𝐇𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐲𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐧 ~ 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤𝐬

𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡

The moment I slammed my bedroom door shut, a sob broke past my lips. Tears blurred my eyes making it difficult for me to see clearly.

I grabbed a picture frame from my desk, which contained an old photo of my father and I. It was taken a few months before Sarah was born.

I was only two years old. He held me in his arms with a loving smile on his face. One of the last times I would ever receive a genuine, loving smile from him.

Once Sarah was born everything changed. From a young age, I noticed Ward's favoritism towards her, and it only got worse as we grew older.

"FUCK!" I screamed, throwing the frame against the wall.

Tears burned my cheeks as I stared at the shattered glass on the floor.

The realization hit me so damn hard. I wasn't enough for him. I never would be. Though, it didn't make me unhappy or angry. Strangely enough, I felt calm.

The tension that had encompassed me for years was finally gone. The realization that I would never be able to please my father allowed me to relax.

I didn't have to stress over it anymore. There wasn't a point.

A small smile spread across my face as I wiped the tears out of my eyes. I wasn't going to strive for Ward's approval now that I knew I was never going to get it.

I took a few minutes to gather myself before getting ready for Midsummers.

I did my hair and makeup then put on my dress, adding the matching headpiece last.

I normally didn't have much confidence in myself, thanks to my father, but when I looked in the mirror I felt incredibly beautiful. I didn't know if it was due to my realization about Ward or if I was just having a good self-confidence day. Regardless, I was thrilled to see myself as beautiful.

As a family, we all walked into the Island Club together. Though I broke away from them soon after arriving, so I could talk to Kelce.

My eyes caught his as I approached him.

"Wow! Aspyn, you look beautiful," He exclaimed.

I smiled. "Thank you,"

Kelce took my hand and leaned in for a kiss, but I stopped him. "Kelce..."

"What? Is everything okay?"

I sighed. "This just- this isn't going to work,"

"You know I like you, I really do, but I just can't see us as a couple. I know your feelings for me are getting more serious, but mine aren't, and I honestly can't see them going any further than the point they're at now. I'm sorry,"

His gaze remained fixed on me for a moment as he took in everything I had just said.

"Okay...thank you for letting me know," He eventually said, his voice quiet.