Family Reunion

"The house of Reylson had found its real heiress, our real daughter," Marquis Reylson announced, and the hall became silent.

Barbara's smile faded. A mix of disbelief and sadness appeared on her face. 'It is not true. It must be a joke,' she thought, gulping the lump in her throat, trying to find an excuse for what her father did, but it faded when she heard the clinking of shoes on the marble floor.

A young woman her age, showed up, walking to Marquis and Lady Reylson, clad in a light blue dress, hugging her petite body. Her brown hair was combed in a beautiful updo. Her petite face resembled her mother a lot. The same honeyed-colour eyes, the round face with rosy cheeks and a dimple on the right side of her cheeks. 

Barbara's legs froze; the woman went past her to her parents, hugging them lovingly. She looked at her mother tearing up while staring at her 'daughter' with utter happiness. They stood facing each other and just by watching them; he would say that they were a mother and daughter. If not for the wrinkle on her mother's face, she would say they were sisters.

'So that is what it called family!' she thought mockingly.

Her parent never showed this gentleness with her by their side despite them going to many parties all the past years. They only stood beside her like what guards should do while protecting their masters. It was not understandable to show this much affection for someone who appeared a while ago.

Barbara turned and walked away. The guests gazed at her whenever she passed beside them. Her parent surely had given them gossip material for the next months to talk about.

"Barbara," Richard yelled from afar and she was ascending the stairs. "Are you alright?" he asked worriedly.

She nodded, seeing him following her, she turned and said, "Richard, I need some time alone." 

"If you want to talk, I will be always listening," he stated.

Barbara gazed at him, and her mood levelled up a bit. She forced a smile. "Thank you," she said, walking to her room.

After closing the door, she leaned on it and took a deep breath. She removed the shoes and wobbled to her bed. Her chest kept rising and falling fast while her breaths hitched. Barbara lay on her bed. Looking at the white ceiling, she let her tears fall like a river. The image of her parent with the stranger never left her mind, causing her heart to ache even more.

She had always wondered why her mother didn't love her, now she knew the reason for her mother's uncaring behaviour all those years. She wasn't her real daughter after all.

When did they know it? And why they didn't notify her before the party? Why did they choose her birthday party to announce such news and ruin her happiness? Didn't they have a small amount of compassion toward her? Or did they forget her when their real daughter appeared?

They raised her for eighteen years. Her childhood was perfect. Her mother was neither cold nor warm. However, her father loved her dearly, and he still treated her very well. 

But now, what will happen to her then? 

Barbara tossed in her bed while thinking about the answers to her many questions, remembering her memories with her parent, drifting to sleep.

The morning lights entered through the window, waking her up from slumber. Barbara rubbed her aching forehead. Looking at her unkempt hair and dress, she smiled mockingly. She called her maid to help her freshen up and to get ready.

Barbara walked to the dining room. Hearing laughter sounds from afar, she thought that the Marquis mansion was sacrificing its rules from the first day of the lost daughter's appearance.

'The dining room is a place for eating not for chatting.' she remembered her mother's warning years ago. Whenever she opened a topic to talk with her parent, her mother would order her to never speak.

Raising a brow, she lifted her head and entered, greeting her parent only. The dining room quietened and her parent looked at her, she ignored their displeased stares and walked to sit in her usual seat, faced with the strange.

"Sister."

Barbara shifted her gaze to the low voice's source to see Aurora smiling at her. "Why are you calling me that? I do not remember having a sister whatsoever," she responded, then began to eat.

A moment later, her father voiced out. "Barbara, Aurora is our daughter and your sister too. She is a part of our family, I hope you understand."

Barbara put the utensil down. "No, I understand nothing. Father brought a stranger overnight and wanted me to treat her as a sister, how can I do that?" she said angrily.

"It will not be difficult. You had lived as her for many years, shouldn't you be more thoughtful," her mother stated.

Barbara stood up, hearing the words. "I will wait for Father in his working place to discuss something. Excuse me," she said, walking out.

Barbara bit her lips to stop herself from crying. 'You lived as her for many years.' did her mother tell her she wasn't supposed to live in this house and between them? How did she say it? From which her heart was made? 

Although she was not her real daughter, she was still raised by her for eighteen years. She was obedient and never opposed her except for her working matter. Following what her mother told her, learning arts, dancing and music despite hating them to hear one encouraging word from her mother. However, she gained nothing but dislike when her identity was exposed.

Barbara waited in her father's working room before her parent got in. Her father sat behind his desk and her mother sat on the sofa opposite her. Time flew by slowly, and neither of them said a word.

"Don't you have anything to say, father?" Barbara said, wiping the silence in the room.

"Barbara, I know what happened was hard to believe, but it was the truth. You are not our daughter."

"Then whose daughter I am?" she asked.