It was a high-end cafe, Kayla mused. Her sister would never eat anywhere that didn't have the price tag of a car. She sighed as she walked into the cafe.
The smell of luxury perfume mixed with arrogance made her slightly irritated. Why couldn't she pick a better place?
She spotted her sister near the floor-to-ceiling window that reflected her face but also people walking and children playing in the pack. Her sister, Evie, sipped her tea with grace and elegance.
"Mitche," she greeted with a beautiful smile plastered on her face. Kayla nodded, her eyes gentle as she sat opposite her sister.
Evie pushed a cup of coffee towards Kayla. "Here, it's iced caramel latte, your favorite."
It was her favorite when she was 16, but Kayla thanked her and sipped it, wishing it was her signature boba tea.
"How have you been doing, Evie? Why did you come all the way here to visit? I could have come to wherever you are."
"Even home?" Evie gave her a pointed look.
Kayla couldn't refute the statement. Going home was a fate worse than hell for her, even Evie knew that.
From an outsider's gaze, the two sisters were very similar, even the same height and eye color but because Evie wore heels, she was a head taller than Kayla. The only difference was in their aura.
One was graceful, with soft features, and screamed, 'old money'. Pearl earrings, necklace, and her chestnut hair were in soft waves with a portion of it resting on her shoulders.
Her dress was made out of jean material, slightly above her knees with two rows of ruffles at the edge, highlighting her long legs and white heels.
Unlike Kayla's features which were sharp with high cheekbones, sunken cheeks, and a certain chic look in the way she dressed.
"Have you been eating well, sister? You've gotten thinner than the last time I saw you." Evie frowned an expression that still looked good on her face. True concern was etched on her features.
"That's supposed to be my line, Evie." She glanced out the window, the trees swaying peacefully calming he hectic mind.
"I'm the older sister, Mitchie, not you. You never pick up my calls or reply to my texts but you send them all day," she paused, calming herself, "asking how I am, if I need money and whatnot but when I do the same, you don't accept it."
"Because it's been my job to take care of you since birth," Those were the words on the tip of her tongue but she held back, remembering this was the sister she loved dearly. The same sister she sacrificed a normal childhood to become a nanny for.
"I know. I've just been busy with school."
"No wonder your hips have gotten narrower. They used to be wider," She said half-serious, half-joking but Kayla didn't find the joke funny and pretended to sip her coffee.
What was wrong with her today? Why couldn't she bring herself to behave normal with Evie? She couldn't bear to smile after everything that had been happening.
Evie cleared her throat, awkwardly and when she tried to hold Kayla's hand, the latter pulled away using it to tuck a strand of her behind her ear. This made her frown deepen. Why was her sister acting like this? Did she do something to her?
Kayla cared for her deeply but she wasn't able to do much of her role as her elder sister because of her severe illness this has always made her feel guilty she tried as much as possible, especially now, that she had gotten better to check up on her and be with her but she was always busy in school or hanging out with other people that weren't, her.
When she finally wanted to be there for Kayla, she put up a wall that she didn't know how to break through.
"Mum and Dad want you to come home." She announced and Kayla outright laughed.
"You're joking, right? They want me? Kayla, the prodigal daughter to come back to their house? The same house they kicked me out of? No. I'm not going." Kayla sneered.
"Mitchie, it's an important dinner that you have to come to. Don't be stubborn."
Kayla forced a laugh, crossing her arms, "Unfuckingbelievable. Is this why you came all the way here? To be the bearer of the news that they couldn't fucking man up and tell me themselves because they know I wouldn't give them the time of day!?"
"Sssh! You're being loud." Evie's Hazel eyes darted around, bowing her head, apologizing to the people who looked their way. Kayla rolled her eyes.
"I'm not going, Evelyn, so be a good little messenger and tell them that for me, okay?" The smile didn't reach her eyes.
If she went back, her parents would complain about something and she would lash out and a fight would ensue, and Evie would be in a cross-fire because she wouldn't know who to support so she would try to meditate on the situation. So, she was refusing to go because of Evie. If this dinner meant a lot to her sister, the last thing she would want is to make a scene.
"Don't be like this, Mitchie. I came here on my accord for you. I want you to be part of this dinner because you are my sister and I love you. I want you to be there, please." Her dove-like voice and the pleading in her eyes struck a chord with Kayla.
"Please just come and Mum and Dad will be on their best behavior if you promise to be on yours," Evie warned and Kayla rested her head on the chair, slumping down into her seat. "Fine," she mumbled making Evie's smile brighten.
"Good, I already prepared a nice dress for you to wear when we get back home and there's so much we need to do, like make-up and hair! This could be our last sister bonding time!"
Kayla gave a weak smile, "Yay."
Last sister bonding time? Kayla suddenly sat up, leaning in, "What do you mean by last sister bonding time?
"Nothing. It must have slipped out. Oh my, is that what I said?" Evie chuckled lightly, waving Kayla's words off. "We have to make sure that this dinner is spectacular and we spend so much time together as this could be our last time together under the same roof."
Kayla nodded, feeling a headache coming on. First Reigna, now her parents? 'Someone should just tie me up and sacrifice me to the devil already!' she thought to herself.
****
Luckily for Kayla, when they entered the house, Evie dragged her upstairs so she didn't get to see her parents.
They went into Evie's room which was just like hers: soft, clean, and classy. Whereas hers was loud, messy, and 'unladylike' like her mother usually said. And Kayla didn't take them as insults. Those words summed up her personality, except instead of the last word, she would pick, fashionista.
Two dresses were laid out on the bed. One was green, the other purple. They both had similar designs except one was an off-the-shoulder gown that would hug the curves and the purple had only one arm and a dangerously high slit.
She guessed that one must be hers because Evie, though not conservative, didn't like to show her skin because of the surgery marks and spots due to her sickness.
"See? It's your favorite color, purple!"
Kayla gave her some credit there. Purple and blue were like cousins, so A for effort. "It's actually blue but I like it!" She didn't want to dampen her sister's mood.
"What should we do with our hair? I don't have a clue! This dinner must go well or Mum and Dad will be upset and-"
"Evie, breathe!" Kayla held her shoulders. "You will be fine! Mum and Dad would never get angry with you and I got you! Just sit and I'll take care of everything for you." She ushered her sister in front of the vanity mirror and Evie lowered herself to the chair.
"See my sister, is the prettiest girl in the entire world!" She placed her head next to Evie's, still touching her shoulders.
"Not as pretty as you, Mitchie!" Evie countered and Kayla giggled, agreeing with her sister, "You're right! The Hastings girls are the most beautiful in the entire world!"
Evie's eyes became glossy. That was who Kayla was, a caring sister.
"Remember what we used to tell me when we were children when I was on my sick bed and I would be afraid because I didn't want to…"
Kayla stroked her hair. "Yeah. If sorrow crawls in the night, joy would surely come in the morning, because happiness can be found even in the darkest times." The sisters echoed together. Words that Kayla needed to hear after everything that had happened.
"I love you Mitchie. Thank you… for everything." She said glancing at her through the mirror. "That's what sisters do. I love you too, Evie." Kayla kissed her forehead sweetly before working on her hair.
Evelyn's hair was in a high ponytail, her pearl jewelry gleaming at any contact with light. Her heels clicked as she descended down the stairs like a princess, and the gown flowed to the floor.
"Here's our daughter! Our diamond!" Xaviar exclaimed so much pride and love oozing from his body as he enveloped her when she reached the bottom floor.
"My pretty princess!" Ariana covered her mouth, sniffing. Her beautiful daughter had suffered since the day she came into this world. The one who had sleepless nights, being injected with thousands of needles but she prevailed like the warrior she was.
She couldn't believe it. The girl that was so tiny and frail was now a woman.
The family of three embraced, complimenting each other not noticing when Kayla walked down the stairs too. She didn't do too much with her hair and just curled it at the tips, wearing clip-in butterfly cuff earrings and her friendship necklace with Louisa.
Kayla stood to the side, waiting for one of them to acknowledge her presence. She was always on the outside looking it and years ago she would have been crying for them to let her in, but now? She still wanted them to let her in and the isolation stung like hell.
She also wanted to be hugged by her father and be called pretty. She wanted to be loved and not treated like a tool. But when did the world ever care about what she wanted?
"Mitchie, you've finished?" Evie walked up to her taking her hands in hers. "Doesn't she look amazing mum?"
"She would look pretty if she didn't wear the earrings. Why couldn't you wear the one I specifically picked out for you?" Ariana asked lightly and Kayla's face darkened. Hands balled in a fist.
"It's just a dinner, what's the big deal with the earrings?" She scoffed.
"Just a dinner? How can you say things like that? It's like nothing matters to you except it has to do with you." Ariana said affronted.
"Mum I…" Evie started but Xavier cut her off, sharply.
"You don't need to defend her, Evie. How can she call your engagement dinner just a dinner?"
"What are you talking about? What engagement dinner!?" Kayla turned to Evie. "What the fuck is he talking about!?"
"Lower your voice, Michigan. Hastings do not-"
"Do not shout! Yeah, I get the memo!" Kayla yelled drowning her mother's words.
"What are they saying? Who the fuck is getting engaged!?"
"Your sister is getting engaged and we are having a dinner with the family."
"Hogwash! This is bullshit! Why am I only hearing of this now!? Well? Don't just stand there, Evelyn! Say something!"
"Don't yell at your sister." Xavier's deep voice cut through the air, making Kayla quiet. "Unlike you, she still cares about this family."
Kayla decided not to take the last comment seriously as she was used to it. "What do you mean?"
Evie stepped forward. "I didn't want to tell Mitchie because I knew you would react this way. The company isn't doing well and as the COO, I've been trying to get investors and I got one, but they had a condition." She closed her eyes bracing herself for the confession, "The condition was for me to marry their son."
"Tell me you didn't agree!? Fucking tell me you didn't sell your daughter for some investment!?" She directed the questions at her parents.
"I chose to do this, Mitchie. Not them. I decided this for myself to save the company."
"No!" she shook her head, "No! You could have chosen another path! Another investment! Another-"
"I had no choice!" Evie shouted, stunning Kay. She never raised her voice.
"Yes, you do! You always have a choice! You could have told me and I would have figured something out!"
"But I don't need you to always save me. I can save myself too, Michigan."
Kay licked her lips, taking a deep breath. "I am not letting you sell yourself for a mistake you didn't make!"
"Mitchie, I've already decided." She said firmly.
"Well, I overrule your decision. Who are you getting married to? Who is the sick motherfucker?" She would kill him before he touched her sister.
Before Evie could respond, the butler walked in with three people behind them. He moved out of the way and Kayla could die right then and there and have no single regret.
"She's getting married to Wyatt Hudson Parker." Her mother said and when both of them saw each other, they both gasped.
"Kayla?"
"Wyatt?"