Family, in my opinion, is unbreakable. However, my sister Barbara entered my life after my mother died and caused me to reevaluate all I had assumed.
And when the truth was eventually revealed? It was Barbara who was pleading for pardon.
My older sister, Barbara, and I, Charlotte, are the two daughters my mother reared. Barbara was always the golden child, of course. All the attention was focused on her.
Did Barbara want some roast chicken? As soon as she said those words, my mother had one cooking away. Did Barbara need someone to fetch her dry cleaning? My mom would hop in her vehicle and go get it.
Barbara was lovely, too. Beautifully stunning and always a head-turner. Like my mother, she had piercing blue eyes and was blond.
I was the odd one out in the meanwhile. To be honest, I never really looked like either of them, even though I had dark eyes and dark hair.
I didn’t question it, though. Why would I? I cherished my mom.
No, my mother was the object of my deepest affection. She was everything to me.
I therefore put my life on hold to care for her when she became ill. I didn’t voice any complaints. Not when she clung to me when I took her to the restroom, causing bruises to appear on my arms. Not when she tossed her food across the room out of frustration. Not even when she would sob for hours at a time.
But what about Barbara?
She was too preoccupied with pursuing her aspirations to be an actress.
I am unable to care for Mom, Charlotte. I have to go to auditions. I need to meet with producers. I need to be seen at events and remain relevant. I take it you understand? Correct, Lottie?
And I did.
I always done that, for that reason. While Barbara lived her life as she saw fit, I was always understanding. I made an effort to ignore her and how I may have benefited from the assistance.
Rather, I let Barbara to enter and exit the house while she was dressed in her new clothing and flaunting pictures of herself with actors and actresses she had met.
One day, when Mom was too feeble to get out of bed to eat her soup, she remarked, “This is a glamorous life, Mom.” And Lottie, you really need to tidy up your appearance. You must attract attention. You sit stooped in front of the computer, which makes your posture terrible.
“It’s my job,” I said plainly, Barbara.
For months, life went on in that manner. Last but not least, Mom died. But Barbara returned at that point.
She was also not in mourning. Absolutely not. She was ravenous and hungry.
for the money of our mother.
We had a meeting with my mother’s attorney, Alistair, following the funeral. Barbara, clothed in black but sporting diamond earrings I had never seen before, entered the room as if she owned it.
When she sat down with a smug smirk, I should have realized something was wrong.
The lawyer produced the formal will, but my sister executed her first prank before he could even read it. Barbara took a piece of folded, yellowed paper out of her fancy bag.
She said politely, “I have something interesting to share before you read that.”
She moved the paper to me across the table.
“While looking for Mom’s jewelry, I discovered this in her drawer.”
My stomach fell when I opened it and read the words at the top.
DECREE OF ADOPTION.
Barbara smirked and leaned back.
She drewled, “Well, well, well.” “It appears that I now understand why you have always looked so different from us.”
As I read the document again, my hands began to shake.
Once, twice. Three times.
“You’re lying,” I exclaimed. “This is something you made up! This was made by one of your odd friends!
With her long nails striking the surface, she feigned a gasp.
“Oh,” she continued, “Charlotte.” “Stop being so theatrical. The lives of my friends are filled with activities. In any case, everything is well there. You’re adopted. You’re not even Mom’s biological daughter, girl. I’ve always known that your brown hair and eyes weren’t appropriate for our family.
I was ill. My throat was filled with bile.
Had my mom kept this a secret from me all my life? Why would she do it, though? Why not be honest with me?
Would anything have changed as a result?
Not for me. For her, I would have been more appreciative.
Barbara folded her arms.
Therefore, even though Mom insisted that we divide everything, she persisted in saying, “I’ll make sure that you get nothing.” Why should you receive anything since you don’t belong in this family?
“Calm down, ladies. “Let’s pause and consider this,” the attorney remarked.
However, I was too shocked to talk. I was hurt by what Barbara said. deep.
That’s when I noticed it. In her scheme, she had forgotten one detail. The adoption documents have lost the name. It had been purposefully attempted to be removed.
And that?
I became wary about that.
She said, “Please, Alistair.” “I want the entire estate, but you can do whatever follows next. I’ll wait while you take care of the papers.
The attorney nodded and sighed.
“But before we meet again, I believe you two should have a heart-to-heart.”
Barbara laughed.
“That isn’t required.”
Barbara was so sure that she had prevailed. However, I wasn’t going to give her the benefit of the doubt. I didn’t want to seem bad, but during the months I had spent taking care of our mother, I had lost out on two promotions.
I had to know that I had her money as a safety net. All I needed was something to call my own.
I made the decision to request a DNA test.
“Charlotte, what’s the point?” She sneered. “Lottie, you already know what it will say. that you are not related. Where did Mom find you, I wonder? Is your birth mother missing you, in your opinion?
The only thing that crossed my mind was that Barbara’s actions would make our mother turn over in her grave.
“Just do it!” I insisted. Consider it this way. You will have a stronger claim to everything if there is evidence that I am truly adopted.
It was that. She slowly shook her head from side to side. She gazed at me as she abruptly stood up from the couch, martini in hand.
“All right. Let’s get it done.
However, the outcomes?
Oh my god. Everyone was taken aback. For Barbara’s sake?
It was she who was not our mother’s biological relative.
I visited my mother’s younger sister, Aunt Helen, once the results were in. She had been quiet about everything, but she opened up to me once I informed her of the DNA results.
With tears in her eyes, Aunt Helen remarked, “Lottie, your mother never wanted you two to know.” “Because she was aware of the pain it would cause you both.”
“You know what?” My heart was racing when I inquired, but I assumed it had to do with Barbara’s birth.
“Lottie, Mom’s biological daughter, wasn’t Barbara.”
“You knew, then?”
Aunt Helen gave a nod.
When Barbara was two years old, your mother discovered her at a train station. She was left behind. After adopting her, my sister reared her as her own. Furthermore, she wished for Barbara to always feel cherished. The fact that she shared the same blue eyes and blonde hair helped.
I slowly said, “Okay,” attempting to put the puzzle pieces together. However, how did Barbara’s adoption decree come about? I mean, what if she was discovered at a rail station?
With a sigh, Aunt Helen looked out the window as though she was collecting her thoughts.
“Because, sweetheart, your mother officially declared it. A year later, she legally adopted Barbara after going through the legal system. She wished to ensure that she would never be taken away.
My stomach turned over. I was unsure about how to feel. or how to feel.
“So, Mom didn’t tell her at all?”
Aunt Helen gave a headshake.
Aunt Helen whispered, “She never told either of you, Lottie.” Because it didn’t matter to her. You were her daughter, and Barbara was hers. Nothing could erase the fact that she loved you both, blood or not.
Barbara, however, had never thought about it that way.
All her life, she had been seen as the golden child, as though she were the one who belonged.
Nevertheless, in the end?
The adopted one was Barbara. I was the biological daughter of our mother.
the daughter by birth.
My sister initially laughed when I told her the truth. I was eager to get it out as we stood in the kitchen. She also had to know the truth.
She said, “Charlotte, you’re lying now.” “You most likely had someone falsify the results, didn’t you? Alternatively, you broke into the system! You are the master of computers.
But what if I told her everything Aunt Helen had said and showed her the DNA test?
Her face turned white.
“No. This isn’t possible. Mom cherished me. She wouldn’t simply take in a homeless child!
However, she did. She had.
“Barbara,” I said. “She cherished you.” Adoption doesn’t alter that, either. Our mom was amazing. She most likely couldn’t wait to love you after seeing you.
Barbara gave me a look. She was I’m not sure. I was unable to read her face. I was unable to decipher her thoughts. I didn’t know.
She didn’t know.
My mother, on the other hand, had given Barbara everything. She wanted to adopt the young child she had seen, bring her home, and show her love.
And what did Barbara do in response, rather than sharing that happiness and love?
My inheritance has been attempted to be stolen by her.
She had made an attempt to remove me from my mother’s life.
And now?
The person who lost everything was her.
We returned to the lawyer’s office. Together, although in separate vehicles. Barbara was unable to even gaze at me.
Alistair had attested to the legality of my mother’s will. I still received half of everything, even though Barbara made a harsh attempt to exclude me.
“But hold on!” With her claws pressing into her thigh, Barbara spoke. “I’d rather not share.”
“Barbara,” said Alistair. It’s obvious. Your mom intended everything to be shared between you two. 50/50. I’m not sure what to say to you if you want to play this biological daughter game. Charlotte might have it all.
My sister believed she could lawfully change the course of history. She was unable to touch anything.
The will remained unambiguous. Everything was to be divided between us.
However, following her stunt? after attempting to remove me from the legacy of my own mother? It wasn’t simply her pride that Barbara lost.
She said, “We should go to court.”
Alistair stated, “I really don’t recommend that.”
“So, what?” Barbara blurted. “You only want us to divide the money and then act like we’re related once more? Charlotte is not someone I want anything to do with. I want both my house and my money. After that, I want this to be over!
“Come on, Barbara,” I urged.
She shouted, “Just keep quiet!” and threw one of Alistair’s pens to the ground. “I don’t want you here.” All you’ll be doing is reminding me that I’m not our mother’s biological daughter. Therefore, no. This is what we’re doing. You’re going to evict me from my home after I win.
That was it. It was that. I was unwilling to be kind. I was reluctant to divulge. Barbara didn’t want me around any more than she did.
Okay?
Alistair was immediately employed by me. Not on behalf of my mother’s estate, but for myself this time.
“We should do it,” I said. “Let’s appear in court.”
“But Alistair is what I want!” Barbara replied as she got to her feet.
“Sis, it’s too late,” I said.
Desperate to seize everything for herself, Barbara battled it in court months later. However, she was unsuccessful.
The judge ultimately decided against her.
And I got it all.
She damaged herself and her future in an attempt to destroy me.
And you know what?
She earned all of it, in my opinion.
How would you have responded?
Although this work has been fictionalized for artistic reasons, it is based on actual individuals and events. To preserve privacy and improve the story, names, characters, and specifics have been altered. Any likeness to real people, real or deceased, or real events is entirely accidental and not the author’s intention.
Thecelebritist.com is the source.