Ella~~
Ella woke up to the sharp throb of a headache, her body sluggish as she peeled her eyes open. The ceiling fan whirred above her, and the scent of coffee and something buttery filled the air. Blinking against the morning light streaming through the unfamiliar window, she pushed herself up and groaned. It took a few seconds to register where she was—Nora's house. The events of last night came flooding back, the drinking, the heartbreak, the kiss with the handsome stranger.
Groaning, she buried her face in the pillow. What the hell was she thinking?
Before she could dwell on her foolishness, her phone vibrated violently on the nightstand. She reached for it with sluggish fingers, wincing as the screen lit up with unread messages.
Mom: Come home. Now. We need to talk. Immediately. Ethan told us everything. We're waiting for you.
A bitter laugh bubbled in her throat. Of course, Ethan had run straight to them. Playing the wounded fiancé, the perfect victim, making sure they turned against her before she even had a chance to defend herself.
The door creaked open, and Nora peeked in. "Ah, Sleeping Beauty awakens," Nora teased, walking in with a coffee mug. "You look like hell."
"I feel like hell," Ella muttered, sitting up. "Head's pounding."
"Well, no shit," Nora snorted. "You drank like you were trying to erase your entire existence."
Ella sighed, rubbing her face. "I have to go."
Nora's playful expression vanished. "Why?"
Ella held up her phone. Nora snatched it from her hands, eyes narrowing as she read the messages. "You're not seriously considering going to them, are you?" Nora huffed. "Let them call. Let them choke on their own audacity."
Ella let out a bitter chuckle. "If only it were that easy."
Nora sighed, setting her coffee down. "Fine. But if they so much as breathe wrong, I swear I'm driving over there to cuss them out myself."
Ella managed a weak smile. " Duly noted, I'd pay to see that."
Within few minutes, Ella was done dressing up and left in a cab.
The ride home felt suffocating. Her pulse drummed in her ears as she climbed the front porch steps and hesitated before pushing the door open.
There they were, her adoptive parents. And sitting next to them, like a smug little queen, was Sophia while Ethan stood beside her, his arms crossed, his face stoic.
Her mother stood the moment she saw her. "Ella."
Ella crossed her arms. "Mom."
Her lips pressed into a thin line. "Care to explain yourself?"
Ella let out a short laugh. "Explain what? That I broke off an engagement with a man who clearly never wanted me?" She shot Ethan a glare." That I finally put myself first for once?" I thought you'd be happy."
"Happy?" my father bellowed. "Do you have any idea what you've done? This engagement was important!"
"Important to whom?" Ella shot back. "Certainly not me."
"Ella, enough," her mother snapped. "After everything we've done for you, this is how you repay us? After everything we've sacrificed to raise you?"
There it was. The guilt trip. The reminder that she owed them. And now that they had Sophia back, their real daughter, she was nothing more than a nuisance.
Ella had never been their daughter. She had been their obligation. A responsibility. A backup plan. A cruel replacement.
She clenched her fists. "What, exactly, have you done for me, Mom?"
Sophia let out a soft sniffle, drawing everyone's attention. Oh, here they go.
Sophia wiped at her dry eyes and looked at Ella with a trembling lip. "Ella, I—I never meant for this to happen. I never wanted to take anything from you. I just—" She swallowed dramatically. "I just fell in love."
A sharp, incredulous laugh escaped Ella's lips. "You fell in love? With my fiancé?" She turned to Ethan, rage burning through her veins. "You said nothing was going on. You lied to my face."
Ethan rolled his eyes. Rolled his damn eyes at her. "Ella, don't be childish. We didn't plan for this."
"Oh, you didn't plan for it? So, what? Sophia just accidentally ended up in your arms?"
His jaw tightened. "It was complicated."
"No, Ethan," Ella hissed. "It was a choice."
Her father huffed. "Ella, stop being so dramatic. You were never supposed to be with Ethan in the first place."
Something in her froze. "What?"
Her mother nodded, her voice cold. "It was always supposed to be Sophia. She was meant for him. You were just… a last resort."
Her heart cracked in half at the sheer words..
Seven years. Seven years of her life, and she was nothing more than a placeholder.
Sophia let out another sniffle. "I know this hurts, Ella, but can't you just be happy for us? I—I don't want to be the reason you're upset."
Ella stared at Sophia, her blood boiling. "You don't want to be the reason? Sophia, you are the reason!"
"Ella, stop this nonsense!" her father barked. "You're acting selfish. This is what's best for the family."
"Oh, so it's fine to throw me away like trash as long as it benefits you?"
Her mother sighed, rubbing her temples like Ella was the one being unreasonable. "Ella, you've always been difficult. This is why we struggled so much with you. Unlike Sophia, who understands the meaning of family duty—"
Ella let out a sharp breath. "You mean unlike your real daughter?"
Silence fell. Her mother's lips parted, but she didn't deny it.
And that was all she needed.
Ethan sighed heavily. "Look, Ella, let's be rational here. This doesn't have to be so messy. Just apologize, and we can fix this."
Ella stared at him, utterly disgusted. "You want me to apologize? For what?"
He crossed his arms. "You embarrassed me. You caused a scene. My family is furious. But we can still salvage this if you just admit you overreacted."
Ella laughed. A deep, bitter laugh that tasted like poison on her tongue. "You're delusional."
His expression hardened. "You'll regret this, Ella. You're throwing away a life most women would kill for."
Ella took a step closer, staring him down. "And you're throwing away the only woman who ever loved you for who you really are."
He scoffed. "You were never the one I wanted. If Sophia had come back sooner, none of this would have happened."
The final nail in the coffin. "Then let's make it official."
Sophia's lips curled into a barely-there smile, as if she had won.
Ella turned to her parents, her voice eerily calm. "Thank you for finally showing me where I stand in this family." She and with that, she turned on her heel, heading for the door.
"Ella, don't you dare walk away from us!" Her father thundered.
Her mother's voice followed. "If you leave now, don't bother coming back."
She paused, gripping the doorknob. A few years ago, those words would have destroyed her. Would have left her begging to be loved.
But now?
She turned her head slightly, offering them one last look.
"Consider your wish granted."
And with that, she yanked the door open, walked out, and slammed it shut behind her, right in their faces.
For the first time in her life, she chose herself and it felt damn good and just then, her phone rang. She swiped the screen to the caller.
"Hello" Her voice was shrill.
"Ella dear, remember it's my birthday party tonight, I want you there and "no" is not an option" Her grandfather's voice rang out across the phone, not an order neither was it a request but one thing was certain, she had to be there.