Emily's Pov "What next?" I asked. I'm starting to get exhausted from all this shopping. We've shopped for shoes and I did my nails so far and I can't wait to go home and sleep. "Lunch. We'll continue tomorrow" he said and I sigh in relief. "Finally" I mumble to myself. "Where do you want to eat?" "Umm....how about at a diner?" I guessed and he told glare at me that made me shiver in fear. "Never mind. How about a Fancy Expensive restaurant" I gulp and he told the driver the direction. ... "Thanks for today," I said and exit his car and before I could've turned around, he was already gone. Rude! I took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. The maid came and open the door and let me in. "She's back!" I heard my step-sister shout. As I enter the living room, I saw both my mom and dad with my stepsister sitting on the couch. They looked like they were waiting for me. "Sit" my dad commanded and I took a seat. "What do you want to talk to me about?" I asked and he looked at Vanessa before replying. "I want you to decline the contract and tell Xavier that he can marry Vanessa instead of you" "Are you kidding?" I laughed and my dad looked like he was already getting angry. "Why are you so stubborn Emily? Is this how we raise you? Just do what I told you and I promise everything will be back to normal. Your mom and I will treat you like a princess again" he said and I laughed again. "I don't need you guys anymore and I can't decline the contract" "Why? Do you like him?" Vanessa asked while wiping her tears. "Ha! Not even Xavier will like her. She's so useless! Look at her, look at her clothes, look at her . She nothing compare to my daughter Vanessa. Xavier deserves better because your way different" Dad said. Ouch! That made my heartache but I continued to stay strong. "Well, you know what? I love being different because people who are different are unique" I Clap back with a sweet smile on my face. "Just shut up and listen to your father" mom scold me. I looked at her and gave my sweetest smile. I'm not gonna let anyone ruin my day today. "Now tell me, why can't you decline the contract?" "I tried" I replied. "Well try harder," Vanessa said to me. "Look if you want me to decline the contract then you guys go and talk to Xavier Yourself!" I said and the room fell silent. "I'm going out now so, bye," I said and got up to leave. "Where are you going?" Mom asked. "Somewhere" I replied and walked straight out of the house. ... 'No Emily, don't let anyone ruin your day.' I kept chanting in my head. I can't let my father's words get to me but again I can't believe he thinks of me that way. Am I such a disgrace to them? Should I just decline the contract and let them have what they want? Maybe then they'll treat me better. All these thoughts were swimming around in my head and I don't know what to do. Why do they have so much hate towards me? What have I ever done to them to deserve this? I was currently sitting in the park alone and guess what? It was snowing! Yes, Christmas is almost here and so far it's a very bad Christmas for me. There weren't many people at the park. Some of them were ice skating and it was very entertaining to watch. How I wish I could stay here, away from my family and problems. Only if. The snow started to fall harder and I know that I had to go home now so I got up and walked home. It was not far from the park by the way. I press the doorbell and waited for someone to open the door but no one did and the place was starting to get colder. "Mom! Dad! Vanessa! Anyone! Can you open the door?!!" I shouted but again no one came. So I peeked through the window and saw the maid serving dinner to my family. They all sat at the dinner table eating and laughing while I stand outside in the cold freezing... Are they even consider to be called family? I shouted and press the doorbell over and over again but no one came. So I sat on the doorstep and cuddle with myself. Don't they have a heart? "Hmph! Let her freeze to death outside" I heard dad say. "Mom, dad you don't have to do that....I'll...I'll let her marry him. I don't want---" "No. This is her punishment. She deserves it." Mom cut off Vanessa. "But what if Xavier. ..." "Don't worry about him. He won't care." 'Are these my parents?' I asked myself. How could they be so Heartless? Sitting outside in the snow for too long and hearing what my parents were saying about me made me became tired. Cold. Sad. And then tears came. 'No Emily, stay strong' I continue to tell myself but the stupid tears just kept pouring and at that moment I felt hopeless. All of my stuff was inside. I was hungry and would glad if I could feel warm again. And then the memories..... ... "Mom and dad don't love you. They love me and me only!" Vanessa shouted at me and took my toy away. "Give me back my doll!"I yelled and tried to pull it away. "It's mine now," she said and pull my hair. "What's going on in here?" mom asked as she walked into the playroom. "Emily is fighting for my toy" Vanessa faked cry. "No, she lying. She took my doll" I defended myself. "Why do you always fight with you sister huh? Stop behaving bad." Mom scolds me and she took Vanessa's hands and they left the playroom. "Is that little brat misbehaving again?" I heard my dad asked my mom. I left the playroom and walked into the kitchen to see all of them eating and laughing while I stood there. ... And I cried. I cried so much that I ran out of the tear. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Tell me why? I didn't ask for mom and dad to hate me. And then I remembered when I was a child..... ... It was around Christmas time and I was writing my letter to Santa. Dear Santa, This year I don't want anything from you. All I want you to do is to make my family happy and help my parents to pay off their debt. I hope you can grant me this wish. Yours truly, Emily Jones And on Christmas day, my parents got me nothing. While my stepsister Vanessa had a house full of toys. The only thing I collect was a necklace from my grandma and grandpa before they passed away. Was I sad? Yes, but I was grateful that I still had something for Christmas. And that's when I realized, my parents hated me. ... I wiped my tears and looked up. The snow fell heavier and the place became colder. Night soon came and I felt as if I was freezing. And little by little I fell asleep...