Bound By Fate: From heartbreak to love

(Vanessa's POV)

"You're fired!" my boss thundered at me, throwing a table sheet in my direction, his face red with anger

"You can't fire me, boss. You have to hear my side of the story," I pleaded, but he wasn't ready to listen.

"What exactly would a woman like you say? I should have thought twice before hiring a plus-size woman like you. You're overweight, you wear glasses, you're unattractive, and yet you can't do anything right except to steal!" he barked at me.

"This has nothing to do with my physical appearance. I didn't steal the money," my voice strained as innocent tears flowed down my cheeks.

"Are you still going to lie that you didn't steal the money?! You should be thankful I'm not having you locked up behind bars. Take your bag and get out of my property. You've never been useful to the restaurant anyway. Leave! Or I'm going to forget you're the daughter of the Williams family and have you locked up," he threatened.

If he followed through with his threat, my family wouldn't bail me out anyway, because to them, I was the daughter they never wanted.

With tears streaming down my face, I picked up my bag from the floor. Just as I was about to leave the restaurant, I saw Sylvia smirking at me.

I was a hundred percent sure she was the one who had placed my boss's money in my bag and framed me for it.

She had never liked me, and I wasn't surprised; no one had ever liked me. If my own family didn't care for me, it was impossible for others to like me. But why Sylvia would stoop so low to frame me was something I couldn't understand.

She was adored by everyone at the restaurant, while I was always neglected because I was plus-size and wore glasses. She must have framed me to get into my sister's good graces since she was a huge fan of her.

I left the restaurant, counting my steps as I walked down the street of New York.

My name is Vanessa Williams , youngest daughter of the Williams family, famously known for having one of the most successful entertainment industries in New York.

It should have been a privilege to be born into wealth, but I wasn't enjoying that privilege because I was completely ignored by my own family.

My parents never wasted time reminding me of how overweight I was, as if it was my fault for being plus-size and having poor eyesight.

Only a few people knew who I was, because my parents always made sure I didn't appear in any of their photos.

"Work on your size and have a gorgeous body like your sister, then we'd consider adding you to our family pictures. I wouldn't want you to ruin the reputation we've worked so hard to build," my parents would always said.

It's hard to believe they were my parents. Parents are supposed to be there for their kids, but not mine. They cared more about their reputations and the money that flows into their accounts than anything else, which is why Ashley, my older sister, was their favorite.

She is a model with lots of fans, and her body is what every man would die to have. She generates income for the family, while I have nothing to write home about.

I didn't even know what I'd dreamed of becoming because the insults and discrimination from people, including my own family, had shut all doors for me to think.

"It's Ashley Williams ! Oh my God!" a group of people screamed, catching my attention.

I looked up at the street TV, and Ashleywas on the screen, advertising a new cream product, smiling angelically.

She was beautiful.

I couldn't help but feel jealous of her.

She had skin as white as snow, straight legs, and an angelic smile, and most importantly, a gorgeous body-something I had always wished to have.

"Ashy Star is always stunning!"

"She is the best of the best!"

"I could die for her!"

People complimented her as they took pictures and videos from the screen.

I wanted to be complimented too.

I wanted to be loved by many people, but with my body and my ugly glasses, I was just invisible in everyone's eyes.

But at least, even if no one on earth loved me, I was happy that my boyfriend loved me. We had been dating for a few months, and he had never rubbed it in my face that I was just a plus-size woman who wore glasses.

He was my hope that women like me, who don't have a gorgeous body, can be loved too. Though he had never said I was beautiful, I didn't mind-at least I knew he loved me.

Arriving home, I hesitated to enter the house because I was scared my family would be there, which meant they would mock me for my size and bash me for losing my job.

The youngest daughter of the Gray family shouldn't be working and earning peanuts, right? But my parents never wanted me to be part of the family business because to them, I was just someone who would ruin their reputation.

Inhaling deeply, I summoned the courage to face whatever they would say to me. But upon entering the house, it was quiet, which was unusual.

"What's happening?" I muttered to myself as the silence of the house answered my question.

"Vanessa!" someone screamed my name from behind. When I turned to see who had called me, it was one of the maids.

"What are you still doing here? Shouldn't you be at the party? Why are you always so clumsy?" she scolded me.

That's harsh coming from a maid, but I was used to it. No one in this house considered me the daughter of the Williams. Ashley was the only daughter they saw.

"What party?" I asked.

"Seriously, Vanessa? If you're not beautiful, at least have some sense!" she scolded again, throwing an invitation card to the ground for me to pick up.

"Your parents want you to be at the party."

"Really? They're inviting me to a party?" I asked with excitement, because this would be the first time it was happening.

My sister was the only one they took to their parties.

"Don't be delusional!" she snapped at me. "They're only inviting you to the party just so you can witness your sister getting engaged. You won't be part of the family celebration," she said harshly.

Ashley is getting engaged? That came as a surprise because she isn't someone who dates unless it benefits her, and she leaves as soon as she gets what she wants.

Curious about who my sister was getting engaged to, I went into my room and fixed myself up. I hated looking in the mirror because it always reminded me of my weight and my glasses, which I couldn't take off.

I boarded a cab because my parents had given strict orders that I wasn't allowed to use any of the cars.

"Here you go, mister," I said, giving the cab driver his money after he brought me to my destination.

Before entering the grand hall, I texted my boyfriend, but he didn't reply. Sensing he might be busy, I decided to leave him alone.

The hall was filled with celebrities and potential people. I sat down in an available seat, watching my parents take pictures with my sister, smiling like the best family of the year, while I remained seated among the guests, like an outsider.

I didn't exist to them anyway.