LOVE TO LAST

1. GENEVIEVE

Song for this chapter (WARRIOR, Demi Lovato)

Genevieve

I love my life. At 26, I have enough money to retire, buy an island and live the rest of my life in peace and harmony. But I love to work. I must say, living in a huge house all by myself was not how I pictured my life when I was a kid, playing with dolls and having tea parties.

I always pictured myself as successful, rich, happy, and living in a huge house, but not all by myself, and once in a while the staff, nope. I pictured all that and more. Like having family dinners and parties. Having lots of friends I couldn't even keep count of. Having a night out and coming back home wasted that I ended up sleeping in the garden. Having to make stupid decisions and laughing it off the next day with my friends. Having to not worry about whom I was seeing, or fucking or engaging with.

Life has a funny way of always giving you what you didn't ask for. That's why I am here. Sleeping in a king-sized bed, and wondering where my life took this turn to loneliness. Oh yeah, when my mum died.

Growing up, my family was the envy of my neighborhood. I was the envy of my school. Everyone wanted to have my life. My parents were always seen on TV. They were the "IT" couple. Happy marriage, happy life, and a happy family.

My mum met my dad when she was just 17 and they hit it off. They got married a year later. Both were from rich families so it was just perfect. Their marriage brought a merger between two great companies. The great EmmaLand & Laurent Group of Companies. Dealers in rare gems and jewelry all around the globe.

I learned to be poised even when I was still in diapers. I felt a great connection between my parents and I wished I would have that kind of love when I grew up.

My parents showered me with an undying love. I was just the happiest kid in the world. To top it off, my mum was expecting. My dad loved me dearly as he made me believe, but he wanted a son. Someone who would take over the huge company he was overseeing.

He always said I was too weak all because I was a girl. I couldn't handle the harsh conditions that came with running a multi-billion company. So he wanted a son. A son he could groom to be ruthless when the need arises and calm and stoic at the same time. He wanted a son who would rule the world. A son who would take the reins of the company and ride it through the stratosphere.

He got it. My mum had complications during her pregnancy. She gave birth to a beautiful baby boy. But never had the chance to hold him. She died shortly after. I had a brother, I was so happy I was never going to be alone. I would have a sibling who would play with me. Have tea parties with me and I would protect and be the best big sister he could ask for.

My dad was sad he lost the love of his life, but he was happy his lifelong dream had come through. I was 6 years old when my mum died. My dad always said I was too smart and mature for my age, but love would make me weak. So he still couldn't leave the company to me.
He said I had to help him groom my little baby brother to be like him. I agreed. I protected him no matter what. We had fun while it lasted. My dad didn't waste time with his grooming. When my brother turned 10, every fiber of his being was coursing with the business gene. He could make salesmen thrice his age couldn't.
My dad was proud. I was proud.

I was sixteen then. I wanted so much to get the same attention from my dad as well. But no matter what I did I couldn't get it. No matter the number of A's I brought home, no matter the number of trophies I brought home, I just wasn't enough. I was weak. Love would make me weak.

My brother and I drifted apart, my dad was constantly shipping him off to business seminars, business schools, anything that would make him the business tycoon he wanted him to be, he did it.
I got three letters from three universities. Harvard, Princeton, and Brown. I didn't know which to choose. I called my brother and I was told he wasn't allowed to receive calls from anyone, especially me.