Chapter 2 - The Favorite Daughter
Vanessa Whitmore had always been beautiful in the effortless way that made strangers forgive her before she had done anything wrong.
As a child, she had golden curls, bright blue eyes, and a smile that appeared whenever adults entered the room.
Emma had dark hair, serious brown eyes, and a habit of noticing the things people preferred to keep hidden.
At seven, Vanessa cried because Emma received the highest score in their class.
Diane responded by asking Emma not to display her certificate at home.
At twelve, Vanessa wanted Emma’s birthday dress.
Richard told Emma that maturity meant sharing.
At sixteen, Vanessa crashed her new convertible after drinking at a friend’s house.
Emma was forced to tell the police that she had distracted Vanessa with a phone call.
The pattern never changed.
Vanessa created chaos.
Emma absorbed the consequences.
A week after Richard refused to honor the loan agreement, Vanessa invited Emma to lunch at an exclusive restaurant overlooking the river.
Emma knew it was not a social invitation.
Vanessa arrived twenty minutes late wearing sunglasses and a cream designer coat.
“You look tired,” she said as she sat down.
“You look expensive.”
Vanessa smiled.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
A waiter poured sparkling water.
Vanessa opened the menu but did not read it.
“Dad told me you were being difficult about the wedding.”
“I paid the invoice.”
“Yes, but you made him sign some ridiculous contract.”
“It was not ridiculous until he decided he would not honor it.”
Vanessa sighed.
“Why does everything have to be so transactional with you?”
Emma almost laughed.
“You asked me for four hundred and twelve thousand dollars.”
“I did not ask you. Dad handled the finances.”
“Convenient.”
Vanessa removed her sunglasses.
“I need you to understand something. This wedding matters to Daniel’s family. His father is on the board of Cole International. There will be investors, politicians, and important people there.”
“And?”
“And our family cannot look cheap.”
Emma leaned back.
“Then perhaps our family should spend money it actually has.”
Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.
“You have always been jealous of me.”
“That answer has saved you from a lot of self-reflection.”
“You think because you have some little consulting job, you’re better than everyone.”
Emma did not correct her.
Vanessa reached into her handbag and placed a jewelry catalog on the table.
She opened it to a diamond necklace worth eighty thousand dollars.
“I chose this for the reception.”
“It is beautiful.”
“Mom thinks it should be your wedding gift to me.”
“I already transferred four hundred and twelve thousand dollars.”
“That was for the family.”
Emma closed the catalog.
“No.”
Vanessa blinked.
“What?”
“No.”
The word seemed unfamiliar to her.
“You cannot come to my wedding empty-handed.”
“I was planning to give you a fifty-thousand-dollar cashier’s check.”
Vanessa stared.
“That’s all?”
The waiter approached, sensed the tension, and quietly retreated.
Emma studied her sister’s face.
“You believe fifty thousand dollars is an insult?”
“Daniel’s sister received a house from her family.”
“Then marry Daniel’s sister.”
Vanessa’s mouth fell open.
Emma stood.
“Lunch was illuminating.”
“You cannot leave.”
“I have a meeting.”
Vanessa grabbed her wrist.
“You always do this.”
Emma looked down at her hand.
“Release me.”
Something in Emma’s voice made Vanessa obey.
But as Emma turned away, Vanessa said, “You know why Mom loves me more.”
Emma stopped.
The restaurant noise seemed to recede.
Vanessa smiled slowly.
“Because you have never truly belonged with us.”
Emma faced her.
“What does that mean?”
For one second, Vanessa looked pleased with herself.
Then caution appeared in her eyes.
“Nothing. You are just cold.”
“You said I never belonged.”
“I meant emotionally.”
Emma stepped closer.
“Did Mom tell you something?”
Vanessa picked up her sunglasses.
“You’re being dramatic.”
“Vanessa.”
“Go to your meeting.”
Emma watched her sister for several seconds.
Vanessa put on her sunglasses, but not before Emma noticed fear in her eyes.
That evening, Emma went to her penthouse and opened the locked cabinet in her study.
Inside were old financial records she had quietly collected over the years.
Tuition statements.
Medical invoices.
Rental agreements.
Letters from her parents.
Each document represented another debt Richard and Diane claimed she owed.
Emma spread them across the floor.
At the bottom of one box, she found a hospital bill from the year she was born.
The patient name had been covered with correction fluid.
Emma held it beneath the desk lamp.
Faint blue letters remained visible underneath.
May you like
The first name was not Emma.
The last name was not Whitmore.
