A reverse Cinderella

Unbroken Bonds

Chapter 4

Mabel's POV

Being the little sister of a billionaire sounds glamorous, right? But, in reality, it’s not as easy as people think. Sure, Talia’s success is inspiring no one deserves it more than her but lately, I feel like she’s slowly slipping away from me. I know she’s busy, I get it. It’s just… sometimes, I miss her. I miss the days when she wasn’t wrapped up in endless meetings, contracts, and deals. I miss the sister who would laugh at silly TV shows with me or sneak off for ice cream at midnight. And while I’m incredibly proud of her, I can’t help but feel like our past our broken, messy past still lingers between us, holding us back from really connecting.

Our parents weren’t exactly the model parents. They never knew what stability was, let alone how to give it to us. The constant fights, the unpredictability… that’s the kind of thing that shapes you, for better or worse. Talia shielded me from a lot of it, though. When I was younger, just on the edge of realizing how chaotic things were, she took me in. She fought for me. Talia made sure I had a chance, a shot at a life that was better than what our parents could offer. And I’ll never forget that. I’ll never stop being grateful for it. I just wish she knew that, no matter what, I’m here for her, too.

At least I have someone I can talk to about it all big sister Clarissa, as I like to call her. She’s Talia’s best friend, but she’s more than that to me. She’s practically family, and she knows how to bring laughter into any situation. If there’s anyone who can help me take my mind off things, it’s her. Right now, she’s attempting the impossible, trying to teach me how to cook.

“Okay, Mabel, this is simple. All you have to do is stir the cheese into the pasta, put it in the oven, and we’ll have mac and cheese,” she says, watching me carefully as I stare down at the mixture in front of me.

“Easy for you to say,” I mutter, picking up the spoon. I start stirring the cheese sauce into the pasta, but it’s already clumping. “Is it supposed to look like this?”

She peeks over my shoulder, her eyes widening. “Uh, no. Not.”

I shrug, trying not to feel too defeated. “Well, maybe I’m just not cut out for cooking. Why do I even need to know how to make mac and cheese when there’s takeout?”

“Because,” Clarissa says, laughing, “sometimes, you just need to know how to feed yourself without depending on Uber Eats.”

“I can live with that,” I say, grinning, though I know she’s right. Talia’s been encouraging me to be more independent, especially with college starting soon. I have a feeling she’d appreciate it if I didn’t survive off delivery every night.

Clarissa watches me pour the pasta into the baking dish, and I put it in the oven, setting the timer. “Alright, all we have to do is wait and…”

She’s cut off by the smoke pouring out from the edges of the oven. I open the door, coughing as a cloud of smoke engulfs the kitchen. I’ve somehow managed to burn the mac and cheese.

“Oh my God!” I squeal, waving my hand in front of my face. “It’s a disaster!”

Clarissa is laughing too hard to be of much help, clutching her stomach. “Mabel, it’s just mac and cheese! How did you manage to burn it in under five minutes?”

“Well, maybe you should have kept an eye on it,” I retort, even though I know it’s mostly my fault. I was too distracted thinking about Talia, about how things used to be. “I thought I had it under control.”

“Clearly,” she teases, wiping a tear from her eye. “Alright, alright. Let’s get some pizza instead. Maybe cooking isn’t your thing just yet.”

“Now that, I can get behind,” I say, relieved. The last thing I need is another reminder that I’m not exactly winning at adulthood just yet.

We’ve just finished ordering when Talia walks through the door, looking every bit the composed, elegant woman she’s become. I can’t help but admire the way she carries herself, and the way she handles her success. But even now, I sense a hint of exhaustion around her eyes, a heaviness that only she can feel.

“What’s going on in here?” she asks, glancing around the smoky kitchen with a smirk. “Do I need to call the fire department?”

Clarissa laughs, jumping in before I can respond. “No need, Talia. We were just… experimenting with mac and cheese, and it didn’t go as planned.”

I roll my eyes, pretending to be offended. “For the record, it’s not entirely my fault. Clarissa was supposed to be supervising.”

Talia chuckles, coming over to hug me. “Well, it smells like an experiment, that’s for sure. How about we leave the cooking to the professionals tonight?”

“We already ordered pizza,” I say, grinning. “So we’re covered.”

Once the food arrives, we gather around the table, laughing about my kitchen disaster as we dig into the pizza. It feels so normal, so easy, and I find myself wishing we had more nights like this just the three of us, enjoying each other’s company, no expectations or pressures.

“So, how was your day?” I ask Talia, watching her take a sip of her water.

She pauses as if considering her words carefully. “Busy, as usual. The Williams-Rodriguez deal is almost finalized, so we’re tying up the last few details. It’s exciting but exhausting.”

“I bet,” Clarissa chimes in. “It’s like you never stop working, Talia.”

Talia shrugs, offering a small smile. “You know how it is. There’s always something that needs to be done. But enough about work. What about you, Mabel? Are you ready for college?”

I nod, though my stomach tightens a bit. “Yeah, I think so. It’s a little overwhelming, but I’m excited. New faces, new opportunities… I just hope I don’t end up burning down the campus kitchen.”

Clarissa laughs, nudging me playfully. “Well, if you do, just call me. I’ll come save you.”

Talia chuckles, but I notice the brief flicker of concern in her eyes. “You’ll be fine, Mabel. Just remember that you have people who love you and who will always be here for you, no matter what.”

Her words touch something deep inside me, a reminder of how much she’s sacrificed for me. I smile, reaching across the table to squeeze her hand. “Thanks, Talia. I know that.”

As the conversation continues, Clarissa fills us in on her plans to return to work. She’s been on leave for a while, taking a well-deserved break, but she’s ready to dive back into her role at Talia’s company. “I’ve missed it,” she says, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “There’s something about the hustle, the energy… it just feels right.”

Talia nods in agreement. “We’re lucky to have you, Clarissa. You bring so much to the team.”

I watch them, feeling a wave of gratitude for these two women who have been my anchors, my constants. Despite everything the challenges, the past, and the uncertainty they’ve always been here for me. And sitting here, surrounded by laughter and love, I realize how lucky I am.

As the evening winds down, I can’t help but voice the thought lingering in the back of my mind. “I hope… I hope we never lose this. I mean, the peace we have now. I know life is complicated, but… I just don’t want this to change.”

Talia looks at me, her expression softening. “Mabel, as long as we have each other, we’ll be okay. We’ve been through so much already, and we’re still here. No matter where life takes us, this” she gestures to the three of us, “is forever.”

Clarissa nods, raising her slice of pizza in a toast. “To the family, and to always being there for each other.”

I raise my slice, laughing as I meet their eyes. “To family.”