Chapter 1

Alice Lewis I don’t know how long I sat there on that hard bench, staring at the peeling walls of the hospital waiting room. The harsh smell of alcohol and disinfectant clung to my skin, and I couldn’t tell anymore if the tightness in my chest was anxiety or pure exhaustion. My mom was in there, hooked up to wires, tubes, and minimal hope. And me… I was out here, powerless. My bank account had been in the red for months. The thought of paying for another day of treatment felt like a cruel joke. The kind that kicks you when you’re already down. I was twenty-two. I wasn’t supposed to be choosing between medicine and keeping the lights on. I was so lost in my thoughts that I almost didn’t notice the man who walked into the waiting room. Almost. He had a presence that was impossible to ignore—an air of authority that made the room feel smaller, heavier. Tall, well-dressed, and wearing a tailored suit that probably cost more than everything I owned combined. His gaze swept the room until it landed on me, and then, without hesitation, he walked straight toward me. "Are you the…" He paused, as if searching for the right words. "…daughter of Rose?" A cold shiver ran down my spine. No one called my mom Rose. To everyone here, she was just the patient in bed 8. "Who are you?" My voice came out sharper than intended, my instincts flaring. Instead of answering, he sat down beside me, uninvited, elbows resting on his knees like he owned the damn space. For a second, I thought he might be some kind of lawyer. But then he said: "My name is Arthur Lacerda. I’m… your father." I barked out a laugh—sharp, hollow, disbelieving. "My father?" I repeated, crossing my arms. "Is this a joke? Because, honestly, today’s not the day." He exhaled slowly, as if already exhausted by the conversation. "I know this is hard to believe, but it’s true. Your mother and I had a complicated history. My family never approved, and we… we separated before you were born." I stared at him, waiting for something that made this story less insane. Instead, he reached into his jacket and pulled out a photo. "This is ridiculous," I muttered, shaking my head. But then I saw the picture. The breath whooshed out of my lungs. It was a girl. She looked exactly like me. No—not quite. Her hair was lighter, sleek and polished like a doll’s. Her clothes looked expensive, her makeup perfect. A version of me from some alternate universe where I never had to check price tags. "Who is she?" My voice barely came out. "Your twin sister, Aurora. You were separated at birth." The room tilted. My pulse hammered in my ears. "Of course." My laugh was sharp, bitter. "A twin sister. Why not? Let’s just throw that into the mess of my life. You’re rich, you have another daughter, and now you suddenly decide to show up?" He ran a hand through his hair, clearly trying to keep his patience. "Aurora disappeared two weeks ago." His voice lowered. "I had arranged a marriage for her… something that would help settle a family debt… and she ran away. Now, I have no other choice but to ask for your help." I blinked. "My help?" "I need you to take her place." I let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "You’ve got to be kidding me." "I’m not." He leaned in, voice calm but heavy. "If you do this, I’ll cover every single hospital bill. Your mother will get the best treatment available. She’ll have everything she needs." A sharp, piercing sound split the air. The heart monitor. I shot up from the chair, every nerve in my body going haywire. But before I could move, Arthur grabbed my wrist. "They’re stabilizing her," he said, his grip firm but not painful. His tone was softer now, almost… gentle. "But you know this won’t last. Not without the right care." I yanked my arm free. My throat burned. My entire body burned. He was manipulating me. I knew that. He was dangling my mother’s life in front of me like a goddamn bargaining chip. And yet… And yet. "Fine." The word barely made it past my lips. "But don’t think for a second that I trust you. This is just for my mom." Arthur didn’t smile, but the relief in his face was obvious. "We’ll transfer her to a private hospital tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss the next steps." Tomorrow. Tomorrow, my life wouldn’t be mine anymore. When I finally made it home, the silence seemed crueler than ever. My body was exhausted, but my mind was spinning, caught between the present and a past I didn't even know existed. I sat on the edge of the mattress, my fingers gripping the thin edge of the sheet as I tried to understand what the hell had just happened. My father. My twin sister. An arranged marriage. And Arthur's absurd proposal, a proposal that should have filled me with revolt, but which, deep down, already had an answer. My mother had no time. Every minute I spent thinking, the clock ticked mercilessly, counting down the seconds to a possible outcome that I couldn't bear. I could hate Arthur for everything he was, for what he represented, but I couldn't deny what he had in his hands. The fate of the only person who really cared about me. My eyes fell on the cell phone next to the pillow. My hands were freezing as I picked it up, unlocked the screen and typed in the message. “I accept.” As soon as I pressed “send”, I let out the breath I hadn't even realized I was holding. That was it. There was no turning back. And for the first time, I felt that my life no longer belonged to me.