One-Way Street: When Love Leaves

Back then, my parents took pity on Lindsey for being an orphan, and they decided to adopt her.

She was sweeter, softer, and far better at playing coy than I ever was—and before long, she'd captured my parents' hearts completely.

At first, I was genuinely happy to have a little sister. I never imagined she'd turn around and accuse me, again and again, of bullying her.

Each time, I tried to explain. But whenever my parents saw Lindsey hiding behind them, eyes brimming with tears, they refused to believe a word I said.

Over time, they became convinced that I was the spoiled, temperamental one—and that Lindsey was the poor, innocent victim.

So they tried to make it up to her in every possible way.

Now, as they lovingly smoothed her dress and fussed over her hair, their affection for her was plain to see.

"If Lindsey likes it, why can't you let her have it?" my mother chided gently. "You already have so many jewels that your safe can't hold them all. Why fight your sister over one crown?"

Watching them stand protectively in front of Lindsey, it felt as if I were the outsider—an intruder in my own family.

My eyes burned as I fought to keep my voice steady, though the hurt bled through every word.

"When I was getting married, Lindsey got involved with Scott, and you asked me to give up my fiancé for her. Now you want me to give her the dress and crown my best friend had custom-made for me. Why? Just because I'm the older sister, I have to swallow every humiliation? Tell me, who's your real daughter?"

"You…"

My parents faltered, their mouths opening and closing, but no words came out.

That was when Connor stepped between us, his eyes dark with disappointment.

"Rachel, I didn't expect you to be so petty. Everyone came here to celebrate your birthday out of goodwill. Why did you have to ruin it for everyone?"

In that moment, my heart turned to ice.

These were the people I had loved most in the world, yet they had chosen the cruelest moment to drive a knife straight through me.

I gave a cold, brittle laugh and placed the crown in Connor's hand.

"Fine. She can have it."

His expression softened instantly.

"Rachel, I'm glad you've come around," he said, his tone gentler now. "You should go home and rest. Let Lindsey take your place at the birthday party. Don't worry, next year I'll throw you an even grander party."

"As long as you're all happy," I said softly.

I wiped away my tears, turned around, and walked out.

When I got home, I packed up every last one of my belongings, leaving behind only two things on the table: a divorce agreement and a medical certificate of abortion.

That night, Connor never came home.

The next morning, he called me over and over, his voice erupting with fury when I finally answered.

"Rachel, you've gone too far! How could you divorce me over something as trivial as last night's birthday party? You even got rid of my child! Do you have any idea how much I was looking forward to that baby? How could you be so heartless? How can someone like you call herself a mother?"

I cut off his hysterical shouting and said calmly, "Connor, I understand Russian."