The Daughter She Never Chose Chapter 01

The Daughter She Never Chose Chapter 01

I gave Dad a gold Tiffany & Co. watch at Father’s Day dinner.

He put it on right away, turning his wrist so every relative at the table could see it. He was glowing.

Everyone started telling him how lucky he was to have a daughter like me.

Mom didn’t say a word the whole time. She just sat there with that look on her face.

I thought she felt left out.

I was about to tell her I’d already picked out a diamond tennis bracelet for her birthday.

Then she spoke.

“You always did know how to put on a show.”

“A five-star restaurant. A gold watch. Every relative we know sitting at the table. You didn’t do this for your father. You did it so everyone here would say you’re better than Julian.”

“You’ve spent your whole life trying to outshine him. What do you want? For me to admit I favor you over him? You want to embarrass me?”

“Julian would never pull a stunt like this in front of other people. That alone makes him twice the person you’ll ever be.”

The table went dead silent. I looked at Dad, waiting for him to say something.

He looked away. His free hand moved over the watch and covered it with his cuff.

Something inside me went numb.

Maine lobster. Alaskan king crab. Beluga caviar. And one empty chair where Julian Vance should’ve been.

None of it mattered.

…

“Maybe she was just trying to do something nice. I don’t think it’s as serious as you’re making it.”

A couple of my aunts jumped in, trying to calm things down.

“Exactly. She meant well.”

Others chimed in. “Come on, it’s a holiday. Let’s not ruin it.”

I didn’t want a scene in front of the whole family, so I bit my tongue. Told myself I’d deal with it later.

But Mom wouldn’t let it go. “You think she’s being thoughtful? That’s because you don’t know her. You have no idea how calculating she is.”

“They graduated the same year, and she got some big corporate job first. Ever since then, she’s been rubbing it in. She knew Julian was struggling, and she didn’t have the decency to ease up. She just kept twisting the knife.”

“And once she was done enjoying his misery, she swooped in and offered to get him a job, like she was doing him some huge favor.”

“You think that was kindness? She wanted everyone to see she made it on her own, while Julian couldn’t even get hired without his sister pulling strings.”

“I’ve never met anyone as manipulative as her.”

Every word cut deep.

My nails dug into my palms. “You were the one who told me Julian couldn’t find work. You asked me to help him. That’s the only reason I set it up.”

“How was that me trying to embarrass him?”

“And showing off?”

“Since the day I got that job, I never once bragged about it at home. I just saved every paycheck. Every cent went toward new furniture, new appliances, a whole new house for you.”

“So you wouldn’t have to live in that rundown place anymore.”

“And that’s showing off?”

“What else would you call it?”

Mom glared at me.

“Isn’t that exactly what it is? You showing everyone how much money you make?”

“A few appliances and a house? You treat them like handouts. You parade them around like you sacrificed everything. You just want me and your father to feel indebted to you.”

“Julian would never pull that.”

“When he gives us something, he does it quietly. He doesn’t even let us see the price tag because he’s worried we’d feel bad taking it.”

“You’re selfish to your core. Don’t you ever compare yourself to Julian. You’re not even in the same league.”

I stared at her.

So that was what she really thought.

All those years, I thought I was being a good daughter.

To her, all I’d ever done was show off and rub her face in it.

The look on my face only made her angrier. “Don’t you dare sit there playing the victim.”

“If you hadn’t been throwing your success in his face, Julian wouldn’t have pulled away from this family. He hasn’t come home for a holiday in years because of you.”

“He was supposed to be here today. We had it all worked out.”

“But you had to turn it into a whole production. Drag everyone to a restaurant, invite every relative you could find. You made it your stage. And Julian backed out. Again.”

“You’ve driven a wedge between me and my son. Happy now?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

The only reason I’d booked this dinner, the only reason I’d invited everyone, was because Dad mentioned it over the holidays. We’d gone to a nice restaurant, just the family, and he kept saying how great it would be to bring the relatives next time.

He wanted to show them he was doing well.

So I made it happen.

And this was my reward.

I turned to Dad. “Is that what you think too?”