The Life I Never Chose

My life was perfect or at least, that's what I believed. I grew up surrounded by love, laughter, and everything I could ever ask for. My family gave me everything I wanted, and everyone admired the life I had. To the world, we were the perfect family. I never questioned anything. Why would I? I trusted them with all my heart. But sometimes, the most beautiful lives hide the darkest secrets. It all started with a single truth I was never meant to discover. One lie uncovered another, and before I knew it, the life I had treasured began to fall apart. The people I loved the most were the very people who had been lying to me all along. I asked myself countless times, "Did I deserve this? Did I deserve all the lies?" I searched for answers, but the only thing I found was heartbreak. The life I thought was perfect had been built on secrets, and the people I trusted the most were the ones who shattered my world. That was the day I realised that sometimes, the people you love the most can hurt you the deepest. But before I tell you how my world fell apart, let me show you how perfect my life seemed. My name is Elizabeth Leigh Santiago. I'm sixteen years old and a Grade 11 student at one of the most prestigious schools in Manila. People often say I'm lucky. I have my own driver, several maids, and almost everything a teenager could ever wish for. If I want something, I usually get it without even asking twice. My family owns Santiago Hotels Group, one of the most successful five-star hotel chains in the country. To everyone else, we were the definition of a perfect family—wealthy, respected, and admired. But money can't buy everything. It can't buy time. My parents are always busy attending business meetings, travelling overseas, and managing the company. Most days, I only see them in the morning before school or late at night when they're already exhausted. I also have two older siblings—a brother and a sister. They're twins, both thirty-six years old, which means there's a twenty-year age gap between us. They both work at Santiago Hotels Group and are slowly taking over the family business. I'm closest to my brother. No matter how busy he gets, he always finds time to check on me. My sister, however... I don't think she's ever liked me. It's like my presence alone irritates her. Every conversation we have somehow turns into an argument. After years of trying to get close to her, I eventually gave up. Maybe we were just never meant to have that kind of sibling relationship. Honestly, I didn't mind. I was sixteen. I wanted to enjoy my teenage years, make unforgettable memories with my friends, complain about school, and live like any normal girl. I thought those were the only things I had to worry about. I was wrong. Because sometimes... The people who love you the most are the ones hiding the biggest secrets. And sometimes... The perfect family everyone envies is nothing more than a beautiful lie. I didn't know it yet, but in just a few days, one unexpected discovery would make me question everything—my family, my name... and even the life I thought was mine. If only I had ignored what I heard that day. Maybe I would've stayed happy. Maybe I would've continued believing the lies. But fate had other plans. And once the truth began to unfold... There was no turning back.