The Poor Daughter They Ignored Was Actually A Billionaire Chapter 08
At eight the next morning, I crossed the hotel lobby.
Sabrina was waiting near the entrance.
She looked like she had not slept.
Her hair was tied back badly.
No makeup.
No perfect bride.
Just my younger sister.
“Elena.”
I stopped.
“I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
Her throat moved.
“Julian.”
Of course.
I looked at my watch.
“Ten minutes.”
We went into a coffee shop across the street.
The second we sat down, she started.
“The wedding didn’t finish.”
I said nothing.
“After you left, Richard took Julian off the cancer program.”
“Then Julian’s father called him back to the estate.”
“He hasn’t answered me since.”
Her eyes filled.
“Elena, please.”
“Can you talk to Richard?”
“No.”
She blinked.
“You didn’t even let me finish.”
“I know what you’re asking.”
“You want me to convince him not to punish Julian.”
Sabrina looked down.
“He made a mistake.”
“He didn’t know who you were.”
I leaned back.
“That’s the problem.”
She looked up.
“He thought I was a broke receptionist.”
“So he thought humiliating me was fine.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s exactly what you meant.”
Her mouth tightened.
I continued.
“And when things went wrong at your own wedding, Julian’s first concern wasn’t you.”
“It was his position in Sterling Pharma.”
“Maybe that’s something you should think about.”
Her face changed.
The soft expression disappeared.
For the first time, I saw the anger underneath.
“Elena Bennett.”
She said my full name.
“You must be enjoying this.”
I said nothing.
“Mom and Dad always loved me more.”
“You know they did.”
“I had better grades.”
“Better friends.”
“Everyone wanted me around.”
“You were always the awkward one.”
“The one standing at the edge of family photos.”
Her eyes were red now.
“And now suddenly you’re a billionaire.”
“Richard Sterling is begging you.”
“Everyone at my wedding was chasing you.”
“You finally got to stand above all of us.”
“Don’t pretend you don’t love it.”
I stood.
Sabrina stared at me.
I picked up my bag.
“I stopped competing with you years ago.”
Her expression cracked.
“Don’t lie.”
“I’m not.”
I looked at her.
“That’s what you still don’t understand.”
“You spent ten years trying to beat someone who wasn’t playing anymore.”
I turned.
Behind me, her chair scraped hard against the floor.
“Elena!”
I kept walking.
Her voice rose.
“You think you’re better than us because you have money?”
I did not turn around.
“No.”
I pushed open the café door.
“I think I’m free because I stopped needing you to think I’m anything.”