Page 24 of Bittersweet Legacy

I didn’t want you to have this life, my beautiful daughter -

I gasped, before resting a shaky hand over my mouth to stop any further sound from coming out.

This was just not any diary; this was my mother’s journal!

I brushed my fingertips against the page, suddenly turning emotional. It was something from my mother even if it was just her handwriting, some words on paper. It was something I never thought I would ever have, a front row to my mom’s personal thoughts.

I closed my eyes for a second, trying to rein in my emotions. This was probably the most precious thing I owned.

This story is not a happy one, well, maybe in retrospect some aspects were happy as they gave me you and your brother, my beautiful boy, Archibald.

You’re probably mad at me for condemning you to a life where women have little to no value, no more than a breeder, a display doll and a bargaining chip.

I hope you’re actually reading these words and my ally kept the promise they made me. I can't give names, too much is at stake – this person has known you’re alive for years and this is not the kind of betrayal which will be ignored by your father and his associates.

I rested my hand on the page and looked up. I wasn’t mad about this crazy life, I was mad that she sent me away, leaving me so unprepared on how to deal with these people their hate, so ingrained in their core that I didn’t think they could function without it.

I think I’ll need to start at the beginning, how I got there, how it all started and the fateful night at the regional debate tournament, the night that changed my life for better or worse.

My watch vibrated, bringing me back to reality. Archie would be out in 10 minutes. I shoved the leather notebook in my bag and went to check out the books for my research. I was just so excited about the journal – I couldn’t wait for the night to be over for me to read a bit more.

“Found everything you needed?”

“More even,” I admitted, not able to hide my elation.

I exited the building still buzzing with excitement and stopped dead in my tracks.No, it had to be a mistake,I looked around the parking lot once more – there was an empty spot where Archie’s car was glaringly missing.He wouldn’t –I stopped my train of thought and rolled my eyes at my own stupidity.Of course, he would!He knew it was critical I made it home early.

I let out a humorless laugh and checked my watch. I had to be home in 30 minutes, something that would not happen in this life. The mansion was about five miles away, it’d take me at least 90 minutes to get there if I walked, even if I walked fast.

I looked at the sky in despair – I was not even despaired by my lateness, William Forbes couldn’t hurt me much more than he already had. What hurt me the most was the extent of my brother’s hate, how badly he wanted me to suffer.

I sighed, adjusting my bag on my shoulder and tightened my jacket around me. It was not Fall yet but I was starting to feel the definite bite of the wind.Better start walking, Esme.

As I walked, I couldn't help but think of all the new experiences I was going through here – unfortunately none of them were positive. I thought of Archie, my own flesh and blood, who hated me with a passion I didn't think was possible.

Truth be told, I’d never been hated before – at least not that I knew of. I’d been disliked by some girls at school, sure, I’ve been envied when my curves appeared and I started to attract boys’ attention but it only escalated to catty comments at best, I’d never had anyone set out to destroy my life as Archie seemed intent on doing. I gained the experience of having an arch-nemesis and as luck would have it, it had to be my brother.

“Black Panther or Thor?”

I stopped in my tracks, startled but also grateful at the interruption of my dark thoughts.

“Sorry?” I asked turning toward a tall lanky man who I would put in his early twenties- extended two figurines toward me.

He smiled, and it was such a childlike innocent radiating smile that it swept all the darkness away. His startling blue eyes sparkled and I could see his black hair curving around the border of his red cap. “Black Panther or Thor?” he asked again.

A man about the same age appeared beside him – a bit breathless with an open backpack in his hand. “I’m sorry, he never does that.” He turned toward the other man. “Theo! I told you to wait for me. You can’t just go run around like that!”

I rested my hand on the man’s arm to stop him from chastising Theo. “It’s alright, I think it’s a good question.” I smiled at Theo. “I can’t choose like that, Theo. Who are we fighting?”

Theo’s smile brightened even more, and I knew he was pleased with my answer. “Want to play?” He pointed to his bag.

The other man threw me an apologetic glance before looking at Theo. “No, Theo you can’t ask people to play – they’re busy. We discussed this, remember?”

“I don’t mind.” And I really didn’t. I was late, there was nothing I would be able to do now, and I’d have to take whatever stupid punishment my father would throw my way anyway. At least I could be a child again for a few minutes, it would make whatever chastisement coming my way a little bit more worthwhile. “I can play for a bit. What’s your name?” I asked the other man.

“Ah yes sorry,” he blushed, and I found that cute, such a difference from the over-confident guys I kept meeting since I’d stepped into Stonewood. He was a bit short, 5’7” maybe, and his hair was the same shade as Theo’s but his eyes were a deep brown. “I’m Mike and this is Theo – also known as Super TT.”

As if on cue, Theo rested his hands on his hips, back straight, puffing his chest out in a classic superhero pose.

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