1 Chapter one

The car pulls into the driveway and I walk downstairs quickly, slamming the door nervously. I stride across the room while arranging my backpack over my shoulders and that little floral dress that everyone laughs at keeps getting up every time the wind blows.

If there was one day I hated, it was this one.

Once inside, I find my parents standing with their arms crossed in the luxuriously decorated living room that is too conceited for my taste. Auction paintings hang on the wall, family frames and white furniture that are worth a fortune. Solid gold flowerpots and velour carpets that even the cleaning lady can't set foot on, otherwise my mother will go loose if there is any small task. Actually, I don't like this house, I know that many young girls will be delighted to live in this large Villa: "The Villa of the Carpenter family". Many dream of a luxurious life like I have right now. Pretty cars, a real royal palace, a queen's bedroom, 3 housekeepers, a driver, parents who offer you everything and without forgetting, dating; high society people, high government officials and rich kids like me. It's not that I'm sick of this life, it's just that I'm missing something besides all that, and life has taught me that if there's one thing that money can't buy, that's love. And I am far from being really loved ...

Just seeing my parents' gaze on me, I turn up the volume on my headphones. With long strides, I decide to take the stairs to find my comfort zone which is nothing other than my room; but suddenly, I feel a hand tear the two cables that were held to my ears, and thus, I turn around to face the gaze of my offspring.

— Can you explain to me where you were today? She asks me screaming. The manager called me and informed me of your absence in progress. Answer me !

She shouted?

I am already shaking with his fury and my eyelashes are already drowning in the ocean of my tears. This isn't the first time this blonde woman with green eyes has yelled at me. Yes, this is not the first time that my mother with her frustrating gaze has been on the verge of rage with me. Sometimes I even tell myself that she is right, but sometimes I tell myself that it is because she is forty years old, so she is at the end of her tether. For me, she is starting to age even though she still has the face of a seventeen-year-old girl thanks to her dozens of cosmetic surgeries. She always says that with money, you can bring back to life what is lost, and I'm sure if one day I die, she will adopt another girl to make her look like me. But OK ? After all, she's my mother and I owe it to me to love her despite her way because she's the one who gave me life. They are my parents and I owe them a debt.

She pulls me by the arm a second time to make me justify myself, but this time my father intervenes. Despite his white hair, Raymond Carpenter is the one person who will never be able to scare me just like my mother Beatrice Lara Carpenter does. Dressed in his branded brown shirt and blue tie, brand new that goes with his tailored pants, I can already imagine his shoes are from Dior. He approached in our direction just to calm the temperature despite the room was already freezing winter.

— Listen Laura! Do you know how much money we paid for your integration at Harvard? You are eighteen years old and you are old enough to understand that you have to thank us for all the sacrifices that we are making for you as parents. Life is no gift, so you have to look on the bright side. All we do is just give you the life you deserve because you're our only daughter.

"To give me the life I deserve? Do they really know what I want? They don't even ask if I'm happy or not! The question isn't what that I deserve, but is that what I want to deserve?

— But Dad, I never asked for any of that!

I finally replied!

— We are your parents, and we know what is best for you.

The latter scolded.

And as I have often noticed, his patience has many limits. He got angry and I feel that guilt in me. I feel guilty for coming into the world. I then feel a knot forming in my throat and suddenly, I start to sob.

— But I don't like legal sciences and I don't want to be a lawyer!

I added on the verge of tears.

Quickly, I take my legs around my neck to climb this marble staircase where I often want to break my legs, even banging my head to fall into a deep coma, just to forget my pain and this pain that gnaws at me every time my parents choose for me. I have no rights, not even freedom of expression. I know I have to close my eyes and obey, but I can't because my thirst for independence is stronger than I.

— We need a lawyer in the family, and it will be you, period!

My father yelled so I could hear him upstairs.

I go up to my room and slam the door behind me. I send my bag hovering on the ground. I take a moment to admire my only escape space. This pink and white room which is none other than mine and too big for a single little creature like me. The room is filled with teddy bears, velour rugs, large mirrored closets, a bed for ten, a sofa in front of the bed, a book corner, designer clothes and shoes, a television and my computer which I often want to crash on the ground; but I know full well that my parents will buy me another one if I run over it. Just as the pain that gnaws at me like a knife driven into a wound pushes me to want to break everything in this too perfect room. But as usual, my mom is going to make her even more beautiful and newer than before, so I just dive into my bed and take the pillow to my mouth to scream.