Something stirred within me, something I couldn’t control.

And the next thing, I was up on my feet, screaming at the top of my voice.

“How dare you, Zack? You are married to me!”

The crowd gasped in awe as they all turned to me. All the media personalities turned their cameras to me, taking numerous pictures. Everyone murmured as they glanced between me, Zack, and Serena.

Zack’s face burned with anger, and my mom was even more furious. She walked towards me and yanked me out of the hall. My dad tried to calm everyone down.

“Let me go!” I screamed as I struggled to free myself from her grip.

“You want to bring more shame to our family, right? It’s not enough that you tried to kill your sister a year ago, you also want to take away her happiness?!” My mom scolded as she dragged me up the stairwell.

I wasn’t surprised, most people didn’t recognize me as a Rashford. Serena was always flaunted and glorified while I was always serving one punishment or the other.

“Mom, please, Zack is married to me. How can he disrespect me like that, Mom? We’ve been married for two years and without a proper divorce, he’s proposing to Serena?” I cried.

“You don’t deserve anything good, Lena. You’re a curse to this family. I curse the day I birthed you. Do you know the kind of influence our family would get from that union?” My mom snapped, ignoring the tears that streamed from my eyes.

“I always enabled you, failed to see how much of a menace you were, even as a child. Serena is your elder sister, show some respect! You should be more focused on making it up to her, rather than throwing a tantrum!” My mom hissed.

“Mom, please, stop. You’re hurting me,” I cried, begging, desperate for a bit of love from my mother.

“You know me, Lena, I’d rather hurt you with the truth than make you feel good with lies.” She snapped.

“Here is what you will do. You will go downstairs, apologize to everyone, and fix the mess you created,”

“I won’t. I can’t. Serena and Zack are having an affair! In my house! That’s why Serena insisted on taking care of me, so she could get closer to Zack!” I yelled.

I felt a little light as I let the burden off my chest, hoping for some sort of sympathy or realization from my mom.

“What did you expect? You were never supposed to have him, Lena. Zack and Serena belong together. You were just… a placeholder.” My mom said, her voice devoid of any sympathy or emotion. Just cold and tactless as ever.

A placeholder.

A mistake.

The unwanted child who killed her twin in the womb.

I had heard the whispers growing up and had seen the way my parents looked at me. My mother never failed to remind me that my twin, the son they prayed for never made it, but I did.

As if I had a choice.

“Where is that stupid bitch!” Serena’s voice came hollering.

I barely turned before she was on me, her nails digging into my skin as she shoved me back.

“How dare you cause a scene, you blind fool?” Serena snapped.

“I guess I’ll leave you two to fix your differences,” my mom said and left.

“Serena, please,” I gasped. “I just want—”

“You mean nothing to Zack. He’s mine, always has been. Just a few months I was away, you stole him from me,”

“Zack is my husband, Serena. It’s not fair he proposes to you,” I said, trying to make her see reason with me.

You just ruined my engagement!” she yelled as she slapped me across the cheek.

I staggered, clutching my cheek.

“At least let him divorce me properly,” I whispered.

She scoffed. “You don’t deserve anything, Lena. And now, I’m going to finish what I should have done a year ago.”

She pushed me with great force.

I was close to the edge, but I held the rail tightly.

“Serena, please, don’t do this. Please, I’m your sister.” I begged desperately, hoping for some sympathy from her.

But there was no hesitation in her eyes, only darkness.

“You’re a stain in our lives. You have to go,” she said as she pried my fingers off the rail.

I screamed as I fell.

Desperately searching for something to hold on to, I grabbed her red flowing gown.

And then, she was falling too.

I felt my heart burn and my lungs collapse. I struggled to get to the surface. I couldn’t swim, and neither could Serena.

We both struggled to get out, splishing and splashing.

My limbs got weaker by the second.

I could hear voices and shouts, but they felt far away. At least, there was a glimpse of hope that we would soon be saved.

Someone dived into the water and carried Serena out.

I kept struggling, hoping for my rescue, but it never came.

I watched as my glasses floated above me.

What was the essence of the struggle? For twenty-four years, I had been a burden, a disappointment.

For the first time in my life, I stopped fighting.

I let go.

And I let the darkness consume me.

“She's awake! She's awake! Master Farleigh, come and see!”

The voices felt distant, almost unreal, as my eyelids fluttered open. A sharp inhale filled my lungs. I was alive.

Why?

Zack had only pulled his precious Serena from the pool, leaving me for dead. He didn't even look back. I should have just died.

Who then saved me?

I tried to move, but my body felt so heavy, every inch of me was sore and aching.

“It's almost a miracle.” a deep voice murmured.

I instinctively tried to turn my head, desperate to see who it was.

“Oh, no, no… you'll hurt yourself.” His gentle hands steadied me as he adjusted my pillows.

“Your body is still weak. Just rest.”

I froze.

That face…. Those eyes.

They were bluish-grey, just like mine. The kind that always made people feel like I was staring into their souls.

I stared at him as my mind scrambled for logic.

His perfectly oval face, the dark curls falling to his shoulders, the same almond skin, the same thin lips.

He was me!

“Who the hell are you?!” I panicked.

He just chuckled, clearly unfazed by my horror.

“Hello, sister,”

“Sister?” I repeated.

Is he mad?

“I'm glad you're awake,” he continued casually as if he hadn't shattered my entire reality.

“The doctors said you’d be unconscious for at least three weeks, but look at you! One week and you’re already proving them wrong. You’re a fighter.” he giggled.

I barely heard him. I was too busy trying to make sense of where I was; the grand, unfamiliar room.

The towering walls, the grand chandelier, the heavy drapes, the luxurious old-world decor. It was something straight out of a history book. This wasn’t home. This wasn’t even my world. It looked like a castle!

“Who are you? Where am I?” I managed to ask.

“Oh, forgive my manners. I'm Asher.. Asher Farleigh, your twin brother,”

I frowned at him, and then I laughed. It didn't make any sense, but he looked dead serious. Even our striking resemblance mocked me.

“T..That’s not possible. I don't have a twin brother. H-He died at birth. My mom told me, s…she made sure it sank deep,” I said, trying to make sense of my reality.

“Oh, I see.. She didn't tell you yet,” he said in a disappointed tone.

“Tell me what?” I asked.

Then, I remembered.

“My glasses!” I jolted. I couldn't let anyone know I had regained my sight. It was great keeping Serena and Zack in the dark.

“Glasses? Your eyes are perfectly fine. What do you need them for?” Asher asked, looking at me with questioning eyes.

“Nothing. Never mind,” I sighed.

What was the point anyway? I had already lost. Zack and Serena were getting married and there was nothing I could do about it.

“Forgive me, Lena. I should have come to you sooner. I wanted to, but I was under strict orders to never get close to you. It pained me even more when I found out what you have been going through in their hands. Please forgive me for not being there for you. You deserve way better,” he said.

“What are you talking about? What is going on? Please tell me, ” I begged.

I could see the genuity and sadness in his eyes, but I still couldn't wrap my head around what exactly was going on. And I guess he noticed.

Asher sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Start anywhere,” I whispered, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Please.”

He hesitated before locking eyes with me. “Lena… I didn’t die at birth.”

My fingers curled into the sheets. “W-what?”

“We were separated,” he continued, watching me closely. “Because of a deal our parents made.”

“I…I.. I don't understand. W-What do you mean?”

“Let me make this simple. My father, Mr. Farleigh had an affair with our mother. When she got pregnant, he wanted to take responsibility, but she refused. She was married to your father… or rather, the man you thought was your father.”

“My dad had no children. He never married, he was too busy building his empire. So when he found out about us, he refused to walk away.

“Mom couldn't tell her husband that she had gotten pregnant for another, so she decided to give the child to my dad, under the guise that the baby died, but then, she had twins.

“My dad chose to keep me since he couldn't have both of us, even though mom kicked against it. Ultimately, dad had his way. Mom used to come around once in a while to visit me. I knew about you, dad never kept any secrets, but I couldn't meet you,”

Of all the overwhelming details Asher had just unloaded, one truth cut the deepest; neither of my parents wanted me.

I was always the second option, the afterthought. It should have felt better that I belonged to a different family, but it hurt twice as much.

“I'm sorry, Lena. I… I didn't mean to overwhelm you. I just thought you deserved to know,” Asher said as he rushed at me, wiping off the tears that fell down my cheeks.

I couldn't speak. Couldn't think. My chest tightened as tears rolled down my cheeks. Everything felt like it was crashing down all at once.

I clutched the sheets, holding on like they could somehow hold me together. Asher didn’t say a word. He just sat there, his hand wrapped around mine. It was warm and steady like he was trying to keep me from falling apart.

“I heard she's awake,” a familiar voice approached us.

I looked to confirm and there he was. My ex, David Barton.

“Where in heaven's name am I?”

“Hi, Lena. I brought you lunch. I was so happy when I heard you were awake. I hope you can eat,” he said with a smile as he placed the food on the table next to my bed.

I couldn't take my eyes off him. He still had the purest and most genuine smile I had ever seen. I didn't expect to see him again, especially since he and his family relocated right after college

“Lena, meet David, my best friend and business partner. I'm sure you two have already met,” Asher said, forcing me to take my eyes off David.

“Yes, we have,” David said.

For the first time in a while, I felt pure, unfiltered joy.

“David…” my voice came out in a whisper. I hadn’t said his name in years, yet it still felt natural on my tongue.

His smile softened. “It’s been a long time, Lena.”

“I can’t believe you’re here,” I breathed, searching his face for any sign that I was dreaming.

His chuckle was light and easy. “I could say the same about you. When I pulled you out of the pool, I was scared that you might not make it.”

“Y-You saved me?”

He nodded, his gaze was warm and unreadable.

Of course, it was him. It had always been him. David had looked out for me even when I didn’t realize it.

“I'm just glad I got to you in time,” he said with a brief smile. He was always modest.

Asher leaned back, watching us with a small smile. “I take it you two have a lot to catch up on.”

David nodded. “That we do.”

He turned his attention back to me. “But first, you should eat. You look like you haven’t had a proper meal in days.”

I let out a breathy laugh, shaking my head. “You haven’t changed.”

---

“Has her body been found yet? Tell me you have news!” My mom, Mrs. Rashford yelled frantically as she paced back and forth in the living room.

“I'm sorry ma'am, but there has been no trace of her yet,” the voice at the other end of the phone said.

“Shit!” She yelled as she threw her phone across the room.

Serena just sat by a corner, filing her nails. She seemed very amused.

“Tell me something, mom. Are you worried about Lena’s safety or your image? Because from what I remember, you were rather reluctant to pull her out from the pool,” Serena said as she tried to stifle a laugh.

“You don’t get it, Serena. If she falls into the wrong hands, we’re done for. How do I explain that? You know how pitiful Lena can act. It’s already been a week!” Mrs. Rashford kept panicking.

“It’ll be there on the news; One of the Rashford daughters, Blind and left for dead in her family’s pool…” Serena trailed off, smirking. “how does that sound?”

“Please, relax, mom. We’ve always wanted her out of our lives. This is our opportunity. There’s less drama now. We can fully focus on my wedding,” Serena said.

Even though she was the cause of the problem, she didn’t seem remorseful at all.

“What if we just pronounce her dead? Arrange a funeral for her? After all, a few people witnessed her body float in the pool. We can do that and move on with our lives,” Serena added.

Mrs. Rashford’s frantic pacing slowed. She exhaled sharply and folded her arms, considering it.

“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea. I’ll have someone think of a cover-up story. The last thing I want is unnecessary drama, not when your dad is expanding his empire,” Mrs. Rashford said with a satisfactory smile.

“We need to do it quickly before my wedding. I don’t want any scandals, because of the scene she caused during our engagement, everyone thinks I stole her man. Meanwhile, she’s the thief here,” Serena hissed.

“You’re right. I’ll make the arrangements right away,” Mrs. Rashford said.

“And before I forget,” she added, inspecting her freshly manicured nails, “Zack made me Co-CEO of his company. I mean, what can I say? He knows I’m the perfect choice.”

That was all my mom needed to distract herself. Her face lit up instantly.

“How did it happen? Zack is such an angel!”

Serena’s lips curled. “I got pregnant. Something Lena couldn’t do.”

She tilted her head with a smug smile. “We’re expecting our baby.”