They Wanted Me to Chaperone My Sister Abroad, So I Vanished Chapter 10

They Wanted Me to Chaperone My Sister Abroad, So I Vanished Chapter 10

Linda had never grasped what a star student meant to a family like theirs-small-business owners clinging

to respectability.

A standout student was a glowing credential, proof of solid family values.

If they’d raised such a brilliant daughter, clients would naturally trust them to run their business competently.

Strong exam results also promised the child could one day take over the family company with sharp critical

thinking and discipline.

That was exactly why Owen had carried himself with such unearned arrogance for years; his acceptance to UW served as public proof of the Millers’ competence, padding his parents’ reputations in every social circle.

Now all of Owen’s pride crumbled beside Bella’s historic SAT ranking, rendered meaningless by comparison.

Linda’s mind swam with confusion. She tugged at the sleeve of Owen’s shirt. Owen was already frayed raw by the whirlwind of regret and jealousy, and he let out an irritated “tsk” before she could speak.

Linda flinched in shock.

Her older brother had never spoken to her with such impatience growing up. Though he had a volatile temper, he’d always doted on her endlessly, never uttering a single harsh word in her direction.

All his sharp irritation had been reserved solely for Bella, leaving nothing but soft smiles for Linda. This marked the first time he’d snapped at her.

Refusing to give up, Linda poked Marcus’s arm instead.

Marcus didn’t grow cross with her, but his gaze held a tangled mix of emotions she couldn’t parse.

Marcus was the gentlest person she knew. No matter how long she cried, he’d soothe her with endless patience. He was incredibly attentive, filling in every small oversight Owen overlooked.

Linda had assumed he’d be the one to comfort her, when everyone else’s attention fixated on Bella’s exam

success.

But he offered no comfort at all. None of what she’d hoped for came to pass.

Marcus drew a deep, weary breath, his upright posture slumping with exhaustion. “Owen, I don’t think I should stay at the Miller house any longer under these circumstances. I… I’m heading home.”

The second the words left his mouth, he turned and fled the house as if fleeing an unbearable weight.

Linda stared at his retreating back, her fingers curling tight into her palms as tears burned as they tracked

down her cheeks.

“Owen, look-”

Owen cut her off mid-sentence, spinning on his heel and locking himself in his bedroom as if burned. He had no bandwidth left to comfort his sister; he needed complete solitude to process his swirling envy and regret.

Linda stood alone in the empty living room, surrounded by silence for the very first time in her life. With no one to lean on, she dragged herself to her bed and stared blankly at the ceiling.

The night was quiet, only faint, muffled whispers drifting from the master bedroom, too indistinct for her to make out their conversation. The uncertainty of what they discussed fed her wild, anxious overthinking.

The walls surrounding her were lined with family portraits and limited-edition posters her parents had bought for her-visible proof of a girl raised in every luxury.

Yet her mind drifted unbidden to Bella’s tiny bedroom.

The space was sparse and plain, no wall-to-wall plush dolls, endless designer clothing, or custom ornate furniture. It was barely the size of Linda’s walk-in closet. But every inch of Bella’s narrow bookshelf overflowed with trophies and medals, every wall plastered with certificates.

Once, Linda had scorned those awards entirely. Next to her lavish bedroom decor, the plaques and certificates looked plain and unimpressive; she’d never wanted them for herself.

Even so, young Linda had thrown a tantrum and cried over them. That same day, her parents had torn every certificate off Bella’s walls, ordering her to pack all trophies away deep inside her closet drawers.

She couldn’t remember if Bella had cried. All she recalled was the greasy paper bag of fast food her parents bought her afterward… treats they rarely let children indulge in, and left Bella home alone.

From that day forward, Linda had understood the unspoken rule of their household: she could have anything

she desired.

Everyone, every plan, every opportunity would bend to accommodate her whims-especially Bella, the brilliant yet overlooked sister Linda could endlessly compete with and outshine.

Sometimes a flicker of guilt pricked her heart; Bella was her blood sister, and she’d always treated Linda with kindness. But that tiny spark of conscience was instantly snuffed out by Bella’s undeniable, overwhelming

brilliance.

Linda’s selfish behavior grew more brazen, even as she carefully hid her jealousy from outsiders.

Still, the fear she’d buried deep inside her had finally materialized without warning. No amount of favoritism could extinguish Bella’s light-not really.