Chapter 3
1030 Words
A coldness settled deep in my chest, spreading slowly until I could barely breathe.
Caleb stood frozen for a moment, then offered soft, useless comfort. "Don't overthink it. You've only just come back. Mrs Gibson's feelings are naturally going to lean toward Caroline for now."
Then why had my adoptive parents stopped favoring me the moment Caroline appeared?
Perhaps sensing our eyes on them, the group ahead turned and looked our way. My mom's smile faltered. She said a quick word to the teacher and hurried over, pulling Caroline along with her. "Eleanor, is the meeting over already?"
She paused, then added awkwardly, "Caroline didn't do very well on this exam, so I needed a little extra time with her teacher. Next time... next time I'll definitely come to yours. I'll bring your father and your brother, too."
Caleb glanced at me, then spoke quietly. "Mrs. Gibson, this was the last parent meeting of senior year."
My mom's face froze.
I forced a smile. "It's okay. I'm used to it."
I turned away before the tears could form. "I'm hungry. I want to go home for dinner."
As I walked out the school gate, I saw a Cayenne parked at the entrance. My adoptive parents were just stepping out of the car. They paused when they saw me. Mrs. Foster opened her mouth as if to speak, but then her gaze drifted past me. Her whole expression softened. "Caroline."
Caroline ran forward and threw her arms around them. "Mom, Dad. Did you come to pick me up?"
Mr. Foster, usually so stern, smiled warmly. "Of course, sweetheart. I'm sorry, we got held up in a meeting and missed your parent meeting."
That was the first time it truly hit me. They were capable of showing up. They were capable of apologizing in person. I'd heard that poverty limits the imagination. But I was learning that a lack of love does, too.
Caroline beamed and turned toward my mom. "It's okay. I had Mrs. Gibson help me with the meeting. And I have to thank Eleanor, too, for being so generous and letting me borrow her mom."
Mr. and Mrs. Foster gave my mother a polite nod. When their eyes shifted to me, something more complicated flickered in them. Then Mr. Foster spoke. "We've reserved a private room. Let's all have dinner together tonight. This concerns you as well, Eleanor. Your biological parents will be there. And Caleb's parents, too."
The refusal on the tip of my tongue died. A vague unease coiled in my stomach.
The private room at the upscale hotel was enormous. Three families, nine people in total, were there. Only my brother Austin was absent, away at his internship. My adoptive parents and biological parents crowded around Caroline at the center of the table, laughing warmly as they traded stories about her favorite dishes and childhood memories. Only Mrs. Thomas smiled at me, her eyes crinkling.
"I heard Eleanor ranked first in the whole school again today. She may not carry the bloodline of a distinguished family, but after all these years of careful upbringing, she's become a truly refined young lady. Which is perfect, really. The Thomas family values character and ability above all when choosing a daughter-in-law."
Mrs. Foster's expression cooled. "Mrs. Thomas, what exactly are you implying?"
Mrs. Thomas smiled and took my hand. "Mrs. Foster, last time you mentioned wanting to transfer Caleb's engagement to Caroline. We've discussed it, and we still prefer Eleanor. She and Caleb have been close since childhood. And you've said yourself, even after she returned home, she's still your daughter. There's no reason the cooperation between our families can't proceed as planned."
Silence swallowed the room. My mind went blank. An engagement? When had any of this been decided?
Caroline's face went pale. Tears welled instantly in her eyes. "If I hadn't been switched at birth, I could have been as excellent as Eleanor, I could have grown up right beside Caleb! It's all my terrible luck…"
She covered her face and ran out of the room, sobbing.
"Caroline!" Caleb shot me a cold, accusatory glare and ran after her.
My parents exchanged guilty, awkward looks and hurried out behind them.
Mr. Foster's expression darkened. He addressed the Thomas family directly. "In a marriage between prominent families, how can bloodline not matter? If Caroline wants Caleb, then the engagement goes to her. Otherwise, there's no deal between our families at all."
Before Mr. and Mrs. Thomas could respond, Mrs. Foster turned on me. Right in front of everyone. "Eleanor, what exactly did you say to the Thomas family in private to make them so certain about you?"
I felt like I was being held underwater. "I didn't!"
She cut me off. "The Foster family raised you. We never asked for anything in return. We still treat you as half a daughter, and you should be grateful. You need to understand this clearly: no matter what you do, you will never surpass Caroline."
The fragile warmth I'd been clinging to shattered completely. Every shred of my heart and dignity crumbled beneath her words. I closed my eyes. I stood and bowed to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas.
"Thank you, Mr. Thomas and Mrs. Thomas, for your kindness. But I don't have feelings for Caleb anymore. I don't want to be with him. And I certainly don't have the standing to be part of any marriage alliance. I must respectfully decline."
Then I turned and bowed to my adoptive parents. "Mr. Foster and Mrs. Foster, I can never repay you for raising me. The only thing I can promise is this: from now on, I will never mention my connection to the Foster family again. And I will never compete with Caroline for anything. Ever."
I didn't look back at their faces, and I walked out of the room.
While waiting for my ride, a notification lit up my phone. It was from an account I'd quietly followed, Caleb's. He'd posted just minutes ago.
The fake heiress is trying to suck up to my parents to pressure me into marrying her. What do I do? I honestly find her disgusting now.
- Writer
