00:00I hadn't spoken to my parents in 10 years. Not since the day they screamed at me to get lost
00:06and never come back. So when my business partner told me the Brick Group, my father's company,
00:13had requested me personally as their wedding photographer, I almost laughed. Then I saw the
00:19groom's name, Jeffrey Beasley. The boy who used to climb over my backyard fence with candy in his
00:25pocket. The one who promised. When we grow up, I'll take you away from here. We'll see the world.
00:32He's marrying my sister. At the reception, my mother marched into my dressing room with tears
00:37in her eyes. Elin, we raised you for 18 years. How can you be so heartless? I looked up at
00:47her,
00:47calm as ice. Mrs. Britt, please release me. I have work to do. Her face went ghost white. Good.
00:54Let her feel a fraction of what I felt at 12 years old, when they packed my bags and sent
01:00me
01:00to live alone in an old house. While my sister took my bedroom. My piano my parents love. But what
01:08they don't know yet. What none of them know. Is that I'm not adopted at all. I'm their biological
01:14daughter. And today, I'm bringing the DNA proof to destroy a wedding. At a wedding shoot, I ran into
01:22my parents. I hadn't spoken to them for a decade. They were mingling with other guests. Their smiles
01:29freezing the instant their eyes landed on me. Once the reception ended, they marched straight into the
01:35backstage dressing room. Why haven't you come home for the past 10 years? Mom blurted out her
01:42accusation. Her eyes were rimmed red as she glared at me. I didn't answer or look up. I focused on
01:49cleaning my camera lens. The next second, she stepped forward and seized my wrist. Her voice
01:56rose to a raw pitch. Aylan! We're your parents! We raised you for 18 years! How can you be so
02:08heartless?
02:09I lifted my head with a frown. I was confused by her outburst. 10 years ago, they were the ones
02:16who
02:16told me to get lost and never come back. I'd done exactly that. So what were they upset about now?
02:25Dad stood behind Mom. His eyes darted between my face and my camera equipment. He was clearly torn.
02:33After a moment, he spoke, as if grasping for a neutral topic.
02:38That's quite the camera, Eileen. It must have cost a lot, right? It's a tough business for a young woman.
02:45You must be struggling.
02:47There was hesitation in his voice. I remained silent. I screwed the lens cap on firmly.
02:54Infuriated by my lack of response, Mom tightened her grip on my wrist. Her voice rose further.
03:01Eileen! Are you even listening? 10 years. Not a single call or message. What is wrong with you?
03:12Even a pet would show more gratitude. I studied her contorted expression. A sharp pain shot through my
03:19wrist. A decade had passed, yet their method of interrogation remained the same. I lifted my gaze.
03:28I spoke with deliberate calm. Mrs. Britt, please release me. I have work to do.
03:37Mrs. Britt? She released my wrist as if burned. She staggered back, all color draining from her face.
03:45I'm your mom! How dare you! That's enough.
03:49Dad stepped in. He steadied her trembling shoulders. He frowned at me, exhaustion and reproach heavy in his
03:56tone. Eileen, how can you speak to your mom like that? We realize there may have been
04:05misunderstandings back then, but she hasn't stopped missing you for the past 10 years.
04:11She's... There were no misunderstandings. I cut him off. My voice was soft as I placed the camera in
04:18its case. I followed your instructions. Get lost, and never come back. I did exactly as you told me.
04:25I fixed my eyes on them with cold indifference. I stayed for 10 years, just as you demanded.
04:33So what is this about? They stood frozen. Their faces were ghastly pale, mom's lips quivered,
04:40but before she could speak, Dad tightened his hold on her arm.
04:46Dad drew a shaky breath. He forced a strained, conciliatory smile.
04:51Eileen, sorry. We shouldn't have said that back then. But we are family. Mel is getting married
04:59next month. You'll be there, right? If you don't want to attend as her sister, maybe you could
05:06photograph the wedding? The last words were a hesitant, hopeful whisper. I stared at them.
05:11I was struck by the sheer absurdity of it all. My schedule is booked. Please give Melanie my best
05:18wishes. I won't be intruding. With that, I turned and pushed open the door. The sound of mom's broken
05:25accusations and dad's frantic attempts to calm her faded behind me. I walked straight to the elevator
05:31without looking back. Only when the doors closed did I breathe a sigh of relief. I leaned against
05:37the cold metal wall. A dull ache began to throb at the base of my skull. It was a lingering
05:43after
05:43effect of a severe fever years ago. It always flared up on rainy days. Back at my temporary apartment,
05:52I finally unwound. My phone vibrated. It was Kimberly Cooley, my business partner.
06:02Ellie, the final payment for today's wedding just came through.
06:06Oh, about that couple who confronted you, is everything okay? They looked really upset.
06:13It's fine. It's fine. I said, keeping my voice level. They're just... my adoptive parents.
06:22Kimberly paused before replying.
06:25Alright, listen. We just got a very firm, non-negotiable collaboration request.
06:30From the Brit Group. They're insisting you personally photograph a high-profile wedding.
06:35The Brit Group was owned by my dad. My heart sank. A crushing sense of helplessness washed over me.
06:43Kimberly sounded worried. I'm afraid we can't turn it down.
06:48I gripped the phone until my knuckles turned white.
06:51Ten years. I had thought I'd gone far enough to escape their shadow.
06:56Yet, with a single move, they could still disrupt the life I had fought so hard to build.
07:01I said, my throat tight.
07:05Understood. Send me the details.
07:10Okay.
07:11Kimberly replied softly after a pause.
07:14The wedding itinerary arrived a few minutes later.
07:18When my eyes landed on the groom's name Jeffrey Beasley, the tears I'd held back all day finally fell.
07:26Jeffrey was the boy who had been my only comfort during the darkest years of my youth.
07:31Kimberly's message flashed again.
07:33Ily, are you okay?
07:36Do you want me to come over?
07:38I took a deep breath.
07:41I wiped my face.
07:42I typed back.
07:44I'm fine.
07:44Please compile the client-specific requests.
07:47We'll discuss tomorrow morning.
07:50She replied quickly.
07:52Okay.
07:53Ily, whatever you decide, I'm with you.
07:56I put the phone down and walked to the window.
07:58The night air was cool against my skin.
08:02It helped to clear the chaos in my mind.
08:05Jeffrey and I were so close once.
08:07He lived next door.
08:09We grew up together.
08:11Whenever I got scolded by my parents or pushed aside by Melanie Britt,
08:15I'd hide in the backyard and cry.
08:18He'd always climb over the low fence.
08:21He'd pull a piece of candy from his pocket like a magician.
08:25Don't cry, Ily.
08:27Have this.
08:30When we grow up,
08:32I'll take you away from here.
08:34We'll see the world!
08:38We'll both get into New York University.
08:40We'll always be together.
08:42Jeffrey was the only person who showed me kindness and care.
08:46He was the only one who,
08:48when the whole world made me feel worthless,
08:51would look me in the eye and say,
08:53You're good enough, Ellie.
08:55You always have been.
08:57But now he was marrying Melanie.
08:59Memories, long held back,
09:01came rushing in.
09:03Until I was seven,
09:04I was the happiest child.
09:06When I was five,
09:08I got into a fight at preschool over a swing.
09:10I bit the other kid's arm.
09:14Terrified of getting in trouble,
09:16I hid under the slide in our complex after school.
09:20Dad found me.
09:21He wasn't angry.
09:22He actually whispered tips on how to win a fight next time.
09:26That evening, when mom found out,
09:29she made us both stand in the corner.
09:32Dad winked at me when she wasn't looking.
09:34I thought that warmth would last forever.
09:36Then, when I was seven,
09:39Melanie came home.
09:42I went from being their only child
09:44to being the adopted one.
09:46Melanie was three years older.
09:48She'd been kidnapped when she was three.
09:51With her return,
09:52my world was never the same.
09:54My parents had kept my adoption a secret.
09:57But afraid Melanie would feel insecure,
10:00they told her the truth.
10:01One afternoon,
10:03she stood before me.
10:05Her voice was young but cold.
10:08Aylan,
10:09did you know?
10:11You're not their real daughter.
10:13They adopted you because I was gone.
10:16They were so sad without me,
10:18so they got you to take my place.
10:21They're my mom and dad.
10:26Not yours.
10:27For a moment,
10:28I was too shocked to move.
10:31Then I ran.
10:32I had to find my parents
10:34and hear them say it wasn't true.
10:36I prayed they would hug me and say,
10:39Don't listen to her nonsense, sweetheart.
10:41You're our baby girl.
10:43But mom looked away.
10:45Dad was silent for a long time
10:47before he confirmed it.
10:49Ely,
10:51it's true.
10:52We adopted you
10:54because we missed Mel so much.
10:55But we love you too.
10:57I hated that word in that moment.
11:00After that,
11:01nothing was the same.
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