The Diary Of The Eldest Daughter

Donovan reads the diary of his eldest daughter, Naomi Parker, after she cuts ties with the family. His wife, Rachel, wants Naomi to repay what they spent on her, interest included. In the diary, Naomi writes of a childhood spent in the shadow of her frail half-sister, Ella: toys and dresses went to Ella, while Naomi walked home alone. On her twelfth birthday, Naomi wore a dress she had bought herself after a year of collecting bottles; when Ella asked to borrow it, Donovan struck Naomi for refusing. Later, when Ella dated a street thug named Derek, Donovan slapped Naomi at school over a false accusation. Then Derek and his gang kidnapped both girls and demanded a million dollars for each. Donovan had only one million, and when Ella fainted, he chose to save Ella, leaving Naomi behind. Naomi returned days later, bruised and broken. As Donovan reads on, he can no longer blame her.