LOGINOn the day my twin sister, Alexia Cavanaugh, and I turn 22, I collapse and find out that I have late-stage cancer. Ignoring the doctor's advice to be admitted, I walk out of the hospital. All I want is to spend one final birthday with my family without a single worry. But when I arrive at the party, a server stops me at the door and tells me the venue has been reserved exclusively for Alexia. Outsiders aren't allowed in. Through the glass, I watch as my brother holds a cake and my father places a birthday hat on Alexia's head. Even my boyfriend is there, smiling as Alexia makes a wish. I stand there for half an hour, gripping my phone, before my boyfriend finally answers my call. "I was just at the hospital. I—" He cuts me off. "Ophelia, you've always been healthy. It's Lexi's birthday today. We should talk later." Isn't today my birthday too? My mother died giving birth to me. The doctor later explained that I deprived Alexia of nutrients before birth, which left her frail from the start. And just like that, everyone decided I should always step aside for my twin, who was born five minutes before me. I ball up the report with my cancer diagnosis and toss it in the trash. I'm done letting their favoritism hurt me. I've never received their love anyway, so I choose to leave for good.
View MoreSara groggily opened one eye to find her alarm clock blaring loudly on her nightstand. She let out a groan and rolled over, pulling the covers over her head.
"Maddy, turn it off!" She mumbled, her voice muffled by the blankets.
Madison stomped into Sara's room, looking frazzled. "Come on, Sara! You're going to be late!" she exclaimed, snatching up the alarm clock and silencing it.
Sara sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Five more minutes," she begged.
Madison threw up her hands in exasperation. "You don't have five more minutes! You have an interview in an hour, and you still need to shower and get dressed!"
Sara yawned and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I'll be fine," she said, but Madison was having none of it.
"No, you won't be fine!" Madison said, grabbing Sara's arm and pulling her out of bed. "You're going to be late, and you're going to blow it! Now come on, let's get moving!"
Maddy dragged Sara into the bathroom, her eyes flashing with annoyance. "You're going to be late, Sara! You need to wake up!"
Sara stumbled along, her eyes half-closed. "Just five more minutes..." she mumbled.
Maddy had had enough. She pushed Sara into the shower stall and turned the faucet to cold. The sudden rush of icy water hit Sara like a slap in the face.
Sara's eyes jerked open as the cold water cascaded down on her. She gasped, her breath catching in her throat. "Ahh! Maddy!" she exclaimed, her voice shrill with shock.
Maddy stood outside the shower, a satisfied smirk on her face. "That should wake you up," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Sara stood under the cold water, her eyes wide with shock. She was fully awake now, and she glared at Maddy through the clear shower door. "You're going to pay for this," she muttered, her teeth chattering with cold.
Maddy walked towards the door, a smug smile still plastered on her face. "We'll see about that," she said, referring to Sara's threat of revenge. "But for now, get ready! Breakfast is on the table. I'm leaving; I don't want to be late. Mr. Reed won't like it."
She glanced at Sara, who was still shivering under the cold water. "Good luck with your interview, by the way. I'll see you tonight. Bye!"
With that, Maddy closed the door behind her, leaving Sara to her morning routine.
Sara rolled her eyes, still feeling a bit dazed from the sudden cold shower. "Thanks for the wake-up call, Maddy," she muttered to herself, shaking her head.
****
Sara stepped out of her apartment, feeling a bit more awake and alert after her cold shower. She was dressed in a crisp white blouse and a tailored black skirt, her hair pulled back into a neat ponytail. She had grabbed a piece of toast on her way out the door and was now munching on it as she walked.
She had her profile clutched in one hand, the papers rustling slightly in the morning breeze. Her coat was slung over her arm, ready to be slipped on when she boarded the bus.
As she walked, Sara took a bite of her toast, the crunch of the crust and the softness of the bread providing a satisfying contrast. She chewed slowly, her eyes scanning the street ahead of her as she made her way to the bus stop.
Sara had a big interview at NovaTech Inc., a leading technology firm, for the position of Senior Business Analyst. She had graduated at the top of her class from the University of Tehran with a degree in Business Administration and had high expectations for her career.
Born and raised in Tehran, Sara had always been driven to succeed. Her parents, though loving and supportive, were not wealthy, and Sara had worked hard to secure scholarships and part-time jobs to fund her education. After completing her degree, she had decided to take a chance and move to America, hoping to find better job opportunities and a brighter future.
Sara's last job had been at a prestigious financial firm, where she had been earning a good salary, but the workload had been overwhelming, and the CEO had made her feel uncomfortable with his constant attention. Despite her best efforts, she had found it difficult to cope with the stress and had eventually decided to quit.
That had been three months ago, and since then, Sara had been searching for a new job, but it hadn't been easy. Her old boss, Mr. Franklin Jenkins, had been reluctant to give her a good reference, despite her excellent performance, and this had made it harder for her to land interviews.
But Sara was determined and persistent, and she had finally managed to secure an interview at NovaTech Inc. She was excited about the opportunity and was confident that her skills and experience made her a strong candidate for the position.
Sara's eyes scanned the bus as she rode to her interview, her mind racing with thoughts of her desperate need for a job. It had been three long months since she'd quit her last position, and her savings were dwindling rapidly. She'd applied to countless jobs, but so far, nothing had panned out.
As she gazed out the window, Sara felt a sense of anxiety wash over her. She couldn't afford to be picky, not now. She needed a job, any job, to pay her bills and keep a roof over her head. The thought of having to move back in with her parents in Tehran was unbearable. She'd come to America to build a better life for herself, not to fail.
Sara's hands clenched into fists as she thought about her old boss, Mr. Jenkins, and how he'd refused to give her a good reference. It was unfair, and it had made her job search so much harder. But she couldn't let that hold her back. She had to keep pushing forward, no matter what.
The bus pulled up to Sara's stop, and she stood up, smoothing out her skirt and taking a deep breath. It was time to put on a confident face and nail this interview. She had to get this job. Her future depended on it.
Sean read the title out loud, "Severance Agreement? Ophie, you still haven't forgiven us…""Why should I forgive you?" My gaze swept over their faces, cold and unflinching. "What right do you have to ask for forgiveness? When you beat me up, locked me away, and nearly got me killed, did any of you ever think about forgiveness? Whether you sign it or not, you're dead to me either way. "And if you ever try to harass me again, I swear I'll do everything in my power to make sure neither the Cavanaughs nor the Shaws ever have another peaceful day."Given my current identity and status, I could make it happen.I'd already died once. Naturally, I hadn't returned to this house unprepared.The Cavanaughs and the Shaws were already in dire financial straits. Alexia had singlehandedly managed to tear both families apart.Three years was more than enough to grind away what little affection and patience they had left, until everything collapsed.I'd returned to add fuel to the fire. I a
At the Cavanaugh residence, Wesley's hair had turned almost completely white, and his back was hunched as if years of stress had aged him overnight.Sean, once strong and broad-shouldered, now looked gaunt, his eyes sunken as if he hadn't slept in years.Even Marcus was there, for reasons I couldn’t immediately understand.The three of them froze when they saw me. They took a step back, rubbing their eyes in shock.Marcus was the first to react. He stepped forward, grabbed my hand, and choked up when he saw the unique birthmark on my wrist."Ophie… it really is you! You're alive! I knew you wouldn't leave me like that! Where have you been all these years? I've missed you so much…"Sean stepped forward, his eyes brimming with tears. "Ophie, it's so good to have you back. We've been thinking about you nonstop for the past three years. Why didn't you come home? Do you know how many tears we've shed for you? Dad even ended up in the hospital for two weeks because of you!"Wesley sta
Three years later, at Levaine National Opera House, when the judges announced Ophelia Cavanaugh as the gold medalist, Jacqueline and I hugged each other, tears streaming down our faces.Only I truly understood the pain and struggle I'd endured the past three years. When I first went abroad, even though Jacqueline had arranged the best doctors for me, battling cancer was far from easy.I wanted to get back on stage as fast as possible, so I threw myself into treatment, even experimenting with cutting-edge anti-cancer drugs.The side effects hit me hard. I gained weight, lost a lot of hair, and couldn't eat. At my worst, I lay in bed for nearly ten days with tubes hooked up everywhere.All of us thought I wouldn't make it.Yet I woke up.From that moment, my health improved day by day, until I finally stepped back into the dance studio.I still couldn't believe it.The doctor's words echoed in my mind. "Congratulations, Ophelia. From now on, you can live like a normal person!"S
Ophelia's First-Person Point of ViewI only learned about the chaos in my family afterward.Because I wasn't dead.I'd been saved by Jacqueline Schmidt, the restaurant owner's daughter. She found me clinging to life by a thread and rushed me to the hospital. She even handled the cemetery arrangements to mislead my family.I spent a full seven days in the hospital before my condition stabilized."Ms. Cavanaugh, your condition is extremely rare. If you actively undergo treatment, there's a slim chance of recovery…"The doctor's voice carried a hint of excitement. I cut him off. "Thank you, doctor. That won't be necessary."I'd always been unlucky. A slim chance of recovery? For me, that might as well have been zero.I had no friends. My family and the people I once loved despised and abandoned me.The favoritism, the betrayal, the suffocating pain—those wounds were impossible to erase. They would stay with me forever.I had no attachment to this world. I'd already lived more th
Sean staggered in shock before he grabbed the server by the collar, his voice sharp. "What did you say? Say it again!"Marcus snatched the medical report. He was rendered speechless as he stared at the name on it in shock. The server trembled. "The woman with late-stage cancer was trapped in the
Marcus said in a hoarse voice, "I don't believe it! I never even got to see Ophie in a wedding dress. She loved me so much. How could she just leave me like this?"He grabbed Sean by the collar, his eyes blazing. "Why did you lock her up in the restaurant all night? Did you even know she was sick?












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