Love Swiped Left on Me

"Being the only daughter of the Calhoun family, a mafia family in Merovia, I am doted on like a princess. This changes when I turn 18, when Mom dies.On the way back from a family meeting, the car blows up, and Mom shields me beneath her. Even as she lies in a pool of blood, her gaze is tender as she says to me, "Don't blame yourself, sweetheart. I love you."Still, after Mom's death, everyone in the family starts blaming me for what happened, including Dad and my older brother, William Calhoun. I go from being the princess of the family to the jinx that everyone hates.Soon after that, Dad brings home a new adopted daughter, Juliet Calhoun. William favors her and detests me. Even my childhood sweetheart, Shawn Kramer, takes a liking to her and ignores me.Dad says his new adopted daughter is way better than his biological one.They all agree to attend my college graduation ceremony. But on the day, they end up taking Juliet onto our family's yacht and holding a cocktail party out on the water to celebrate the official addition of a new family heir.This is the 100th time they ditch me for her.Unable to stop myself from an emotional breakdown, I cry out, "I'm the one who's related to you by blood!"Dad shields Juliet, who backs away from me out of fear. Then, he slaps me on the face. "I wish I'd never had you.""Who wants to have a younger sister like you? I wish you'd died with Mom!" William roars in contempt.This time, I've decided to let it all go.I call Aunt Marissa, Mom's sister. She's the founder and a therapist at MindCare Treatment Center."Come here. This is your home now."I know that Mom's death was a conspiracy. This isn't just me leaving, but withdrawing myself from the family entirely.I hope that the next time I meet the Calhouns, there won't be tears on my end. Instead, judgment will befall them."