From Neglected Girl To Unstoppable Heiress

Carolina POV

Back at the Fitzgerald mansion, Estrella was ensconced in luxury. She reclined on a silk chaise lounge in her opulent bedroom, scrolling through her phone, a picture of pampered serenity.

Victoria, humming a soft tune, brought in a tray laden with Estrella' s favorite herbal tea and delicate shortbread cookies. "I even learned your new recipe, darling," she cooed, placing the tray gently on a side table. "Just for you." Victoria, who rarely cooked anything more complicated than toast, had clearly gone to great lengths.

Carleton entered, a small, velvet box in his hand. He presented it to Estrella with a flourish. Inside nestled a dazzling diamond pendant. "A little something to cheer you up, my sweet girl."

Hulda, meanwhile, was rearranging a vase of fresh peonies on Estrella' s bedside table, ensuring the room was a perfect sanctuary. Estrella merely smiled, a faint, almost imperceptible tilt of her lips, acknowledging their adoration as her birthright.

I followed them, a silent wraith in my own family home. The familiar grandeur of the house felt alien, cold. It was their home, not mine. The warmth, the genuine affection, it had never extended to me. I want to leave. So badly. But I couldn't. I was a prisoner to this unfinished life.

Suddenly, the doorbell chimed, a bright, intrusive sound in the quiet opulence.

A moment later, Estrella' s boyfriend, Marcus, appeared at the living room archway. He was handsome, charming, and exactly the type my parents approved of. His eyes immediately sought Estrella, his face etched with concern.

"Estrella, my love, are you alright?" he rushed to her side, gently taking her hand. He' d brought a bouquet of her favorite white roses, their pristine petals a stark contrast to the dark suit he wore.

Estrella looked up at him, her eyes wide and slightly shy, a picture of vulnerability. "Marcus! I' m fine, really. Just a little shaken."

Marcus leaned in, kissing her forehead. His touch was tender, his voice laced with genuine affection. "I was so worried. I heard about the accident…"

A strange, sharp ache, something I hadn' t felt in this disembodied state, twisted in my ethereal chest. It was jealousy, raw and ugly, for a love I had never known. Marcus' s touch, his concern, they were meant for me.

Then, Marcus turned to my parents. "Where' s Carolina? Is she okay? I tried calling her, but she didn' t pick up."

Hulda waved a dismissive hand. "Oh, don' t worry about her. She' s probably off sulking somewhere. You know how she is. Always seeking attention." She rolled her eyes, a clear signal that Carolina was not worth discussing.

Marcus nodded, accepting her judgment without question. "Right. Of course." He turned his full attention back to Estrella.

Victoria, ever the helpful one, chimed in. "Maybe you should just break up with Carolina, Marcus. She' s clearly not good for you. Estrella, on the other hand, is loyal and kind." Her words were sharp, a thinly veiled push towards a new relationship.

Marcus' s cheeks flushed slightly. He glanced at Estrella, who offered him a delicate, encouraging smile. "I… I was planning on talking to Estrella about that," he mumbled, his gaze lingering on her.

Another wave of bitter, self-deprecating laughter rippled through my spirit. Of course. Of course, you were. He had been mine, once. But in this family, nothing was truly mine.

I couldn't watch anymore. I floated away, away from the sickening sweetness of their collective affection, away from the sting of betrayal. It was just another wound, another familiar ache in a lifetime of them.

Later that evening, the carefully constructed facade of peace began to crack. After dinner, Hulda paced the study, her face tight with irritation. "I still can' t reach Carolina! What is wrong with that girl? Does she have any idea how much trouble she' s caused? Estrella is still shaken, and she needs her sister' s support, not this… disappearance!"

My spirit hovered near her, a silent observer. I' m right here, Mother. Or rather, I' m not. And that' s the problem, isn' t it?

Hulda snatched up the phone again, this time dialing the hospital. Her voice, when she spoke, was imperious. "I want to speak to the nurse in charge of my daughter, Carolina Fitzgerald. Tell her to put Carolina on the phone immediately. She has some explaining to do."

There was a pause, a series of muffled questions from the other end. Hulda' s face tightened further. "What do you mean, she' s not available? I demand to speak to her!"

Then, the nurse' s voice, clear and concise, came through the phone, even to my spirit. "Mrs. Fitzgerald, I' m very sorry to inform you, but your daughter, Carolina Fitzgerald, passed away from her injuries shortly after admission."

The words hung in the air, cold and definitive.