The Invisible Daughter Ruined Their Lavish Celebrations Chapter 02

The Invisible Daughter Ruined Their Lavish Celebrations Chapter 02

I looked at Julian Vance. At the gift box he was holding.

Julian shifted, tucking the gift box behind his back almost instinctively.

Chloe poked her head out of the private room. “Julian! You’re five minutes late. I’m docking you points.”

Julian stepped past me and held out the gift box.

“Got held up. I brought you something, though.”

He half-turned back to me, guilt written all over his face. “Elena. I’ll explain later.”

I didn’t move.

An hour ago, he told me he was going to a family friend’s dinner and wouldn’t be able to text tonight.

He didn’t mention the “family friend” was the woman who gave birth to me.

What I really hadn’t seen coming was this: the boy I’d grown up with, the one I thought was mine since we were kids sharing juice boxes in the driveway, acting like he and Chloe lived in their own little world.

The playful smile slipped off Chloe’s face.

She looked at me. “Elena… you’re Elena?”

Before I could say a word, she spun around. “Mom! Oh my god, Elena’s here! She came to see you!”

Every head in the room turned.

I curled my fingers into the edge of my shirt and looked at my mom.

Her smile hadn’t fully settled yet. It just hovered there, frozen.

“It’s you.”

She cleared her throat. “Look at you. You’re all grown up. I almost didn’t recognize you.”

I let go of my shirt. “I’m not here for you.”

She stiffened, then stood and walked over.

“Then why are you here?”

“I work here.”

My mom looked me up and down.

“Why are you in that filthy uniform? Are you trying to embarrass me?”

She dropped her voice. “We’re in the middle of Chloe’s celebration dinner. I don’t have time for this right now. Go talk to your father. He’s next door.”

She walked over and knocked on the next room’s door.

“Arthur, your daughter is here.”

“What are you talking about? I only have a son.”

He trailed off when he saw me.

A few seconds passed. Then he forced a laugh.

“Why are you here?”

He stepped closer to the doorway and dropped his voice.

“We’re in the middle of my son’s birthday. The room is full of people. This isn’t a good time.”

“Whatever it is, let’s deal with it tomorrow.”

He looked at my mom.

“I really can’t do this right now. You’re her mother. She clearly came to see you.”

My mom’s mouth twisted.

“I’ve got enough going on too. You’re her dad. She’s your responsibility.”

Just like that, the old edge crept back into both their voices.

My mom’s voice went sharp. “She has your last name. She’s a Sterling. Don’t you dare dump her on me.”

A vein pulsed at my dad’s temple.

“Last I checked, I didn’t have her by myself. Why is she suddenly all mine?”

There it was again. Me, getting tossed back and forth between them like a piece of baggage neither of them wanted to claim.

It had always been like this.

They used to argue over who had to cook for me. Who should pay for my school lunches. Who had to drive me to school.

In the courtroom, the judge asked me who I wanted to live with.

My mom jumped in before I could answer. “Your Honor, I can barely make ends meet as it is. I can’t take her.”

My dad shot right back. “I’m a single man. How am I supposed to raise a little girl on my own?”

They went at each other until they were both red in the face, like they were fighting over a bill neither wanted to pay.

Years later, nothing had changed. I was still the burden they were both trying to pass off.

I took a breath and cut in.

“I don’t need anything from either of you.”

“I wasn’t looking for you in the first place.”