Chapter 2
Lily's POV
I want to leave, escape all of this. But something invisible won't let me go.
Forcing me to watch as they crowd around Claire, walking her to center stage. She's starting her speech. "Standing here right now, I feel so lucky. Thank you Mom and Dad for bringing me into this family. Thank you Nathan for always protecting me."
Her eyes are getting watery. "Even though Lily couldn't make it today, I know wherever she is, she's thinking of me."
Whispers immediately ripple through the crowd.
"Wait, where's the actual daughter? Can't even show up for her sister's birthday?"
"I heard she grew up in the middle of nowhere. Probably jealous."
"Throwing a fit over a family party? God, that's embarrassing."
Mom's walking onstage, pulling Claire into a hug. "Claire, forget about her. Today's your day. Everyone's here for you. That ungrateful girl doesn't deserve another thought."
Dad joins them, standing on Claire's other side. "Our daughter has always made us proud."
Mom's patting Claire's back. "You're too sweet, honey. Always thinking about everyone else, never yourself."
"But Mom... Lily still isn't here." Claire's biting her lip. "Is she still mad at me? I accidentally broke her old bracelet last month. I've apologized over and over but she won't forgive me..."
"I shouldn't have had my party today. Lily probably thinks I'm stealing her spotlight. It's all my fault..."
"Stop that!" Nathan's coming up onstage too. "You're the princess of this family. She's nothing. She's not here? Good. Saves us the embarrassment."
I'm reaching out, trying to touch his face.
My hand goes straight through him.
"Nathan," I'm whispering in his ear. "I'm dead. Just now, right after you hung up, someone killed me."
He can't hear me.
He's just frowning, like there's a cold breeze on his neck, tugging at his tie.
I remember the day the detective found me, eighteen years old. I was working, my hands raw and bleeding. They told me "You're an heiress. Your family's been looking for you for eighteen years."
I thought they were saving me.
I didn't know they'd already found someone else to replace me.
I still remember my first day home. Nathan stood in front of Claire, staring at my frostbitten hands with disgust. "Claire's my only sister."
I remember Mom saying Claire is delicate, and since I'm older, I need to look out for her.
I remember Dad frowning, tossing aside my college acceptance letter. "With these grades? You'd be an embarrassment to this family."
Turns out nobody wanted me home after all.
"Nathan's right." Alex's voice pulls me back. He's wearing a perfectly tailored white suit, looking like some fairytale prince.
He's handing Claire an elegant gift box, his eyes soft. "I brought this back from Paris for you."
Claire's taking it, all excited, leaning into him like a spoiled cat. More envious murmurs from the crowd.
He's leaning close to Claire, voice low. "Claire, I'm gonna break things off with Lily after the party. Playing nice with her for you has been hell."
Alex is my fiancé. On paper, anyway. He was supposed to be Claire's, but when I came home, the engagement automatically transferred to me, the real daughter.
I thought he'd look down on me like the rest of them.
But he didn't.
He'd hand me the right fork when I fumbled with my steak. He'd cover for me when I said something stupid. He'd text me late at night asking "You doing okay?"
He was the only person who was kind to me. The one person I thought actually cared.
I learned to cook his favorite dishes, tried to talk about things I didn't understand. I thought if I tried hard enough, he'd see me.
Now I get it. That was fake too.
I'm watching Mom smile at Claire. Dad nodding with approval. Nathan looking at her like she's precious. Alex holding her close.
That's their family of four.
I was never part of it.
The clock on the wall hits midnight.
My birthday is actually today too.
Claire and I share the same birthday.
But nobody ever remembers mine. Even after I came home, the family calendar still only said "Claire's Birthday."
I'm curling up, feeling the cold seep through me.
It's fine.
I don't need cake anyway.
The party winds down fast, guests leaving in small groups.
Suddenly Claire's face changes. She's clutching her head.
Nathan rushes over first, catching her as she sways. "Claire? What's wrong?"
"I... my head's spinning..." Claire's voice is getting weak. She's raising a shaky hand, pointing at the mostly eaten cake. "That cake... I think there was... hazelnut..."
Her eyes roll back and she goes limp in Nathan's arms.
