You're the reason behind my S.M.I.L.E

Chapter 1

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡
Jennifer

"Congratulations! You are finally getting out of the prison." Nash—one of my father's trusted men in his mid-forties and my former bodyguard—announced as soon as I stepped out of the automated double doors of my parents' grand Mansion.

Born with a silver spoon in my mouth by having Christian Lawrence as my father, who owns LT Inc., one of the top companies in technology, indeed there are enemies who would do anything in their power to destroy and overthrow him by harming his children who would lead the enterprise. So my father had to be careful when we were to step out into the real world.

"A temporary release." I reminded myself more than him, "I would like to think of it as parole but it's still better than being stuck here all day long with the constant complaints and non-existent love. If I could, I'd never return, this place is filled with negative energy." No matter if I might leave this place for a good half a year, I still need to return. However, I would like to tuck the thought aside for the time being.

"And here I thought you enjoyed my company." He countered, "Now I know you are an excellent actress who pretends to be interested in playing chess with me." He huffed but I could see right through his pretense.

"You know I love your company. In the context of the company, will you be accompanying me?" I questioned as I realised that it started raining. As if the clouds are actually crying for me that I made it out of this place without ending up in a mental institute.

"I'll drop you off." He smiled politely before guiding me towards the car by holding a giant umbrella covering us both. He helped me get in first by opening the door of the passenger side and then got in the driver's seat.

I opened my Instagram and the first post that greeted me was from Mom. She posted multiple photos of her: in the garden, with dad, with Walter and me but my face is covered with a hat, even in the kitchen—a place she never steps—pretending to cook pasta. Her caption reads, a sweet glimpse of my life with my family.

I rolled my eyes at the fakeness of the pictures. To the outside world, it may appear that the former supermodel is a great mother to her children but only my brother and I know the reality. She has never cared about us once. The pretense is all she could offer to the world to make sure her image remains unscathed.

I left Instagram after liking her post. It's a little over an hour long drive to my college. A book is in my hand that I was reading a few minutes ago but suddenly lost interest thinking about my life. I'm twenty—soon going to be twenty-one—years old, but still I can't make a single decision of my life on my own.

My brother, Walter and I were homeschooled till the age of ten and after that we were put in an Elite International School so people from all around the world were there. I was so excited to meet new people, make friends, enjoy my time around people my age and gossiping in the cafeteria etc. like they always show in the TV shows and movies. But my dreams were shattered on the very first day of school.

People used to look away whenever I set foot anywhere in school because Dad assigned Nash and Lane as my bodyguards. They were a hurdle in my socializing. People even hated me for acting like a royalty when there were other kids doing fine without any bodyguards. However, I got used to it.

I came to the conclusion that it was my parents' way of showing their love for me. They would keep away any person who puts me in harm's way but never step in to ask me if I'm fine. To hug me, to check on my injuries, to take care of me, to take me to family trips was always off the table.

My last name wasn't my pride but rather a burden which is why I did everything I could to convince them to send me to college with a different last name. Only god knows how I convinced them by mild threatening. Now that I think about it, they might have agreed to let me have a different last name but they must have their people to keep an eye on me. I don't have any other explanation as to why Nash and Lane wouldn't show their faces forcibly.