Chapter 5 Lost And Found

• MILA
• It slowly became clear to me that I probably became a nationwide suspect for stealing from the Crown Prince. And now he had a price for bringing me in.
• Felix had the power to banish me from the country. It was only the horror of going to jail, or worse, returning home in disgrace, that drove me to pocket the necklace and make for the door.
• Maybe I should drop it off at his apartment now.
• I was only a few steps out of my motel room when fear overtook me.
• What was I thinking?
• I “stole” Felix’s necklace from his apartment. That would be the very first place heavily guarded by the police or Felix’s people. If I went there, I would be caught immediately.
• I retreated back to my hotel room, slamming the door behind me.
• I sunk to the floor, chest heaving as my breathing quickened. I was in such a deep hole. It felt like there was no way out of this terrible circumstance I had found myself in. The hope I had felt earlier after leaving Samara’s palace felt even farther away than my family.
• My family.
• My eyes fell to my phone. Was it worth the call?
• Fingers trembling, I called my mother. It rang twice before a familiar voice picked up. “Hello?”
• My heart sank. It wasn’t my mother who answered.
• It was Nadine, my sister.
• I wasn’t my parents’ biological daughter, but Nadine was.
• Years ago, my parents had thought they were unable to have children. I had been in the foster care system for almost a year when they adopted me.
• I was two when my parents found out they were pregnant with Nadine.
• From the moment Nadine was born, it was as if I didn’t exist. She was their miracle child–the baby they weren’t supposed to have. Everyone else loved Nadine, too–and it was impossible not to. She had gorgeous, bouncy blonde curls, round, rosy cheeks, and the world’s sweetest smile, even from when she was a toddler.
• It did not matter that Nadine was not particularly extraordinary in any field. She wasn’t very good in school, had no drive or ambition, and didn’t have a specific talent besides using our father’s credit card. To everyone else, she was this sweet little angel, born to be the princess of our tiny town.
• My mom was relatively nicer to me, because I was once her last resort on the road to motherhood. But my parents still made it clear to me that not only was I not worth spoiling.
• Nadine got expensive ballet lessons and all the fancy stuff, while I was expected to contribute financially to the household as soon as I was legally able to work at 14.
• The worst thing is, Nadine probably learned from everyone else and somehow grew up to be my greatest tormentor. Not only was her existence constantly reminding me that I was not nearly as lovable as her, she was cruel, cutting, and the biggest bully I had ever met.
• She may have been sweet as candy to everyone else around us, but to me, she was nightmare. And my parents did almost nothing, believing that their angle was just being playful.
• Hearing Nadine’s voice now, after my hellish 24 hours, was like nails on a chalkboard.
• “Hi, Nadine, it’s Mila,” I said, attempting to keep my tone as even as possible. Nadine loved nothing more than upsetting me, and the best way I could handle her meanness was to not let it show how badly she was affecting me.
• “Oh, Mila, our little traveler,” Nadine said. My name sounded like a curse word on her tongue. “What, your precious little boy toy ditch you already?”
• Oh, no. This was going to be even worse than I thought.
• “Well, sort of,” I began, but I was cut off by Nadine hysterically laughing.
• “I knew it! I knew it!” she exclaimed. “You really can’t hold on to a man to save your life, can you? You’re such a loser.” I took a deep breath.
• “I was hoping to talk to Mom, actually,” I said, as calmly as possible.
• Nadine snorted. “She’s napping. Which is a shame. I can’t wait to see her reaction when she hears this news. We always knew you’d end up alone.”
• Ouch.
• “Thank you for your feedback, Nadine,” I said, not even trying to hide my biting tone. “I do need help, however. I need money for a plane ticket home. Derek ran away with all my savings.”
• Nadine was cackling now. “What, are you calling so we can bail you out? Your precious little Prince Charming run away with all your money? That’s what you get for being stupid, Mila. You’re nothing more than a worthless waste of space and time.”
• “Nadine, please.” I was begging now. “I’m in trouble, and I need help. I’ve never asked for anything before–”
• “No wonder what’s-his-name targeted you,” Nadine went on. “You’re pathetic. Don’t come back here. Don’t ask us for money. You’re on your own now.”
• She hung up. I allowed myself a second to let a few tears out before steadying my breath.
• What hurt the most was that she had a point. My parents’ lack of affection had left me so desperate for love that I was willing to jump into the arms of Derek.
• Confirming that I had no home to go back to magically helped me calm myself. It was probably a way I learned since I was an ignored teenager.
• I have secured myself a new job. Samara had been kind. Tough, but kind. The restaurant, as food had done my entire life, offered me an escape. All I needed to do is to give the necklace back without letting Felix know.
• Just at that moment, I thought about what Samara had said -- They were hosting the royal family from time to time.Maybe I could discreetly slip the stone to Felix while he was there.
• Once the stone was returned, he surely would stop looking for me.
• I could have a future here. Once I returned the necklace, that is.