Chapter 4: My Life

I woke up feeling like my head was being split in two. It was so heavy, and it felt like I couldn’t even open my eyes.

I felt like I’d been run over by a truck.

“Ouch…” I groaned, pressing a hand to my forehead.

I swear I’m never drinking again!

But slowly, the memories of yesterday started coming back. I forced my eyes open and stared at the ceiling.

Right. My golden sister stole my paintings.

How dare she?

But what could I even do? Our parents would just take her side — they always did — no matter how hard I fought.

Besides, it was just a painting. I could always make more. But it still hurt.

Adrian gave them to her, knowing how much those paintings meant to me. Did I really mean so little to him?

My thoughts were cut off when my phone started ringing. Eyes still shut, I reached out to my bedside table and answered without even checking who was calling.

“Hello?” I croaked.

“Eloise! Where the hell are you?! Did you forget I told you to come home today?!”

My entire body jolted awake at the sound of my mother’s angry voice. I forced my eyes open and sat up in bed.

“Mom! No—I mean, I’m sorry! I’m coming!” I stammered.

“You better be! Your father’s waiting too!” she snapped.

That made me pause. Dad was there? That could only mean one thing — whatever this was about, it was serious.

“Get here. Now!” she ordered before hanging up.

I sighed, lowering my phone.

I didn’t have a choice — I had to go.

After getting ready, I headed out to the Everhart estate. I kept it casual — just a simple t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers.

I didn’t bother with makeup. Celeste would never let me hear the end of it if I looked prettier than her.

The Everhart estate.

The tall, imposing walls screamed wealth and power. But it never felt like home.

I walked through the long driveway quietly. When I stepped into the mansion, the first thing I saw was Mom and Celeste sitting on the long couch in the living room, both looking serious and agitated.

My father — Simeon Everhart — sat on a separate chair, his face stern and his eyes fixed on his newspaper.

I took a deep breath and cleared my throat.

“Mom. Dad. I’m here.”

Mom and Celeste looked up.

Celeste immediately rolled her eyes when she saw me.

“Finally,” she muttered.

“Come in and sit down, Eloise!” Mom commanded.

I swallowed hard and walked in, taking a seat across from them.

“Is there a problem, Mom? Why did you need me here?” I asked, trying to keep my voice calm.

Mom glanced at Dad, but he kept his eyes on his newspaper, so she looked back at me.

“Yes. We need you again,” she said, her voice cold and steady. “You’re going to marry Sebastian Whitmore next week.”

I froze.

“You will marry him instead of your sister,” she added without a hint of hesitation.

It felt like the world went silent.

I’d done everything they asked because I owed them — because they’d helped me so much.

They were still helping me now.

I’d been Celeste’s stand-in whenever they needed me, pretending to be her when it was convenient.

But marrying someone in her place?

“No!” The word burst out of me as I shot to my feet, staring at them in disbelief.

Mom and Celeste exchanged glances.

Celeste’s eyes darkened with fury. She stood and marched toward me — and before I could react, she slapped me. Hard.

The sting bloomed across my cheek, and I stared at her, stunned.

“How dare you say no?! This is your job in this family, Eloise! Don’t you forget it!” she hissed.

I clutched my cheek, my heart pounding with shock and anger.

“Enough, Celeste! Sit down!” Mom ordered.

I forced myself to take a deep breath, trying to stay calm.

“I know my place, Celeste. I agreed to this arrangement — to stand in for you when needed. But that doesn’t mean I’ll marry someone in your place!” I shot back.

“You—”

“Stop,” Mom cut her off sharply.

Mom turned her cold gaze on me. “Do you really think you have a choice, Eloise? You’re your sister’s substitute. You will do this. Besides, Sebastian Whitmore is rumored to be impotent. You’ll be perfectly safe — he won’t touch you.”

But that didn’t make me feel any better. This was my life they were deciding for me like it was nothing.

I turned to Dad, silently begging him to intervene — to help me. But he just kept reading his newspaper like we weren’t even there.

Celeste laughed. “It’s true! People say he’s gay, too. So, sis — you can still live your life however you want. Don’t worry.”

I glared at her.

“And why don’t you do it, then? You’re the one he’s supposed to marry — why does it have to be me?!”

I could take a lot — but not this.

“Fine!” Mom snapped. “But can you live with yourself knowing your beloved orphanage will lose its sponsor? That Mother Celine — who’s still in the hospital — won’t get the treatment she needs because of your selfishness?”

The words hit like a punch to the gut.

The orphanage. The staff. Mother Celine.

If I refused, they would all suffer.

Mom’s voice softened — but her words cut even deeper. “She won’t survive without our support, Eloise.”

My heart shattered. Tears burned my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

I didn’t have a choice. Not really.

The moment I agreed to this arrangement, I lost my freedom. And now, it would be gone for good.

But I wouldn’t let this be the end of my story.

No — I’d use this opportunity to make them pay.

All the pain they’d caused — the way Celeste had taken everything from me.

My life. My boyfriend. My designs. My paintings.

And now, this.

You made a mistake asking me to take your place this time, Celeste.