Several streets away, a young woman was walking home.
Her name was Isabella Romano.
She was twenty-four years old.
She wore a simple blue dress with a thin jacket over it. Her shoes were old, and her handbag contained almost nothing.
She was returning home after finishing her second job.
Her feet hurt. Her back ached. She was hungry.
“Another day is over,” she whispered.
She checked the time on her phone.
It was almost midnight.
“Rent, electricity bills, food, college fees... Why does everything cost so much money?”
She sighed.
“If I had known that being an adult was this difficult, I would have asked for my money back when I was born.”
Despite her exhaustion, she smiled at her own joke.
She had learned to laugh at her problems because crying never solved anything.
Isabella had spent twenty-one years of her life in a children's shelter.
She had watched other children leave with their parents. Some were adopted, while others returned to families who loved them.
But Isabella had always wondered why nobody had come to take her home.
She could still remember sitting near the shelter's front gate on her birthday.
She had waited for someone to arrive.
But nobody came.
Every year, she waited.
Then, when she was twenty-one, a family finally found her.
Her biological family.
The Romano family.
They were wealthy, respected, and well known throughout the city.
Her father, Marcello Romano, was a successful businessman. Her mother, Veronica Romano, lived a comfortable life. Her elder brother, Ethan Romano, had everything he needed.
And then there was Sofia Romano.
Sofia was Isabella's adopted sister. They were the same age, but their lives had been completely different.
Sofia had grown up surrounded by love, expensive gifts, and attention.
Meanwhile, Isabella had grown up wondering what a mother's embrace felt like.
When Isabella first entered the Romano mansion, she believed her life was finally going to change.
She dreamed of having dinner with her family, celebrating birthdays, and hearing her mother ask about her day.
She imagined having a brother who would protect her.
Above all, she believed she had finally found a home.
But some dreams could be cruel.
Marcello believed Isabella needed to learn discipline and the value of money.
He decided to send her to another city to study.
He gave her a small amount of money and told her to manage her own expenses.
Sofia supported his decision.
“She needs to learn how to live independently, Father,” Sofia said sweetly. “You cannot keep helping her forever.”
Nobody noticed the small smile on her face.
Isabella tried to explain that the money wasn't enough.
But Marcello refused to listen.
“You're an adult now, Isabella. Learn to take responsibility for yourself.”
Veronica remained silent.
Ethan simply told Isabella not to argue with their father.
Only one person objected.
Her grandmother, Rebecca Romano.
“She is your daughter, Marcello! She has already suffered enough!”
But Marcello refused to change his decision.
Before Isabella left, Rebecca hugged her.
“My dear girl, never think that you are unwanted. At least one person will always love you.”
Isabella cried in her grandmother's arms.
Now, she lived alone in a small apartment and worked two jobs to earn money for rent and food.
Her family sent Sofia expensive gifts and generous amounts of money.
But Isabella only received occasional messages asking whether her studies were going well.
Nobody asked whether she was eating enough.
Nobody asked whether she was lonely.
Only Rebecca called her regularly.
Isabella looked at her phone.
A message from her grandmother had arrived.
Rebecca: My darling, have you eaten?
Isabella smiled sadly.
She typed a reply.
Isabella: Yes, Grandma. Don't worry about me. I'm fine.
It was a lie.
That afternoon, she had eaten only a small piece of bread.
But she didn't want her grandmother to worry.
Isabella put her phone away and continued walking.
She had no idea that, within a few minutes, her life would change forever.
To be continued...