They Wanted Me to Chaperone My Sister Abroad, So I Vanished Chapter 14

They Wanted Me to Chaperone My Sister Abroad, So I Vanished Chapter 14

Mom and Dad erupted with delight the second they received Bella’s short reply.

Dad’s gaze sharpened with the quiet confidence of a man who’d never been wrong. “I told you it was just

teenage stubbornness. There’s no way she’d skip her own college send-off party. This house is her childhood

home, her family-she won’t cut herself off forever.”

Mom beamed, twisting to address Owen and Linda beside her. “Bella agreed to come, but I’m sure she’s still

hurt. You two need to be gentler with her from now on-don’t treat her the way you used to, or you’ll drive her

away all over again.”

Owen’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he mumbled a quiet, reluctant “Alright.”

Linda could barely process what she’d heard. For as long as she could remember, Bella had always bent to accommodate her. She’d never once been expected to speak softly or show deference to her elder sister.

All the half-hearted niceties she’d offered before had been petty scraps she tossed down from her place as

the family’s favorite, never genuine respect.

Now she was supposed to fawn over the sister she’d resented her whole life-the girl who’d always outshone

her in every way?

But the past week had taught Linda harsh lessons. Her standing in the household had crumbled completely. Right now, Bella’s academic fame made her untouchable, far more valued than Linda could ever hope to be.

She bit back her anger and nodded, feigning meek obedience.

The party was scheduled for the next day, and Mom and Dad threw themselves into last-minute preparations. They’d even special-ordered an exquisite silk evening gown just for Bella.

Linda’s eyes lit up, and she reached out to touch the fabric. “It’s gorgeous-am I wearing this to the party?”

This time, Mom swatted her hand away sharply. “Don’t touch it carelessly. This gown’s made for your sister- she’s the guest of honor, and she needs to shine for everyone.”

“It’s fragile authentic Chanel haute couture; we fought hard to get a single piece. One tear would be

irreparable.”

Linda pressed her lips together, hurt flooding her face as she pulled her hand back.

The morning of the send-off banquet, everyone rose at dawn.

Linda’s own new dress paled in comparison to the silk Chanel gown, and she stared longingly at its delicate

fabric, burning with jealousy before tearing her gaze away.

Hours passed with no sign of Bella arriving home, so Mom and Dad grabbed the gown and headed straight

for the hotel venue.

“The hotel’s close to Bella’s university campus. She’ll head there directly-we’ll wait for her inside.”

The banquet hall was massive, packed wall-to-wall with guests. Mom and Dad circulated endlessly, glowing with pride as visitors showered Bella with praise. Linda seethed, slipping away to hide in a quiet corner of

the ballroom.

Once, all that attention and admiration had belonged solely to her. Now none of it was hers anymore.

Lost in bitter resentment, she spotted Marcus walking slowly toward her in a tailored suit. A flicker of hope

sparked in her chest.

Even after overhearing his private phone call about Bella, she couldn’t believe her childhood friend, who’d spoiled her for years, felt nothing for her.

Marcus stopped directly in front of her, and his first question cut straight through her fragile optimism.

“Where’s your sister?”

Linda’s eyes stung with thin, hot tears. “I don’t know! All of you only care about her-no one bothers to ask

how I feel!”

Marcus’s frown was barely there, his voice gentle but utterly devoid of warmth. “Calm down, Linda. This whole event’s for Bella. Of course everyone’s focused on her-that’s only natural.”

Linda’s mouth fell open, lost for words. She suddenly realized Marcus, who’d always seemed fair and

balanced, was the coldest of them all.

Every invited guest had arrived, yet Bella never showed. Dad rushed from table to table making awkward small talk, pouring round after round of wine to fill the empty space where the guest of honor should’ve

stood.

Whispers rippled through the crowd-guests murmuring about the Miller family’s missing elder daughter.

Mom and Dad frantically dialed Bella’s number, but her phone remained powered off, unreachable. Sweat

cooled on their spines. Bella wasn’t coming-and everyone knew it.

Could Bella really be refusing to show up to this lavish party they’d thrown for her? If she didn’t come, the

entire family would be humiliated.

The bigger the spectacle they’d built, the more crushing the embarrassment would be.

They had no way to salvage the night.