Chapter 9
“Gianna,
that’s enough!”
“Are you robbing the place? Look at the mess you made in your sister’s room!”
Carmen stood in the doorway, staring at the wrecked princess–style bedroom, clutching her chest like she was about to have a heart attack.
“Mrs. Carlton, everything I’m taking was given to me personally by my grandfather! If anyone here is stealing, it’s you. You took what’s mine and gave it to your precious girl. I’m just taking back what belongs to me!”
Gianna stuffed things into a suitcase like mad.
Inside Roşie’s room were all kinds of expensive items that didn’t belong to her–things that were originally Gianna’s.
Her grandfather had left those things for her before he passed away.
But every time Rosie said she liked something, Carmen would snatch it and hand it over to her.
Those were clearly Gianna’s things. Even this room–this used to be hers!
She had come to the Carlton family a whole year before Rosie.
And truth be told, that first year had been a good one. Carmen and Yahir treated her well. Her three older brothers doted on her.
She had the biggest room, the best of everything.
Then, a year later, Rosie got adopted into the family.
That’s when everything started to change.
At first it wasn’t obvious. But slowly, she noticed–her family began to drift away from her.
They started revolving around Rosie. Only celebrated her birthday. Everything Gianna owned suddenly became “leftovers” Rosie didn’t want.
They told her she was the older sister, she should give in to Rosie more.
They said she was being immature–not acting her age.
They said she wasn’t as good as Rosie–not in school, not in music, not in anything…
They knew nothing!
In truth, she was way better than Rosie. They just didn’t know how much she’d done for them behind the scenes.
And by the time she realized they’d changed–it was too late to explain anything.
Because no matter what she said, nobody would believe her.
They only said, “Rosie would never lie. Don’t frame her just because she behaves better than you.”
These things were already given to Rosie! Gianna, how can you be so shameless? So vicious!” Carmen yelled.
“Did I ever say I gave them to her?” Gianna zipped up the suitcase and looked up with a sneer. “You gave them away, then go buy her some your own! These are mine–you don’t have the right to give them to anyone!”
of
Wit that, she dragged the suitcase into her own room.
Compared to Rosie’s big, bright princess suite, the room she’d been living in all these years was tiny.
It barely fit a twin bed and a desk.
=
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Kosie nad a whole walk–in closet. Gianna? A cabinet the size or a pizza Dox.
She glanced around. Most of the stuff in her room was just things Rosie didn’t like anymore and passed down.
Nothing was ever bought new just for her.
Gianna lowered her eyes, her gaze turning dim.
She used to care so much about them. But they never once cared about her.
Her heart still hurt. Still felt heavy.
She never understood.
She was their real daughter. Yet the only one who treated her well… was her Grandpa.
Forget it. Maybe their so–called “love” was never meant for her in the first place.
She packed up all the important things into another suitcase and turned to leave.
“What are you doing?” Yahir asked with a frown downstairs.
“Leaving this so–called home.”
