-Chapter 1: The lost daughter returned.

-Rabena’s POV:

I had just turned 15 the day I found my birth family. It was the happiest day of my life. I pictured an emotional welcome filled with joy and gratitude that we finally found each out. Although my adoptive parents were amazing, I often wondered what my birth parents were like. When my mom and dad passed away, I thought for sure I would stay with my Uncle Pete until I became an adult, but all of that changed when he received a letter that my birth parents had finally found me. I didn’t want to leave him, but I was overjoyed at the thought of meeting my blood family. If I could change one thing in my life, it would have been the moment I’d said yes to meeting them.

When I first arrived, I was greeted by my birth mother Amber Crest and my father Davis Crest. I’d learned a great deal about the crest family, my father had a prominent real estate business, one of the largest in the country Banton. I lived on the other side of the world in Covington, so I had no idea. I also learned of my three brothers, Daniel, Damon, and Darius; but the greatest news was learning I had a fraternal twin sister Danielle. My mother greeted me with a friendly, yet distant hug and my father quietly said hello. I was confused at first, after all, I’d envisioned a much more emotional welcome. Still, I shrugged it off as everyone being nervous. As I packed my bags into the car, something felt off, my mother would barley look at me and none of my siblings were there. With a wry smile, I once again told myself, “Maybe it’s just nerves.” As the drive continued, I realized we weren’t heading to the estate; instead, we heading to a hospital.

“Um, excuse me. Is someone sick?”

My mother and father both looked nervously at each other before speaking. In a soft by detached tone, my mother began to explain. Turns out, my twin sister had a form of leukemia that required a bone marrow transplant in order for her to get better, being her twin; I was a perfect match. So that was the reason. That’s why they had finally brought me home, to be nothing more than an operation doll for their beloved Danielle.

Five years have passed since that day and my life at the Crest house had been nothing but hell. My mother hated me for some reason, convinced I was raised by poor commoners, of course that was the furthest thing from the truth. My brothers Daniel and Darius, they only acknowledged Danielle as their beloved little sister, to them I was just some imposter who’s face almost looked like hers. The worst of them all however was Danielle. For some reason, she’d made it her personal mission to destroy my life all while appearing as this sweet, fragile, and loving big sister. The only one that was kind to me was Damon.

The night of our 19th birthday, my parents threw this lavish ball for Danielle. It was also on that night I became married to Thomas Lockwood. His and our grandparents were old friends, one day, while on the pier, his grandmother fell into the lake almost drowning. While everyone was running around like idiots and panicking, I’d dove into the water and saved her. From that point on, she treated me like one of her own. Funny how strangers constantly loved me more than my own family. Being the matriarch of the family, she arranged for Thomas to take over the family business on the condition he would marry me, though this was much to his disdain as he was in love with my sister since childhood. So that night, he lazily walked into my foyer handed me a wedding band along with the certificate we received that afternoon and left for the party I was not invited too to celebrate my darling sister.

Still, for over a year I played the dutiful wife. Since he was taking over his family business, I used my connections as a Price to setup future business meetings with companies in the western continent. I’d known he didn’t love me, still, I held on to the hope that after our wedding, we could finally grow as partners who cared for each other; but all of that would come to an end.

The night of our 20th birthday, my parents threw Danielle yet another lavish ball, this time I was allowed to attend. I’d only stayed for an hour before deciding to leave, an hour was enough time of watching everyone fawn over Danielle. Because it was close to the venue, Thomas decided we would spend a few days at my family estate much to my dismay. That night, while in my old room, I heard noises coming from one of the guest rooms, curious, I decided to go see what it was. When I cracked opened the door I couldn’t believe my eyes, there was Thomas moaning and pushing, kissing, and loving, smiling and sweating with none other than my sister Danielle. I had to quickly close my mouth to avoid them knowing I was there. I slowly backed away, cautious not to make a sound. Tears began to flow down my face as I made my way back to my room. How could they do this to me! What had I ever done to this miserable family for them all to hate me so! That was it! I didn’t give a damn what promises where made, I was done trying to get these wretched people to love or care about me. It was time I went home!