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Joan, the only girl in the family

Chapter 1

The early morning Los Angeles sun trickled into the lavish room, casting shade upon a sleeping figure.

The design of the room showed great luxury, the huge bedframe alongside the huge aquarium at the far end of the room, the beautiful flower vases and a finely made golden sculpture of Peter Pan and tinker bell.

The room was well lit with gigantic chandeliers, which cast a beautiful shade on the pure white walls. everything looked serene.

Joan Martinez lived a life most could only dream of.

Born into the opulent Martinez Family, her family had a great history in columbia, her great, great grandfather, Fidel Martinez was said to have been the richest man in Columbia back then, he had made enough wealth to keep his next twenty generations wealthy enough to never have to work again.

Joan was the last born and only girl in her family, she had 3 older brothers who were all out of the country taking care of family business.

Joan was the sole apple of her parents' eyes. The huge mansion she called home was adorned with grandeur, and her days were filled with extravagance. From lavish parties to designer clothes, Joan was spoiled with love and adoration.

As she woke up that morning, one thing was on her mind, “college.”

Joan had managed to plead with her parents to let her study in the country, and she had also pleaded with them to let her have a normal college experience.

Joan had always wanted a normal college experience, one where she could make real friends, have real life problems and maybe even fall in love. Before now all her friendships and relationships had mainly been transactional for her parents good.

All the so called friends she had were either the daughter of a minister or the daughter of an ex president, most of them didn’t even know each other’s names, they just came together, acted like they were having fun and took pictures for family connections.

But Joan was done with that kind of life, she wanted an ordinary experience of life.

Joan slowly got up from her bed, she quickly went into the bathroom to wash her face.

Her life had been a whirlwind of privilege and luxury. Her mornings began with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the sweet serenade of birdsong. She would saunter down the grand spiral staircase, her steps barely making a sound on the marble floor. At the bottom of the stairs, her parents, Maria and Alejandro Martinez, awaited her with smiles as warm as the morning sun.

"Good morning, mi princesa," Maria would greet her daughter with a loving embrace, while Alejandro would plant a gentle kiss on her forehead. The maids scurried about, ensuring that every inch of the mansion was pristine, and the chef was busy crafting culinary masterpieces that would grace their dining table later in the day.

Joan's days were a whirlwind of opulence and extravagance, before her parents had granted her permission to go to a normal college, she had been gloomy and depressed but Alejandro couldn’t take it anymore, seeing his only daughter become a shadow of her former self broke him and he had no choice but to finally give her permission to go to a normal college.

After breakfast, Joan would often lounge by the glistening pool, sipping on exotic fruit juices while her so called friends, handpicked from the crème de la crème of society, gathered around her. Designer sunglasses adorned her face, and the latest fashion trends draped her lithe frame.

Nights were reserved for glamorous dinner parties for her parent’s business partners, where the Martinez mansion transformed into a realm of enchantment.

Huge crystal chandeliers cast shimmering rainbows across the ballroom, and the sound of live orchestras filled the air as guests in couture gowns and tuxedos waltzed under the twinkling stars painted on the domed ceiling.

Joan reveled in the admiration and envy that her privileged life attracted. She was the envy of every socialite in town, and her Instagram feed was a gallery of envy-inducing snapshots.

However, as Joan prepared to leave for college, the prospect of leaving her cocoon of luxury filled her with both excitement and trepidation.

Even though her parents had promised to let her live a normal life, they couldn’t just let her go to any kind of college, Her parents had chosen an Ivy League institution, renowned for its prestigious alumni and rigorous academic programs.

Joan was so excited, she could hardly contain it, she was about to embark on a new chapter of her life, one that would take her far from the comfort of her family home.

Packing for college proved to be an arduous task. Her closet, a walk-in masterpiece of fashion, was filled with clothes, shoes, and accessories that could easily stock a high-end boutique. Joan hesitated as she decided which pieces of her extravagant wardrobe to bring.

Her mother, Maria, entered the room with a knowing smile. "Remember, mi amor," she said gently, "college is about more than just fashion. It's an opportunity to discover who you truly are and what you're capable of."

Joan nodded, her heart heavy with the realization that she was leaving behind not only her designer wardrobe but also the familiar world of privilege that had defined her existence, but this was what she wanted, she wanted a real life experience. She envied the love her parents shared, they had been together for more than thirty five years yet they never seemed tired of each other, she wanted something like that for herself.

As the departure day drew near, Joan's emotions swung between anticipation and anxiety. She knew that college would be a place where she would have to stand on her own, without the cushion of her family's wealth. It was a daunting prospect, but it was also a chance for her to grow and prove herself.

On the morning of her departure, Joan stood in front of the grand mirror in her room, dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit. Her parents, dressed more modestly than usual, stood beside her, their expressions a mix of pride and concern.

"Remember, mi princesa," Alejandro said, his voice filled with love, "college is an adventure, and it's your chance to write your own story."

Maria added, "Embrace the opportunities, make true friends, and discover the person you want to become."

Joan nodded, her eyes misty with emotion. She was ready to step out of her comfort zone, leave behind the life of a spoiled princess, and embark on the journey of a lifetime. College awaited, and she was determined to make the most of it, no matter how far it took her from the world of opulence she had always known.

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