The Daughter They Never Chose

My younger sister had fallen in love. The moment my family found out, they completely lost it. My older brother, Scott Welbeck, cracked his knuckles. "What's his name? Who's the bastard who dared to go after my little sister?" Mom looked just as disapproving. "Riley, you're still young. You don't know how cruel the world can be. Sweetheart, just dump him. There'll be someone better." Dad slammed his palm down on the coffee table. "Break up with him! It's an order!" But the moment they noticed Riley Wellbeck looking upset, their tune changed immediately. "Don't cry. How about this? Bring him home over Labor Day so we can meet him. Would that make you happy?" When it came to me, though, they offered only a few perfunctory words. "Jenna, you're not as pretty as your sister, and you're terrible at talking to people. It's already lucky that anyone wants you." "Don't be so picky. Just go ahead and settle this marriage." Scott casually added with a teasing laugh, "Exactly. You two have been together for five years. He has not broken up with you, and he's even thinking about marrying you. That proves he must be a decent guy." They did not ask whether my boyfriend treated me well or if his parents were good people. They did not even suggest meeting him. They simply agreed to the marriage. Not because my boyfriend was a good man, but because, in their eyes, I was worthless. I slowly exhaled and drained the soda that had long since gone flat. If they did not love me, I would find a new family that did. From now on, they were them, and I was me. Chapter 1 The Daughter They Never Saw "Don't you want to meet him?" After a long silence, I finally spoke, unable to suppress the faint trace of unwillingness. Mom set down her mug and awkwardly brushed the question aside. "It's fine. We trust you." Did they trust me? Or did they simply not care? I lowered my eyes to the ring on my ring finger—the joy of being proposed to washed away instantly, leaving me cold to the bone. In truth, I should have gotten used to it long ago. I should have gotten used to my family ignoring me, to their indifference, to the fact that they simply did not love me. And yet, I had still wanted to tell them that my boyfriend's name was Isaac Forrest, and that he loved me very much. His parents were in business, and they treated me well, too. I had memorized all the answers to the questions Mom and Dad might ask, over and over until I knew them by heart. But they did not even ask. And even when they did ask questions, they did not ask me. Because I was not Riley. Just like now. I looked up. Riley stood there with her arms folded, her face full of the spoiled, carefree confidence she had always possessed. "Oh, come on. Why are you asking so many questions? I'm warning you, you'd better be nice to my boyfriend. This is my first relationship. What am I supposed to do if you scare him away?" Scott's eyebrows drew together. "He'd better not. I'll beat him into a pulp!" Mom also began giving Riley a serious, motherly lecture. "Riley, you shouldn't throw yourself at a man. A girl must have dignity. You don't have to cling desperately to the same man the way your sister does. If you two really break up, your dad and I will take care of you. You've always wanted a walk-in closet, haven't you? Once Jenna gets married, we'll turn her room into one for you. How does that sound?" Dad was not a man of many words, but he kept nodding, clearly agreeing with Mom. Right in front of me, they were already planning what to do with my room, without the slightest consideration for how I might feel—because whenever Riley was there, they never saw me. I was ordinary and plain. Weak and timid. I was not as bright or as dazzling as Riley, nor as articulate or charming. Riley only had to stand there without lifting a finger, and she could effortlessly draw everyone's attention—including Mom and Dad's love. When I was little, I had fought for it too. I competed with her, trying to win their attention. When Riley came first in her class, I stopped sleeping and pushed myself to the limit, swearing that I would surpass her. And when I finally brought home a first-place certificate, I asked, "Mom, Dad, could you love me a little more?" Scott immediately snorted. He told me I was dreaming, then immediately held up a lollipop to cheer Riley up. Mom merely ruffled my hair and told me that Riley was my little sister. Then she turned around and prepared an entire table of Riley's favorite dishes. Dad's eyes had not even lingered on me. He had been 40 years old, yet after coming home from work, he would still kneel on the floor and let Riley ride on his back like a horse. No one cared about my first-place certificate or noticed me standing alone in the corner. As we grew older, Riley fell in love. Because they loved her, my family naturally paid more attention to her boyfriend as well. When it was my turn, nothing changed. Fortunately, I was no longer that unloved little girl. I looked at Dad and could not help but ask, "You said before that you didn't want your daughter marrying too far from home. My boyfriend's family is in Cambaluc. Don't you mind?" Dad froze for a moment. His expression immediately turned serious as he turned to Riley. "Where is your boyfriend from? If he's from outside this state—no, outside this city, I won't agree to it." I froze. After a long moment, I let out a self-deprecating laugh. As it turned out, the daughter he had been talking about had never included me. I got to my feet and turned back toward my room. Once inside, I opened my chat with my boyfriend and slowly typed, 'I'll marry you. Take me away, won't you?' The next second, his reply came through. 'Wait for me!' Chapter 2 The Stranger in My Own Family The next day, Mom and Dad solemnly called everyone into the living room. Then Mom pushed two envelopes toward Riley and me. Riley opened hers first. A key slid into her palm, and she looked at Mom, confused. Mom and Dad exchanged a glance before smiling and pressing the envelope into Riley's hands. When she opened it, she found the deed to a 2,000-square-feet apartment, registered in her name. Mom patted the back of Riley's hand. "We hadn't planned on giving this to you so soon, but before we knew it, you'd reached the age where you'd start dating. This is a gift from your dad and me, and it's also something we want you to have so you'll always feel secure." Riley threw herself into their arms, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mom, Dad, why are you both so good to me?" Mom affectionately pinched her nose. "Because you're our precious girl." Riley wiped away her tears and looked at me. "Jenna, what did Mom and Dad give you?" I opened my envelope. It held a stack of cash. I counted it, and it was an odd amount of 693 dollars. I looked up at Mom. She seemed to know what I wanted to ask, because her tone was completely indifferent. "You've grown up, too, and you're at the age where you'll be getting married. There isn't much we can give you. This is just a little something from your dad and me." I froze for a moment before instinctively looking at the deed in Riley's hands. Noticing my gaze, Riley hugged the deed tightly against her chest, her voice filled with unmistakable smugness. "Mom and Dad bought this for me. You didn't get one. Boohoo!" Dad looked at me, his voice gentle but carrying a clear warning. "Don't even think about it. That's your sister's. You're going to marry out of the family anyway. Even if we bought you a house, you wouldn't need it. There's no point wasting the money." So because I was going to marry out of the family, all I deserved was 693 dollars? There were so many times when I wanted to ask them whether I was really their daughter. I had asked Grandma once. I had even secretly gotten a DNA test done. The results showed that I was, indeed, their daughter. However, I would have rather been someone they had picked up off the street. That way, at least, being ignored would not have hurt so much. … After a long moment, Scott spoke up as well. He pulled a bank card from his pocket and slid it in front of Riley, his voice filled with affection. "I'm not as well-off as Mom and Dad, but everything I have is yours. It's not a huge amount, but it should be more than enough to cover the renovations for your new place." Mom smiled beside him and added, "Your brother has saved almost 400 thousand dollars since he started working, and he's giving all of it to you. Don't complain that it isn't enough." The tears Riley had just managed to stop immediately spilled over again. "Scott, you're the best brother ever." Scott gently ruffled her hair, the tenderness and affection in his eyes impossible to miss. "I just want you to know that no matter who your boyfriend is, if he ever treats you badly, come home. We'll always be here for you." I stood to the side like an outsider watching someone else's family and felt how utterly unnecessary I was. I turned to leave, but Scott suddenly called my name. "Jenna." I stopped and turned around. Scott walked over to me. "You don't want your gift?" "I have one?" "You're my sister too." Those words warmed my heart. Scott opened his palm, and a gold necklace with a rose-shaped pendant lay quietly in his hand. I had seen it before. It had once been a birthday gift Scott had bought for Riley. But since Riley did not want it, he gave it to me instead. A bitter ache spread through my chest. I smiled and looked up at Scott, each word deliberate and sincere. "Thank you. This is the most valuable gift I've received today." The warm, lively atmosphere in the living room instantly froze. The cheerful mood died away, leaving behind an oppressive silence. Riley's shrill voice finally broke it. "Jenna, how could you say that? It doesn't matter how big or small a gift is. It's the thought from your family that matters." But the thoughtfulness was hers; the perfunctory treatment was mine. In this family, we were nothing more than the most familiar strangers. That was all. I looked at them without saying another word, then walked straight into my bedroom. Behind me, I heard Scott soothing Riley. "Hey, don't mind her. You know how competitive she's been since she was little. We're all used to it!" The bedroom door closed, and my tears fell instantly. What I had been fighting for was their love. Did they really not know that? Chapter 3 Even the Flowers Were Hers At 3 p.m., there was a knock on my bedroom door. It was Mom, with Riley standing behind her. Mom shoved a rag and a mop into my hands. "Riley's boyfriend will be here in a couple of days. Clean the house properly. Don't let Riley embarrass herself." I looked up at them. Both of them were dressed beautifully, their faces made up as though they were heading somewhere important. My grip tightened around the mop. I raised a hand and pointed at Riley. "What about her? What is she supposed to do?" Mom frowned, clearly growing impatient. "I'm taking Riley to pick out a couple of outfits. The spotlight will be on her, so she needs to look her best. Stop comparing yourself to your sister. She's different from you." With that, Mom took Riley's hand and walked away, leaving me no room to object. However, she seemed to have forgotten that I was the one actually getting married. Compared to Riley, I had more reason to dress up. But Mom did not seem to care. … By the time I finished cleaning, it was already 5 p.m. Scott came home from work and immediately stepped onto the floor I had just mopped. He was carrying two bouquets of roses. One had 99 roses, while the other had only nine. He hid the larger bouquet from view. His footprints trailed across the living room before abruptly stopping at Riley's bedroom door. He turned around and came back to me, holding the bouquet of nine roses. "Here. These are for you. I'm going to surprise Riley, so you have to keep this a secret." I took the bouquet in my arms. Gradually, my nose began to itch and swell, and my heart tightened little by little. When Riley was born, Scott and I were in the same position. In that corner of the hospital, we were both forgotten by the entire world. At the time, Scott reached for my hand. He saw how lost and helpless I was, and he protected the little bit of hurt I carried in my heart. I had thought that at least I still had Scott in this family. But as Riley grew older and started calling out to Scott, even that last bit of comfort was taken from me. Scott had said, "She's my sister too. It wouldn't be fair to her." Yet eventually, I was the only one who was treated unfairly. From then on, his heart had clearly favored her. When he saw my eyes turning red, he looked both amused and exasperated. "It's just a flower. Do you really have to get this emotional? Don't tell me your boyfriend managed to win you over with little gestures like this." I set the flowers down and wiped away the tears gathering in my eyes before explaining, "He's actually never gotten me flowers because he knows I'm allergic to pollen." Scott's smug look froze instantly. After a long moment, he apologized, though no trace of guilt crossed his face. "Sorry. I didn't know. I just wanted to make Riley happy. The florist said if I bought 99 roses, they'd throw in nine extra. I didn't know you were allergic." So, even the roses that made me sick had merely been Riley's leftovers. I opened my mouth, wanting to tell him that he did know. He had given me flowers at my graduation ceremony, too, and he saw firsthand how miserable my allergies made me that day. But in the end, all I said was, "It's okay." It really did not matter now. After all, once I got married, we would only be relatives. Not family. Chapter 4 The Daughter Who Gave Everything The next day, a large number of relatives came over to the house. They had all heard that Riley had a boyfriend and had specifically come to help Mom and Dad figure out how to handle things. Scott was in the living room, too, chatting with everyone. Only I was in the kitchen. The thermostat was set to 77 degrees, yet I was sweating through my clothes. … By the time the last dish was served, I stood motionless beside the dining table. Mom frowned and looked at me. "Sit down and eat. Why are you standing there like an idiot?" I glanced around the table before asking expressionlessly, "What am I supposed to eat?" "There's still plenty of mashed potatoes, isn't there? Just mix it with some gravy." Dad reached out and placed the last shrimp onto Riley's plate, casually criticizing me as he did. "Your sister is prone to low blood sugar. Get the food out faster next time." My fingers tightened around my apron, trembling slightly. I made 12 dishes for 10 people in one hour. Was that still not fast enough? And what did they leave for me in return? Dirty plates and scraps of food. Why? Why had no one thought about me? I took off my apron and spoke quietly. "I'm not eating." Riley's voice suddenly came from the table. "Jenna, I want some watermelon." Mom immediately chimed in, "Since you're not eating, go cut up some watermelon, then." With that, Mom turned back to the relatives and continued discussing what they needed to pay attention to when Riley's boyfriend came over. No one looked at me or cared whether I was hungry. I turned and walked into the kitchen, opening the refrigerator. Cold air rushed over me, and my eyes instantly grew moist. I halved the watermelon, grabbed a spoon, and scooped out a bite from the center—it was sweet and ice-cold. From the living room, I heard Mom call, "Jenna, remember to clear the dining table. And don't forget Riley's watermelon." The moment she finished speaking, I swallowed the last piece of watermelon. I washed my hands, wiped the corner of my mouth, and slowly walked back into the living room. I looked at Mom and spoke slowly, one word at a time. "There's no more watermelon." Scott looked at me in confusion. "How could there be none? I specifically bought it for Riley." "I ate it," I announced quietly. The entire room fell silent. Everyone stared at me in disbelief. Riley's aggrieved voice suddenly rang out. "Watermelon is the one thing I always want after dinner. Jenna, why didn't you leave me some?" I looked at her expressionlessly. "But what about me? Who among you left me even one bite?" The next second, the relatives began saying their goodbyes. "Lewis, something came up at home, so I'd better get going." "Yeah, I have something to take care of too." "We'll head out first." The relatives scattered almost immediately. Mom's face flushed with anger. "Jenna Welbeck! You've grown a pair, haven't you? We only asked you to cook a meal. What's there to whine about?" I looked straight at her. "What about me? I've been buying groceries and cooking for this family for more than thirty years. Did I complain even once?" It was always like this. Every single time. The moment I expressed any dissatisfaction or did something that upset Mom, she would immediately stand on the moral high ground of motherhood and lecture me. And I had never been able to argue back. But I didn't want to live like that anymore. "Yes. I feel aggrieved." My voice rose, clear and sharp. "When you bought groceries and cooked, was it only for me, Mom? Did Dad not eat? Did Scott and Riley not eat? I learned how to cook not for anyone else, but for you. I did it because I didn't want you to overwork yourself. But why is it that after I've spent all this time slaving in the kitchen, I'm not even allowed to have a piece of watermelon?" I shook my head and slowly backed away, one step at a time. "I'd rather I had never been your daughter." Chapter 5 The Price of Their Love Scott shot to his feet and roared, "Are you hearing yourself, Jenna? It was just one meal! What's the big deal? She's our mother!" Dad slammed his palm down on the table. "Enough! You're making a scene over something this trivial and humiliating our family in front of the relatives. Your mother gave birth to you and raised you for all these years, and this is how you repay her, you wretched brat? Besides, Scott bought the watermelon for Riley. You ate it without her permission. That's stealing!" I laughed, so hard that I doubled over. After a long moment, I straightened and looked around the room. The massage chair in the living room—I bought it because Dad's back was bad. The gold jewelry Mom was wearing—I bought it because she cared about appearances and wanted to look the part. The latest computer in Scott's bedroom—I bought it because he was good at gaming. The collection of figurines filling Riley's bedroom—I bought them because she was my sister. And now, after eating nothing more than a piece of watermelon, I had become the thief in this family. I clasped my wrists together and held them out toward them, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why don't you call the cops and have me arrested then?" Mom stared at me with such hatred that she no longer looked at me like a daughter, but an enemy instead. After a long moment, she finally spoke. "Either throw up the watermelon or pay for it." Riley tugged at Mom's sleeve. "Mom, stop fighting with her. I won't eat watermelon anymore." She turned toward me. "Jenna, you should stop arguing too. She's still our mother." Riley had never been a bad person. She was spoiled, but she was not unreasonable or domineering. However, she had always benefited from everything this family offered, and that was why I hated her. "Fine. I'll pay!" I pulled out the envelope containing the 693 dollars Mom and Dad had given me and placed it in front of them. "Is this enough?" "Not enough!" Mom lifted her chin, looking down at me as though I were nothing more than a tiny ant. "We raised you for 27 years. We poured countless hours, effort, and resources into you. Do you really think all of that is worth only 600 dollars? Three million. Pay us three million, and after that, you can do whatever you want. We won't interfere with you anymore!" The blood in my body immediately froze. My throat felt as though a block of lead had lodged inside it. I could not utter a single word. Mom stepped forward and stopped in front of me. "Don't have it?" I stared at her blankly without answering. She smiled. "In that case, shut up! This family isn't yours to run." With that, Mom strode away, leaving only one final command behind. "Now, clean up the dishes and the dining table." Dad, Scott, and Riley followed her out, closing the door behind them with a thud. I collapsed onto the floor, my face tear-stricken. Was I wrong? Should I not have eaten that piece of watermelon? Or should I not have talked back to my parents? The truth was, I did not know. I only knew that my parents' love for me apparently had a price—three million. For the first time, I suddenly felt so valuable. So expensive. Expensive enough that I could never afford the price of their hollow love. … Over the next few days, it was as though they had all agreed to punish me on Mom's behalf. They changed the lock on the main door without telling me. There was no food set aside for me at mealtimes. Even the Wi-Fi password was changed. Fortunately, I was getting married soon. … Isaac arrived the day before Labor Day. I put on the white dress he had bought me and applied a light layer of makeup. When I left the house, no one asked where I was going or what I was going to do. I did not tell them either. I simply held Isaac's hand tightly and walked with him into the vital records office. Making the appointment, taking a number, waiting in line, signing the paperwork, getting married—I treated every step with the utmost seriousness. The moment I received our marriage certificate, I cried. Isaac pulled me into his arms and gently comforted me. I thought I had finally found a family of my own. When we left, it happened to be Labor Day, and the table was already covered with fruit, desserts, and all the food prepared for dinner. I walked into the kitchen. "Mom." She turned around, her voice cold. "Have you realized your mistake?" I shook my head. "I'm leaving—" Before I could finish, Riley came rushing into the kitchen and interrupted me. "Mom, my boyfriend is here!" Mom did not even wait to hear what I was going to say. She turned and left. I watched as Mom and Dad sat on the couch, putting on the full air of parents meeting their daughter's boyfriend—the kind of treatment I would never get. I smiled and took nothing with me. I walked downstairs, got into the car, and drove away. From now on, when we met again, we would only be relatives.