It Was Never Fair

My parents had been planning for me to prepare Belle’s wedding gift.

I looked at my mother's text message.

[I'm paying special attention to Belle as I've got nothing to worry about when it comes to you. I've loved you since you were little.]

Love?

The blue notebook crushed my heart as my heart roared with me, 'Recording my expenses to gain back the other daughter's wedding gift is what you call love?'

…

I smiled and stroked my pet chicken, Chester, when I got home.

"Chester, you're the one that loves me the most. Grandmother gave you to me, and you love me just like she did."

Belle's text messages started flowing in at that moment.

[Celine, how can you talk back to Mother and Father? They loved you so much! They bought you branded clothes when you were a child, too. All of our neighbors knew about that.]

I called her back immediately, trying my best to suppress my anger as I said, "Don't you know those branded clothes I wore were all your hand-me-downs? Whose child would always be wearing clothes too small for them?"

Belle audibly choked before she retorted, "Weren't we poor at that time? You can't just deny their love for you because of that. Listen to me: apologize to Mother now.

"By the way, Celine, I'm short of money for my wedding. Can you give me four thousand dollars?"

I laughed in anger.

While still on call, I pulled out one of her social media accounts she actively used.

Her latest post stated, [I wish to get my mother a gold bracelet. I'll have that stupid sister of mine pay for it. No one loves her anyway.]

Belle acted differently on her social media account. It turned out that was her true self, knowing she was the main beneficiary of the entire situation.

"Belle, I know the truth about the blue notebook. You've known about it for a long time ago, no? It was never a notebook to record my favorite items."

Belle panicked. "What do you mean?"

I continued, "Mother wanted me to marry someone locally. You're planning to go away with them after your wedding, but leave them to me to take care of in their older age." I could no longer hold back my tears as I growled, "How, Belle, can you be so selfish?!"

"It's not me! Mother and Father want to live with me. It's tradition for the eldest daughter to take care of the parents. I won't take this task away from you." Belle sounded so righteous and confident as she spoke.

I mockingly asked, "Tell me then, when Mother sent my ex-boyfriend onto your bed, did you two plan it together?"

Belle hung up the call abruptly as I continued to browse the posts on Belle's social media account. I took note of everything piece by piece. All of those were proof of what they had done.

I felt so numb that I could not feel the excruciating pain in my heart. I would only be torturing myself if I continue to read her posts.

I sent Belle a message.

[By the way, I won't be returning. It's now your turn to take care of them and pick up their mess.]

Belle was furious as she yelled, "What's wrong with the eldest daughter taking care of her parents at their old age?! You can't just pick on me because our parents feel sorry for me and want to live with me for a while!"

I sneered and refused to reply.

I lit up the essential aroma ointment and fell asleep.

In my dream, my late grandmother held my hand and said distressingly, "Dear Celine, don't cry. I've saved enough money for you to further your education. I love you the most."

Tears unconsciously flowed down my face.

…

Yes. Belle, down the line, felt that I was annoying her, so my parents sent me away to Grandmother.

When Grandma saw me, she didn't care if I was pretty or ugly. She just said, "Celine looks just like me."

The money for my further education all came from the money Grandmother saved little by little. The money my parents earned would be kept for Bell.

After completing my further education, I was kept locally with them, begging for them to love me. What did I get? I was ridiculed by Belle, the main beneficiary in the entire ordeal.

I was raised by Grandmother with love. Why should I be treated so unfairly?

I got up the next morning and headed straight back to the office to report to work and cancel all my leave.

My manager, Fanny, patted my shoulder and smiled with relief. "You're the most important thing to yourself. Your family doesn't support you or love you, so you have to love yourself more."

I held back my tears and nodded vehemently. I failed in my family relationships but succeeded in my career.