Seeing my sister's pitiful acting I started laughing.
" What are you laughing at? " my father asked me angrily.
" Who will not laugh seeing my dear sister's pitiful acting. huh. She was the one who invited me to the dinner to show how sad she is to slander me for breaking the vase. She mixed something in my drink and I don't know what happened then. " I told all the truth cutting the part of the hotel room.
After a few seconds of silence, my sister starts speaking, "Anna, you are slandering me without any evidence. If I had really invited you to a dinner, then the hotel reception will surely have the record for the registration. Let's go to the hotel's reception to find the truth."
How silly of me. I should have known that this was all her scheme. The registration in the hotel was in my name. I felt angry with myself. How can I fall in her sweet talks?
" I... I. The registration is in my name. But -" I started to speak but again my sister cut in between.
" See Dad, See. How she is slandering me. She must be jealous of me because I have 70% of your share in your property. I...I am so sorry. Dad, please take the 70% away from me. I don't want something that can destroy the unity of our family. Anna is my little sister. I can't see her hating me for this." After finishing her line she starts sobbing. What a good actress she can be!
" Darling see how your daughter is throwing false accusations on my little child. I think she still doesn't recognize us as her family." it was the first time my stepmother had spoke something in today's drama.
" If things continued to be like this, I don't think I'll stay in this house anymore. Why did you marry me if we were going to be treated like this? Oh, my poor child! See how much she is crying!" my step-mother said and wiped the fake tears of my sister from her handkerchief.
" Enough now! " roared the voice of father in the hall. " All of you go back to your respective rooms. And as for Anna she won't be having meal for a whole day and will be locked in her room. Today a guest of mine will come in the evening. I don't want any disturbance till then in the home. Better you understand. Now go." my father said and walk off from the hall with my stepmother following him behind. My sister smirked at me and left me standing alone in the hall. I slowly walked towards my room and shut the door behind me.
I walked towards the drawer in my room and opened it. The drawer was filled with a newborn child's socks and sweaters. Under the clothes was a photograph of a young woman with blonde hair and big, dark brown eyes just like me.
" Mom... " I touched the photo with my fingertips and a tear fell from my eyes on the photo. She was smiling in the picture with a bouquet of white daffodils in her hand. The socks and sweaters were all mines, knitted by my mother when I didn't even exist. I didn't have strength in my legs and slipped onto the floor, sitting on my knees. By looking at my mother's photo I cried.
" Why aren't you with me Mom? Why you left me alone in this cruel world without anyone to love me?" I said crying and hug the photo tightly. I closed my eyes and soon fall asleep on the cold floor.
The next morning. The sun rays fall on me through the window glasses. My eyes flickered and I opened my eyes. I looked at my hands and saw my mother's photo was still in my hands. I put it back in the drawer and stood straight. I turned on my phone that was switched off since yesterday. I checked the time on my phone. It was 11 o'clock. I took my toiletry bag and headed towards the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and took a shower. After 15 minutes I stepped out and wore a towel around my body and headed towards the closet. I was locked in this room for today so I decided to wear a simple comfortable pair of pajamas and a top. I sat on the bed and started reading one of my favorite novel.
In the middle of my novel reading, my phone vibrated. I put down the book from my hand and picked up my phone. I looked at the called ID. It was Kelly. I answered the call.
" Hello? " I speak on the call.
" Hello, Anna! Are you alright? Last night you messaged me about your sister's behavior towards you. I was tired yesterday so I slept earlier. I read your message today. Is everything okay? Why aren't you answering me!! " Kelly was worried about me. She is an orphan I met at school in an event. Since then we are best friends. Her aunt and uncle paid for her tuition but they both have ill intentions towards her as she has all the property left by her parents. She decided to work part-time in a bar until she turned 20. When she will turn 20, she will be the lawful owner of all the business which is now under her Uncle.
" I am alright. Okay! Don't worry about me. " I assured her. She let out a sigh of relief.
" I am coming to your house. Get ready. " she said.
" No. You don't have to come today. I am not allowed to meet anyone nor to go out. " I said urgently.
" Why? " she asked. Again I can tell she is worried about me.
" I will tell you tomorrow. I will meet you at the bar at noon. " I replied.
" Okay then. Take care. Bye " she said.
" Bye. " and I hung up.
Then I again went to read the novel which I left in the middle.