Her father's birthday had fallen just two days before her graduation.
She hadn't been able to celebrate it properly, and she wanted to make up for that.
With her bags packed and the gifts safely stored, she travelled to her grandmother's home.
She had decided to settle there permanently.
She didn't particularly want to leave the apartment, but she couldn't bear the thought of returning to an empty place every night.
She had spent enough of her life feeling lonely.
She didn't want to experience that feeling again.
When she finally reached the house, she found her grandmother waiting near the gate.
The moment the older woman saw her, her face lit up.
“Isabella!”
“Grandma!”
Her grandmother hurried towards her and wrapped her in a warm embrace.
“My darling girl! Look at you!”
She held Isabella by the shoulders and examined her face.
“You should have told me you were coming today. I would have prepared your favourite food!”
Isabella laughed softly.
“I wanted to surprise you.”
“You certainly did!”
Her grandmother took one of her bags and led her inside.
“Come, sweetheart. You must be tired. You can rest here as long as you want. This is your home.”
Those words touched Isabella more deeply than her grandmother could have imagined.
This is your home.
For the first time in three days, Isabella felt as though she could breathe again.
She followed her grandmother into the living room and sat down on the sofa.
Then she noticed her mother and adopted sister, Sofia.
Her mother was seated nearby, while Sofia stood beside her.
Both women turned towards Isabella.
Her mother's face showed little warmth.
Sofia looked her up and down before giving her a small, mocking smirk.
Isabella noticed it immediately.
She also noticed the unmistakable dislike in her mother's expression.
Nevertheless, she forced herself to smile.
“Hello, Mom.”
Her mother gave her a brief nod.
“So, you've finally arrived.”
“Yes, Mom.”
Sofia said nothing.
She simply continued looking at Isabella with that strange expression before walking away.
Isabella watched her leave, confused by her behaviour.
Why is she looking at me like that?
She pushed the thought aside.
She had just returned home. She didn't want to start an argument.
After settling onto the sofa, she turned towards her mother.
“Mom, where's Dad?”
Her mother glanced at her.
“Your father is busy.”
“Busy? I thought he would be home.”
“He has an important client visiting.”
Isabella's expression brightened slightly.
“Oh! I brought him some gifts for his birthday. I missed celebrating it properly because of my graduation.”
She pointed towards her bags.
“Can I see him after his meeting?”
Her mother's face changed.
“I can't introduce you to an important client looking like a country bumpkin.”
Isabella stared at her.
“Mom?”
“You heard me.”
Her mother stood up.
“Come with me. Your father is in the study.”
Isabella followed her, confused and hurt by her mother's words.
When they reached the study, her mother opened the door and gestured for her to enter.
“Stay here. Don't wander around the house and embarrass yourself in front of the guests.”
“But, Mom, I only wanted to see Dad.”
“Isabella, don't make this difficult.”
Her mother left, closing the door behind her.
Isabella stood alone for a moment before returning to the sofa.
She looked at the gifts she had brought for her father.
She had imagined him smiling when he saw her.
She had imagined her family welcoming her home.
Instead, she felt like a stranger in her own house.
She lowered her eyes.
Perhaps she had expected too much.