From Neglected Girl To Unstoppable Heiress

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round her. Hulda bustled around Estrella' s room, carefully packing her cashmere sweaters and silk

n entrance, defying all parking regulations. He stood guard by the door, impatiently checking his w

tie her own sneakers. She knelt, her brow furrowed with concer

en there. It' s so unlike her to be so disrespectful. After all we' ve don

to her. This time, she' s gone too far." The words, casua

faint echo of the fear I once felt. But also, a profound weariness. What

breathed since birth. Estrella, the delicate, beautiful younger sister, born

, unhurt, but Mother had been rushed to the hospital, bleeding. Estrella, a tiny, fragile package, had been born too early. See

sharply with my cheek. "You' re a curse, Carolina! A curse on this family!" Hulda, pale and weak, had watch

was perhaps seven, clutching a worn, velvet-bound sketchbook, filled with my childi

e' d shrieked, her voice r

pleaded, pulling it away. "I' m

a fit of manufactured tears, wailing about ho

h anger. "Carolina! What are you doing to yo

to explain, tears blurring

y. Carolina can keep it. I just wanted to draw a picture for her." The lie was

before Mother, her voice dripping with indignation, recounted my alleged crue

r sister? You don' t deserve to be in this house!" The blows rained down, hard and fast. I

ching, their faces impassive. Not a single wo

plaining. I simply endured. And now, in deat