no one.