Chapter 2

"How could you?" The words came out as a choked whisper. I stared at my father, the man who was supposed to protect me, who had just casually detonated my life.

"Chloe, don' t be dramatic," he said, not even looking at me, instead picking up the remote to turn on the TV. "We did what was best for you."

"Best for me? You lied to them! You ruined my reputation! What did you even tell them?" My voice cracked, raw with a pain so deep it felt physical.

My mother, Sarah, came over and tried to put her arm around me, a gesture of comfort that felt like a cage. "Now, now. It' s for the family. Your Uncle Rick has nobody else. And his royalties... Chloe, we' re talking about millions. A fortune that could take care of all of us. You included."

The hypocrisy was suffocating. The way she said "you included" was an afterthought, a quick addition to make the greed sound like generosity.

"I don' t want his money," I said, pulling away from her touch. "I want my life back."

I scrambled for my laptop, my mind racing. Maybe I could fix this. Maybe if I explained, they would understand. My fingers flew across the keyboard, typing a frantic email to the HR manager.

"Dear Ms. Albright, There has been a terrible misunderstanding. My father was mistaken. I am in perfect health and there is no family emergency. I am still extremely eager to accept the internship..."

I begged. I pleaded. I hit send, my heart pounding with a desperate, fading hope.

I stared at the screen, willing a reply to appear. Minutes stretched into an eternity.

Then, the notification popped up. A new email.

"Chloe, I am sorry, but based on the information we received and our company policies, our decision is final. The position has already been offered to another candidate. We cannot discuss this matter further."

Final.

The word echoed in the silent room. The last door had just been slammed in my face and locked. Tears I hadn' t even realized were building finally spilled over, hot and bitter, running down my cheeks. It was over.

"See?" my mother said, her voice soft, but laced with a triumphant edge. "It' s all for the best. Fate has decided for you. Now you can focus on what' s really important: family."

She started talking about duty, about how a good daughter honors her parents' wishes, how blood is thicker than water. Her words were a stream of empty platitudes, the kind of things people say when they want to justify something ugly. Each word was a brick in the wall they were building around me.

I looked around the living room, a place that had always felt like a sanctuary. The family photos on the mantelpiece, the comfortable sofa, the worn rug-it all suddenly seemed like a movie set. A facade. My entire life, my happy childhood, the belief that my parents loved me unconditionally... was it all a lie? Had their love always been conditional, dependent on my utility to them?

The happy memories felt tainted now, soured by the revelation of their true nature. The pride they showed at my graduation, the encouragement they gave for my studies-was it all just an investment they were now cashing in?

"We' ve already packed a bag for you," my father said, interrupting my spiraling thoughts. He gestured toward a suitcase by the door. "You' ll be staying at Rick' s place starting tonight. We' ll drive you over."

He said it so calmly, as if he were announcing dinner was ready. The decision was made. My role was assigned. My life was no longer my own.

"We' ve got it all figured out, Chloe," my mother added, smiling. "Your path is set. Just do as you' re told, and everything will be fine."

The pressure in my chest tightened. They weren' t just sabotaging my career; they were hijacking my entire existence, and they expected me to thank them for it.