Chapter 1
1571 Words
Rosalina woke five minutes before her alarm.
She stared at the ceiling, listening to the quiet ticking of the clock beside her bed.
Another morning.
She reached over and turned off the alarm before it could ring.
There was no reason to wake anyone else.
Not that anyone would care.
Rosalina slipped out of bed and began getting ready.
Her mornings were predictable.
She would go downstairs.
Eat quietly.
Listen to her family talk around her as though she weren’t there.
Then leave.
She preferred it that way.
Being ignored was easier than being reminded that she wasn’t wanted.
By the time she reached the dining room, she had already prepared herself for the usual silence.
She opened the door.
And stopped.
Everyone was there.
Her father.
Her mother.
Her siblings.
Her husband.
But nobody was eating.
Nobody was talking.
They were all looking at her.
Rosalina blinked.
“Good morning.”
Her mother’s chair immediately scraped against the floor.
“Good morning, darling.”
Rosalina froze.
Darling?
Her mother smiled warmly.
Too warmly.
“Come here.”
Rosalina didn’t move.
Her mother opened her arms.
For a moment, Rosalina thought she was joking.
Then her mother walked over and hugged her.
Rosalina stood completely stiff.
Her mother’s arms tightened.
“Oh, sweetheart…”
Her voice trembled.
Rosalina could feel her mother’s heartbeat against her.
“Mother?”
“Yes?”
“Are you alright?”
Her mother pulled back.
Tears were sitting in her eyes.
“I’m perfectly fine.”
Rosalina stared at her.
That wasn’t convincing.
Her mother gently touched Rosalina’s cheek.
Rosalina flinched.
Her mother immediately withdrew her hand.
“I’m sorry.”
Rosalina’s eyebrows furrowed.
Her mother had apologized.
For touching her.
That was new.
“Sit down,” her mother said softly.
Rosalina glanced at the table.
Her usual seat was empty.
Instead, there was a chair directly beside her mother.
Rosalina looked at it.
Then at her mother.
“That’s not my seat.”
“I know.”
“Then why is my chair there?”
Her mother smiled.
“Because I wanted you beside me.”
Rosalina slowly sat.
A servant immediately placed breakfast in front of her.
She stared.
Everything on the plate was something she liked.
Fresh strawberries.
Honeyed toast.
Warm pastries.
Tea prepared exactly the way she preferred it.
Rosalina looked toward the servants.
“I didn’t request this.”
“I did,” her mother said.
“Why?”
“Because I know what you like.”
Rosalina looked at her.
Her mother smiled.
Rosalina lowered her eyes.
That was strange.
Very strange.
Her father suddenly spoke.
“Are you sleeping enough?”
Rosalina looked up.
“Yes.”
“How many hours?”
She blinked.
“Why?”
He hesitated.
“Just wondering.”
Her brother leaned forward.
“You’ve been looking tired lately.”
Her sister immediately interrupted.
“She looks beautiful.”
Another sister nodded.
“She does.”
Rosalina looked around the table.
Everyone was staring at her.
Her brother was smiling.
Her sisters were smiling.
Her mother was smiling.
Even her father had a faint smile.
Rosalina slowly reached for her tea.
She took one sip.
Her husband spoke.
“Too sweet?”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“The tea.”
“No.”
“Too cold?”
“No.”
“Do you want another cup?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Alright.”
Rosalina stared at him.
Her husband had never paid attention to how she took her tea.
He barely paid attention to her at all.
Now he was watching her drink it.
She set the cup down.
“Why are you all staring at me?”
Silence.
Her mother tilted her head.
“Are we?”
“Yes.”
Her brother looked away.
“Sorry.”
Rosalina frowned.
Her youngest sister reached for her hand.
Rosalina pulled back.
Her sister’s smile disappeared.
“Did I scare you?”
“No.”
“Then can I hold your hand?”
Rosalina stared.
“Why?”
Her sister’s eyes became watery.
“Because I want to.”
Rosalina hesitated.
Then reluctantly placed her hand on the table.
Her sister took it.
She held it with both hands.
She didn’t let go.
Rosalina tried pulling away.
Her sister tightened her grip for half a second before realizing what she’d done.
She released her immediately.
“Sorry.”
Again.
Another apology.
Rosalina stared at her.
This was becoming ridiculous.
She looked toward her brother.
He was watching his sister’s hands.
Then he looked at Rosalina.
“Do you still have the necklace I gave you?”
Rosalina almost laughed.
“You never gave me a necklace.”
His expression changed.
For a moment, he looked genuinely devastated.
Then he reached into his pocket.
He placed a small velvet box on the table.
“I have something for you.”
Rosalina didn’t touch it.
“Why?”
He opened the box.
Inside was the necklace she had wanted years ago.
The one he had once mocked her for wanting.
Her brother’s voice became quiet.
“I thought you deserved something beautiful.”
Rosalina stared at the necklace.
She didn’t know what to say.
Her father suddenly stood.
“There’s more.”
Rosalina looked up.
“More?”
He nodded toward the servant.
Another box was placed on the table.
Then another.
Then another.
Jewelry.
Books.
Perfume.
A silk dress.
Things Rosalina had mentioned wanting years ago.
Things she had assumed nobody remembered.
Her mother’s smile remained gentle.
“We thought we’d spoil you a little.”
Rosalina looked at the growing pile of gifts.
“A little?”
Nobody laughed.
Her husband finally spoke.
“If you want something, tell us.”
“I don’t need anything.”
“You don’t have to need it.”
He looked directly at her.
“You only have to want it.”
Rosalina felt a chill.
She stood.
“I think I’ll go shopping.”
Her husband immediately stood too.
“I’ll come.”
“No.”
“I can drive.”
“I said no.”
He stopped.
His expression fell.
Rosalina felt almost guilty.
Almost.
Then her mother stood.
“Perhaps your sister can go with you.”
Her sister immediately nodded.
“I’d love to.”
“I’d rather go alone.”
Her brother stood.
“I can follow in another car.”
Rosalina stared at him.
“Follow me?”
He smiled.
“Just in case.”
“In case of what?”
He didn’t answer.
Rosalina looked around the room.
Her family was standing now.
All of them.
Watching her.
It suddenly felt like they were waiting for something.
She picked up her purse.
“I’ll be back later.”
Her mother stepped closer.
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
“Call us when you arrive.”
“Why?”
Her mother paused.
“Because…”
She smiled.
“Because I worry.”
Rosalina walked toward the door.
Her husband’s voice stopped her.
“Rosalina.”
She turned.
He was standing exactly where she’d left him.
His eyes were fixed on her.
“Please come back.”
Rosalina frowned.
“Of course I’ll come back.”
His expression softened.
“You promise?”
She gave him an uncomfortable look.
“Yes.”
Only then did he smile.
Rosalina left.
The moment the front door closed behind her, the warmth disappeared from the dining room.
Nobody spoke.
Her mother stared at the empty doorway.
“She noticed.”
Her father nodded.
“She’ll notice everything eventually.”
Her brother looked down at the necklace still sitting in its box.
“I don’t care.”
His voice was quiet.
“I’ll give her everything she wants.”
His sister wiped her eyes.
“She looked scared when I held her hand.”
Her mother closed her eyes.
“We need to be patient.”
Her husband remained silent.
He walked toward the window overlooking the estate.
Rosalina’s car was already moving down the long driveway.
His eyes followed it until it disappeared beyond the gates.
“She’ll get used to us,” he said.
His voice was almost a whisper.
“She has to.”
Upstairs, Rosalina stood by her bedroom window several minutes later, watching the car disappear.
She had forgotten something.
She had forgotten her phone.
She reached for it on her nightstand.
There were already seventeen missed calls.
From her family.
Rosalina stared at the screen.
She hadn’t even been gone ten minutes.
A message appeared.
Mother: Please let us know when you arrive.
Then another.
Brother: Are you safe?
Then another.
Sister: I miss you already.
And finally—
Husband: Come home soon.
Rosalina slowly lowered the phone.
She looked toward the bedroom door.
For some reason, she suddenly felt like the entire mansion was watching her.
She couldn’t explain it.
Maybe everyone was simply in a strange mood.
Maybe tomorrow they’d return to normal.
She hoped they would.
Because the coldness she’d grown accustomed to was strangely comforting.
At least hatred was predictable.
This sudden affection?
She didn’t know what to do with it.
And downstairs, behind closed doors, the people who had once pushed Rosalina away were making quiet promises to themselves.
This time, they would notice every smile.
Every tear.
Every breath.
They would never ignore her again.
Not even for a second.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD