BEHIND HER SMILE

Age 8: Birthday morning

Isabella and her twin brother Thomas giggled as they hid behind a large vase in the grand hall of Wild Mansion. The mansion, vast and imposing, belonged to their Godfather, Oliver Wild. Although Oliver was often away due to his demanding schedule, Isabella and Thomas spent most of their lives there under the care of their Godmother, Melissa Wild, who was the best friend of their late mother, Violet Sanchez. When their father, William Sanchez, was away for his ice hockey matches, the twins enjoyed their time at the mansion with Melissa and her three sons- Nathan, Mason and Luke. William Sanchez, a renowned ice hockey player and now a coach, was frequently on tour for NHL matches and spent the remainder of the year training. Despite his busy schedule, he always made sure to create special, memorable moments with his children whenever he was home.

" Bella! Tom! This isn't funny anymore! You two can't keep doing this—where are you little devils?" Luke Wild's voice, booming with frustration, echoed through the mansion. The eighteen-year-old was the youngest son of Oliver and Melissa Wild. The twins clamped their hands over each other's mouths, trying to stifle their giggles.

"Why are you yelling—oh my god, Luke, what happened?" Melissa Wild gasped as she took in the sight of her son.

"You need to set them straight, Mom! Their pranks are getting out of hand! It's their birthday party tonight, and this stuff won't come out! I have school tomorrow; you can't expect me to go out in public like this!" Luke protested.

"Get out here right now! This is completely unacceptable. Bella? Tom?" Melissa's voice was stern, and the twins knew better than to ignore her. They emerged from their hiding spot immediately. To them, Melissa was just as much a mother as their own, and they always respected her authority.

The twins emerged with their best sad-puppy faces, fully aware of the effect they could have on their mother. Thomas hid behind Bella, knowing that she had a knack for deflecting any anger or wrath, often seen as the princess of New England.

They tried their hardest to maintain their sad expressions, but it was a losing battle. Luke Wild, their eighteen-year-old brother, stood before them, covered in blue powder that made him look like a character from a fantasy world.

"How did you manage to do this?" Melissa asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and concern, choosing to address the situation before scolding them.

"We put blue water color powder in the shower head," Bella admitted with a giggle, fully aware that her charm often made her difficult to reprimand. Isabella Sanchez knew how to play the role of the perfect, spoiled rich girl to her advantage, and Thomas, with Bella's protection always a step away, was equally mischievous in their pranks.

"This is unacceptable, Bella, Tom!" Melissa's voice grew stern. "We need to set boundaries. Look at your brother; he can't go out like this! Last week, you dropped a dead cockroach in Grandma's soup. The week before, you oiled the floor in front of Luke's room. You misplaced his project work, causing him to fail, and you mixed all the spices in the kitchen. This behavior is getting out of hand. I told you last time was the final warning! There's a difference between harmless fun and problematic pranks. You're eight years old now, and you need to understand that. Your birthday party will be canceled. No more parties, no more gifts, no more cake. You'll be going to your daddy's house instead."

The twins' faces fell, but they stood their ground, the reality of their consequences sinking in.

"You can't do that, Mom! It's our birthday!" Bella protested, pouting. "Everyone's coming today!" Bella knew that the more people came, the more they could spoil them. Being the metaphorical princess of New England, she came from a powerful and influential family. She was accustomed to using her position to get what she wanted and had always relied on her status to bend the rules in her favor.

"Yes, I can, and I will. In fact, I'm doing it right now," Melissa said firmly. "I'm going to cancel the party. It's time you both understand that having all the love and care in the world doesn't mean you get to exploit it. Starting next week, you'll be accompanying me to orphanages and animal shelters to help with donations of food, clothes, and other necessary items." She turned to Luke. "And Luke, look up how to get rid of that blue powder online." With that, she left the hall, leaving Isabella with tears streaming down her face.

"Mom is always so sweet and happy and gentle...why is she only mean on our birthday?" Thomas asked angrily, wiping his sister's tears away.

"And here I thought I'd finally get to see you two get a scolding," Luke said, kneeling in front of them and holding their hands. "She just misses your mommy a lot. Today is the anniversary of the day your mommy went to heaven to be your guardian angel. So, Mom just feels her absence more today. Try to be more understanding, okay?"

"Why does she miss Mommy so much? We don't miss her," Isabella said quietly. Luke shook his head vigorously.

"Don't say that. It's because you didn't know her well. But when you're older and read her journals, you might connect with her feelings and understand her more. You two are best friends, right? How would you feel if you were separated from each other and could never see the other again?" he asked gently. The question made both twins frown and scowl.

"I'd be really angry! I would never leave Izzy's side! No one can separate us. If they tried, I'd find her and be with her. We're twins! You all told us we come in a set and are always meant to be together!" Thomas said, his voice tinged with anger and fear at the thought of being separated from Isabella.

Luke looked at Isabella, who remained silent with a poker face—a look she often wore when she was upset or deep in thought. It was hard for anyone to read her emotions, except her father, who had passed on the same trait to her.

"What would you do, Bella?" Luke asked again, his gaze shifting to her. Thomas, equally eager to hear her response, looked at his sister with anticipation.

Bella bit her lip, her brows furrowing in anger. As Luke finally saw her eyes, they were ablaze with an intensity that seemed too fierce for an eight-year-old—filled with fury, madness, and a wildness that bordered on dangerous.

"I'd destroy everyone and anyone who tried to separate us," Bella declared, her voice steady and fierce. "I'd make the angels weep for tearing us apart. I'd burn the world to ashes."