Chapter 1My fiancé bought me TWO bridal jewelry sets, but let MY TWIN pick first.
She got a million-dollar diamond necklace.
Me? A cheap black brooch thrown in for free.
"Isla, stop being dramatic. It's just jewelry."
"Avery's proud. She deserves the first choice."
"You're not picky. Whatever's left is fine."
I froze.
Same bullshit for TWENTY YEARS.
Shotgun? Avery.
Prom date? Avery.
Even his virginity? Avery.
But she chose her dreams over him.
So Xander settled for me—the girl with HER face.
To him, Avery was always first. Me? Just a stand-in.
I stared at that cheap trash. Smiled.
"Avery, keep both. I'm done picking leftovers."
And done with Xander Hayes.
...
Xander sighed.
"Isla, this freebie isn't good enough for your sister."
I looked at him.
"Then why is it good enough for ME?"
He froze. Then smiled.
"When you were kids, everyone said you looked like her little maid."
"You know, skinny and dark."
"Pink diamonds? You can't pull that off. Black's better. Low-key."
Little maid.
Avery and I were twins, but I never measured up to her.
School? Avery was always first.
I stayed up till my eyes were bloodshot. Still barely scraped by.
Mom poked my forehead.
"You came from the same womb. How are you this dumb?"
"Whatever. One smart kid's enough."
I followed Avery around, carried her backpack, peeled her apples.
Got called "the maid" for ten years.
I told Xander a hundred times I hated that nickname.
Every time, he'd say, "Okay. Won't say it again."
But the second Avery showed up? Those words slipped right out.
I looked at him.
"Xander, we're done."
He stared at me. Smiled like I was throwing a tantrum.
"Come on. Don't like the brooch? We'll get something else."
"Why are you being dramatic?"
"Let's go to the mall right now. Pick till you're happy, okay?"
Avery pushed the necklace toward me.
"Isla, take mine."
"You're getting married. You're an adult. Stop throwing a fit."
But Xander stopped her.
"I picked that one specifically for you."
"Isla can't pull it off. It'd be wasted on her."
So it wasn't just "pick one." He'd already chosen for HER.
Xander put his arm around me and started walking.
But the second we hit the Fifth Avenue, Avery said she wanted to see some new perfume.
Xander nodded immediately.
"Let's go with Avery first. We'll get yours after. No rush."
AGAIN.
Avery tested perfumes forever.
She couldn't pick between two.
Xander saw her hesitation.
"Just get both. You pick one to use now, give the other to Isla."
"When you want it back, swap."
He paid and handed me the bottle.
"There. You don't even need to pick."
"Your sister's got taste. You should be happy."
I didn't take it.
I stared at that perfume bottle and almost laughed.
Didn't he say we came here so I could pick?
"I'm moving my stuff out of your apartment. Not coming back."
Xander's hand froze mid-air. Finally, he looked serious.
"Isla, stop."
That night, he brought my parents over.
The second Mom walked in, she jabbed my temple.
"Are you out of your mind? Breaking up?"
"What makes you think you deserve someone like Xander?"
"You're average. Dumb. If your sister wasn't busy with her career, you think he'd pick you?"
My temple throbbed.
I'd heard this a hundred times. Every word old.
I'm dumb. I'm ugly. I'm not as good as Avery.
Xander stepped in front of me. Smiled.
"Don't say that. Isla's sweet. She's good enough."
Mom looked at him like he was a saint.
"Look at him, still defending you. Where else you gonna find guy this good?"
"You break up with him? Don't be my daughter anymore!"
Right. He was so good. I should be grateful.
I sniffed.
"Okay."
Everyone relaxed. Like the bad kid finally got it.
I went to my room.
Called my best friend Brynn. Tears slid down silent.
"Brynn, you still got room at your pottery studio?"
She sounded careful.
"I thought you were getting married. Your family okay with this?"
I stared at the dark outside. Smiled.
"Brynn, what if I ditch the wedding in a week?"
Chapter 2
Brynn couldn't believe it.
To her, I I had always been the good girl.
Obedient. No temper. Never fought back.
Let alone ditch a wedding.
But if I wasn't good, no one would love me.
Growing up, Avery was the golden child. Everyone ran to her.
I stood on my tiptoes, trying to be seen.
Being good and obedient was the only way Xander and my parents would even look at me.
But I was done being good.
---
Next day, Xander took me to see the wedding house.
I walked toward shotgun, but he pulled me back.
"Silly girl, that's Avery's seat."
Avery walked in at that exact moment, Xander immediately opened the door for her.
"Avery wants to buy a house too. She's coming with us."
I sat in the back without a word.
"Okay."
The villa was gorgeous.
Avery's eyes lit up when she saw the master bedroom.
"The lighting's perfect here. The humidity too."
"I could keep my lab cultures in this room!"
Xander stood next to her.
"If you like it, it's yours. You can stay here whenever."
"I'll get the best designer to remodel it for you."
I stood in the doorway.
When we bought this house, Xander never cared about any of it.
He always said, "A house is a house. As long as it's livable."
But now, he stood next to Avery by the window, planning how to design the room.
Like a real newlywed couple.
Avery turned to me. Smiled playfully.
"Isla, you okay with me taking this room?"
I looked at Xander.
"You know this is supposed to be OUR wedding room, right?"
Xander's face stayed calm.
"It's just a name. It's not like lab cultures that need specific conditions."
"Just pick another room."
I unclenched my fists. My palms were bleeding.
"You're my sister. Take whatever you want."
Xander patted my head.
"Good girl."
After the house, the bridal shop called Xander.
The three wedding dresses were ready.
Avery linked her arm through mine.
"Isla, let me help you pick."
She really looked like a caring older sister.
But while I was trying on dresses, she got a call. Her face fell.
"The dress I was supposed to wear to an important gala got RUINED."
"I can't find a replacement in time..."
Xander's eyes scanned the shop.
"Just pick one here."
But nothing satisfied him.
Finally, his eyes landed on the reception dress I was wearing.
"Avery's got fair skin. This one's perfect for her. Let her have it."
The shop assistant couldn't hold back.
"Sir, Miss Hart came here over THIRTY times for this dress."
"She drew sketches herself to customize every detail."
"And... wedding dresses aren't supposed to be secondhand."
Xander glanced at me like it was no big deal.
Maybe in his mind, it wasn't even a problem.
If Avery needed it, Avery got it.
I pressed my hand to my chest. It didn't even hurt anymore.
I took off the dress and handed it to Avery.
"It's fine. You'll look beautiful in it."
Xander looked surprised for a second. Then he softened.
"You're so sweet. I'll help you pick something better."
But his eyes were glued to Avery in the dress.
He knelt down and smoothed out every fold of her skirt.
I had imagined this scene before.
I came here over thirty times.
He only came with me ONCE.
The assistant had smiled and joked, "It will be so romantic when the groom helps the bride with her dress."
Back then, Xander didn't even look up.
"That's not romantic. That's extra."
"I'm paying you to do that, aren't I?"
I watched him kneel at Avery's feet. Finally tasted the price of my own fantasies.
Ever since I was little, everyone had loved Avery more.
My parents. Xander. Everyone.
And yet, I still couldn't stop loving him.
Because he was the only one who, when my parents yanked my ear and yelled that I was stupid—
Slipped me a strawberry candy.
"Being dumb is cute too."
I kept that love hidden.
Until he confessed to Avery and Avery said she only cared about her career.
Devastated, he confessed to me.
I knew he was just acting out, but I said yes anyway.
I loved painting, but I stayed by his side as his assistant.
I tried to be like Avery, helping him analyze complicated data.
But I could never become Avery.
And he would never love me.
My phone buzzed.
"Pottery studio's ready. When are you coming?"
Avery had already changed out of the dress.
Xander casually grabbed a black gown and handed it to me.
"Isla, just pick this one. Avery's busy. Don't hold her up."
"This one's simple. Classy. Suits you."
Black again—the color I hated most.
I looked down and typed back.
"On our wedding day. I told you I'd run."
Chapter 3
That night, my parents called us over for dinner.
That's when I remembered—it was my birthday. And Avery's.
Xander picked the cake.
"You two share a birthday. Only gotta buy one cake. Easy."
The cake looked nice.
But inside? Huge chunks of mango.
Avery loved mango. I was allergic.
No one seemed to notice.
Xander was busy placing the candles and put the birthday hat on Avery.
"Avery, you go first. Make your wish."
I stared at that mango cake. At the hat on Avery's head. At Xander's soft smile.
Then I suddenly spoke.
"Xander, you used to prepared two of everything."
"So why is there only one cake every year?"
"Why am I always the last one to choose?"
The room went quiet.
Xander frowned.
"It's been like this for years. What's wrong with you today?"
Mom stared at me too.
"Avery's your older sister. And she's better than you at everything."
"Of course she goes first."
"You want to go first? Be half as good as her."
I couldn't say anything.
Avery closed her eyes and started making her wish.
The whole family gathered around her. Sang happy birthday.
By the time it was my turn, the candles were almost burned out.
Xander glanced at them.
"No more candles. Making a wish is whatever. Isla can do it next year."
Twenty years.
Every year, it was always "next year."
But I never got that next year.
Do kids who aren't good enough not deserve to be loved?
I sat there quiet and watched them cut the cake. Zoned out.
Somehow the conversation turned to the wedding.
Mom suddenly asked me.
"How's the wedding coming along?"
I was about to answer, but she'd already turned to Xander.
"Oh, Xander, your guests are all business people, right?"
"Avery's new product just launched. Perfect timing to promote it at your wedding."
Xander didn't hesitate. Smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, sure. No problem."
"We'll cut the love story part. Let Avery speak instead."
Avery smiled.
"We don't have to cancel it. I'll just say a few words, won't take away from Isla's day."
Xander looked at her seriously.
"No way. If you're gonna speak, do it right."
"Don't worry, I'll handle everything."
The three of them enthusiastically started planning—where to put the booth, when she'd go on stage, whether they needed a banner.
It was supposed to be MY wedding.
Now it was turning into a sales pitch.
And no one asked me.
Thankfully, this wedding wasn't happening anyway.
I couldn't breathe and went back to my room.
Xander and my parents stayed in the living room.
Avery's national competition was streaming live tonight.
Results were coming.
Everyone was glued to the screen nervously.
I packed up my stuff in my parents' house.
There wasn't much to take.
Just a sketchbook from the bottom of my drawer—drawings I made when I was a kid.
Avery won first place.
Cheers suddenly exploded from the living room.
I could hear their laughter. Clapping. Screaming.
Then Avery's playful complaint.
"But the awards ceremony is the same day as Isla's wedding."
"None of you can come with me."
"Such an important moment, and I'll be all alone. I'm so sad."
