They Wanted Me to Chaperone My Sister Abroad, So I Vanished Chapter 06

They Wanted Me to Chaperone My Sister Abroad, So I Vanished Chapter 06

For weeks afterward, they treated me like air.

Linda’s heatstroke had hit her hard, derailing the elaborate graduation trip they’d planned solely for her. Their resentment toward me only grew worse because of it. Sometimes they wouldn’t even call me over to join them for dinner.

Strangely, their cold indifference brought me a flicker of relief. If no one paid me any mind, I had endless quiet hours to focus on my own plans.

Julian sent me links to several remote freelance writing gigs. I buried myself churning out articles every day, saving up money to cover my college expenses.

Linda’s overseas departure and my own university move were fast approaching—I needed every dollar I could earn to prepare.

My official acceptance letter had been delivered to Ms. Bennett’s house, and I’d told her every painful detail of how my family treated me.

She fell silent for a long moment, then told me to call her the second I was ready to leave; she’d drive me to the airport herself.

Once Linda recovered, she left for the graduation trip with Owen and Marcus. My parents worked full-time, leaving the house entirely unsupervised, so I started tutoring high school students, cashing in on my perfect SAT score.

When I had spare minutes, I scrolled through Instagram, flooded with their posts nonstop.

Linda uploaded a shot of the three of them on a vast grassland. “Spent the day riding horses with my big brothers—absolute best day ever!”

Meanwhile, I pedaled a bike through sweltering midday heat to my students’ homes, weighed down by thick stacks of lesson plans stuffed in my backpack.

Owen posted photos of snow-capped mountain peaks, blurry wild monkeys, and Linda making silly cross-eyed faces at the camera. “These mountain monkeys are little troublemakers—remind me of someone I know.”

I sat across from a stubborn, uncooperative student, repeating the same exam prompt twenty-three times until my throat went raw and my temples throbbed.

Marcus shared a sweeping shot of golden mountain peaks glowing in sunset light, paired with a profile photo of Linda grinning wide beneath pink dusk skies. “The sunset’s beautiful, but she’s far more stunning.”

I perched on a curb eating a cheap sandwich, staring out at the glowing sunset and mapping out my uncertain future.

By the time they returned home, I’d saved a substantial sum—more money than most teenagers could hope to earn, enough to cover six months of all my living costs.

They dragged in heavy suitcases overflowing with souvenirs for Linda. My parents grinned from ear to ear, showering Linda with endless praise for being “such a thoughtful girl.”

A sour irony settled in my gut. A child gets to be carefree and well-loved when their family makes space for them.

When the stack of souvenirs made its way to me, predictably, there was nothing waiting.

Linda’s cheeks flushed pink with guilt. “Bella, I brought you amazing beef jerky as a gift. But I got so hungry on the plane, I ate all of it before we landed. Can I give you my coral bracelet instead?”

Owen instantly pulled her wrist back, stopping her from offering the jewelry. “Don’t bother. You love that bracelet more than anything. It doesn’t matter if she gets a gift or not—she’s used to it by now.”

Dad cut the conversation short without a second glance at me. “You two leave for overseas soon. Have you finished packing all your things?”

Linda nodded vigorously. “Yep! Owen and Marcus double-checked every bag for me—nothing’s forgotten!”

I gave a quiet small nod. “I’m packed too.”

My luggage held everything I needed for my university move: just one tiny rolling suitcase. It paled in comparison to Linda’s four oversized designer suitcases, yet it held all my savings and every vital document I owned.

Dad handed Linda another bank card. “This covers your first year’s tuition and living expenses. Keep it safe, don’t lose it.”

When he turned to face me, he didn’t look at a daughter heading across the country for school—he looked at a live-in caretaker assigned to Linda. “If you need money, ask Linda. She’s younger—her needs come first. Don’t be selfish.”

I parted my lips to speak, then clamped them shut, huffing a bitter, self-deprecating smile.

No surprise. This outcome had been exactly what I’d expected all along.

I texted Ms. Bennett my exact departure date and flight time, then clutched my State ID and fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.

On departure day, the whole household clustered around Linda, fussing over her nonstop. They told her to call home for anything, never bottle up hurt feelings if she faced hardship abroad.

To me, they tossed out a handful of rushed instructions—all centered around taking care of Linda.

Linda giggled and looped her arm through mine. “Don’t worry, I’ve got my big sister to look after me!”

I said nothing at all.

Once we reached the airport, a text pinged from Ms. Bennett. I pressed the power button, locking the cracked screen of my phone.

I’d only gotten this beat-up secondhand device after the amusement park incident; it was Linda’s old hand-me-down. Still, I didn’t care anymore.

The group swarmed Linda, showering her with last-minute reminders. I pulled a disposable mask over my face and mumbled, “I’m heading to the restroom.”

Marcus’s tone stayed soft and gentle as always. “Alright, hurry back. Should we leave your luggage here so you don’t haul it around?”

My hands stiffened around my suitcase handle. “It’s fine, I’ll take it with me. Just keep an eye on Linda’s bags—she’s got so much stuff.”

He didn’t push the topic, turning right back to chat animatedly with Linda.

I breathed a quiet sigh of relief, dragging my suitcase and hurrying away from them, as if fleeing a trap.

In the far end of the departure lounge, Ms. Bennett paced anxiously, scanning every face until she spotted me.

She pressed my official acceptance letter and a thick cash envelope into my hands, then rushed me toward the boarding gate. “Hurry—they’re about to close boarding!”

I ran, each step lighter than the last, as if gravity had finally released its hold.

The second the plane lifted off the runway, my heart finally settled into calm.

I was no longer the unlovable second daughter, no longer the older sister forced to surrender everything, no longer the brilliant girl forced to shrink herself thin for the sake of their twisted “fairness.”

In this moment, I was only Bella Miller—nothing more, nothing less.