Chapter 2

Ethan let out a helpless sigh.

"Olivia, this brooch could never suit Ava."

I looked at him steadily.

"Then why does it suit me?"

Ethan froze for a moment, then smiled.

"When you two were little and stood next to each other, everyone said you looked like her scrawny little sidekick."

"Pink diamonds aren't your style. Black is good — understated, suits anyone."

Sidekick.

Ava and I were twins. But I couldn't match her in a single thing.

At school, Ava was always number one. I'd pull all-nighters until my eyes were red, and still only hovered somewhere in the middle.

Mom would press a finger to my forehead and sigh.

"Same womb, same family — how are you this slow? Oh well. One smart kid is enough."

I trailed behind Ava everywhere. Carrying her bag, peeling her fruit.

Ten years of being called her sidekick.

I'd told Ethan more than once that I hated that nickname.

He kept using it anyway.

I looked at him calmly.

"Ethan, let's break up."

Ethan stared at me, laughing like he was humoring a child.

"Alright, if you don't like the brooch, just pick something else. You don't need to say things like that."

"We'll go to the mall right now. You pick until you're happy. Deal?"

Ava slid the pink diamond necklace across the table toward me.

"Olivia, take my necklace. You're practically married — you're an adult now. Stop acting out."

But Ethan stopped her.

"That one was specially picked for you. It wouldn't suit Olivia — it'd be wasted on her."

So it wasn't a choice at all. He'd always intended it for Ava.

Ethan put his arm around my shoulders and steered me toward the door.

But the moment we reached the ground floor of the mall, Ava said she wanted to check out a new perfume.

Ethan nodded immediately.

"Then we'll go with Ava first. We can pick your gift after. There's no rush."

Again.

Ava spent a long time at the counter, testing different scents.

She narrowed it down to two and couldn't decide.

Ethan noticed her hesitation.

"Just get both. You pick one to use now, and the other one goes to Olivia. When you want it back, just swap with her."

He paid, then turned and handed a bottle to me.

"See? Now you don't even have to choose your own gift. Ava has great taste. You should be happy."

I didn't take it.

I stared at that bottle and almost laughed.

Wasn't I supposed to be choosing for myself today?

"I'm going back to your place to get my things. I won't be coming back after this."

Ethan's hand froze mid-air. For the first time, he looked genuinely serious.

"Olivia, stop this."

That same evening, he called my parents over.

Mom walked in and immediately went for my temples with her finger.

"Are you out of your mind? Breaking up? Over what?"

"You tell me — what do you think you have that's good enough for Ethan? You're average-looking, you're not the sharpest. If Ava weren't busy with her career, you think you'd even be in the picture?"

My temples throbbed with every word.

I'd heard all of this so many times. Not a single word was new.

I was slow. I was plain. I wasn't Ava.

Ethan stepped in front of me then, smiling, smoothing things over.

"Don't say that. Olivia is the sweetest — she's more than good enough for me."

Mom immediately turned to Ethan with an approving look.

"See? He's defending you. Where are you going to find someone like him again?"

"If you break up with him, don't bother coming home."

Right. Such a wonderful man. I should be grateful.

I breathed in slowly.

"Okay."

Everyone let out a quiet breath of relief, like a difficult child had finally come to her senses.

I went to my room.

I called my friend and let the tears fall without a sound.

"Lily, is there still room for me at that pottery studio?"

On the other end, she was careful with her words.

"Aren't you about to get married? Will your family even let you go?"

I looked out at the dark night beyond the window, and a small smile crossed my face.

"Lily — what would you say if I told you I was going to skip the wedding?"