Love Swiped Left on Me

Being the only daughter of the Calhoun family, a mafia family in Merovia, I am doted on like a princess. This changes when I turn 18, when Mom dies.

On the way back from a family meeting, the car blows up, and Mom shields me beneath her. Even as she lies in a pool of blood, her gaze is tender as she says to me, "Don't blame yourself, sweetheart. I love you."

Still, after Mom's death, everyone in the family starts blaming me for what happened, including Dad and my older brother, William Calhoun. I go from being the princess of the family to the jinx that everyone hates.

Soon after that, Dad brings home a new adopted daughter, Juliet Calhoun. William favors her and detests me. Even my childhood sweetheart, Shawn Kramer, takes a liking to her and ignores me.

Dad says his new adopted daughter is way better than his biological one.

They all agree to attend my college graduation ceremony. But on the day, they end up taking Juliet onto our family's yacht and holding a cocktail party out on the water to celebrate the official addition of a new family heir.

This is the 100th time they ditch me for her.

Unable to stop myself from an emotional breakdown, I cry out, "I'm the one who's related to you by blood!"

Dad shields Juliet, who backs away from me out of fear. Then, he slaps me on the face. "I wish I'd never had you."

"Who wants to have a younger sister like you? I wish you'd died with Mom!" William roars in contempt.

This time, I've decided to let it all go.

I call Aunt Marissa, Mom's sister. She's the founder and a therapist at MindCare Treatment Center.

"Come here. This is your home now."

I know that Mom's death was a conspiracy.

This isn't just me leaving, but withdrawing myself from the family entirely.

I hope that the next time I meet the Calhouns, there won't be tears on my end. Instead, judgment will befall them.

I got a text message from my aunt, Marissa Ross.

"I've booked the flight ticket for you, Olivia. It leaves in three days. Take the time to bid them a proper farewell."

A farewell, huh?

Staring at that word, I spaced out for a while.

I thought of Dad, who never looked me in the eye anymore, and my older brother, William Calhoun, who had long since switched sides. I also thought about Shawn, who was meant to be my fiance, but I couldn't even be bothered to say goodbye to him anymore.

Three days were enough time.

Out on the empty street corner, I stood alone for some time, letting the cold fall air chill me to the bone. Then, I picked up my phone and called Dad.

His name was Vincent Calhoun.

It rang for only a second before he declined the call. When I tried again, he turned his phone off.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to call William. This time, it rang for a while before he finally answered.

"Why do you keep calling?" William questioned irritably. "Don't you know that Juliet was performing on stage just now? You almost disrupted it!"

Juliet Calhoun was Dad's new adopted daughter. She was now the true "darling" of the Calhoun family.

Even though I should be used to William's biased attitude by now, his words still cut deep.

Doing my best to hide the bitterness in my voice, I answered in my usual appeasing tone, "It's been a while since we last saw each other, William. Can we have dinner together tonight? Juliet likes dining at that seafood restaurant, the Sea Goddess, right? They just launched a new and improved menu. We can try it out together—"

"What trick are you trying to pull this time, Olivia? Just a few days ago, Juliet nearly missed a performance because you had them deliver her gown to her late!" William barked.

"Are you inviting us out to a meal because you want to poison her this time? Or are you seizing this opportunity to put on your pathetic one-woman act again?"

I stiffened. William had once said to me, "Even if no one else believes you, I always will."

"That's not true, William. I just want to see you."

"Well, I don't want to see you!"

Just then, a sweet, delicate voice chimed in, "Don't say that about Livie, Will. She'll get upset."

It was Juliet. Her voice was light and airy as she continued, "It's been ages since I last saw you, Livie. Let's have a meal together. But I'm feeling rather tired, so I don't want to go out. Let's eat at home, okay?"

"I feel like having seafood risotto and butter-grilled oysters, but it's the cook's day off today. Can you… cook for us, Livie?"

Her request made me uncomfortable, but since this was probably the last time I'd eat with them as a family, I agreed. "Fine."

Once the call ended, my hands started shaking.

They'd all forgotten that I was severely allergic to seafood. Even the slightest contact with seafood was enough to make me suffocate. Still, I agreed to do it. I was like a pitiful puppy who craved getting even the slightest hint of warmth and affection from my family.

…

Meanwhile, over on the other side, Juliet leaned playfully into William's arms and said, "Will, Livie seems… to have really turned over a new leaf. She still loves us very much."

Lowering his head, William lit up a cigarette. His gaze was cold as he said, "She still hasn't figured out just how unimportant she is."