Chapter 2

By then, Theo had tried calling me four times, but I hadn't answered.

I floated over to him. He looked panicked, his brow furrowed.

He took off his badge, his face turning pale. "Uncle Paolo, has something happened to Daisy? I'm going to North Hill to find her right now."

Dad blocked his way, his face set. "This is the most important moment of your life. Daisy has spent 13 years taking the hits meant for you. Wasn't it all for today? Just wait a little longer. She'll be fine even if she gets back a little late."

I floated to Dad's side and suddenly wanted to ask him one thing: If Theo were the one who'd gone missing today, would you still say it was no big deal?

Mom agreed. "Taking the hits meant for you is a blessing for Daisy. She's come home on her own with worse injuries before. Don't delay the succession ceremony because of her."

Dad added calmly, "No one else matters more than you today. If she can't hold out through this, then 13 years of training were for nothing."

Just wait a little longer.

I'd heard those words over and over throughout my childhood.

On my 12th birthday, the only thing I asked Mom for was a tiny strawberry cake, no bigger than my hand.

Mom said yes without really thinking about it, but I was happy all day.

That evening, word came that someone was planning to attack Theo on his way home from school.

Ten minutes later, I was dressed in my cousin's school uniform and riding in his car through the school's front gate.

Mom and Dad took the real Theo out through the back entrance themselves.

I led the people tailing me around the city for four hours, and I didn't go home until I knew my cousin was safe.

By then it was almost midnight.

The first thing I did was run to the kitchen. The cake was gone. All that was left was a crushed box in the trash.

A maid said, "Your mother said the strawberry cake would go bad if it sat too long, so she told me to throw it out."

I didn't cry. I just fished the empty box out, wiped it clean, and hid it in my drawer.

It was the only proof I had that Mom had promised me anything for my birthday that year.

I still went to find Mom. She was sitting by Theo's bed. My cousin had only been a little shaken up, and he was holding a glass of milk she'd warmed for him herself.

I reminded her quietly, "Mom, today's my birthday."

She frowned. "Theo almost got hurt today, and all you can think about is your birthday? Grow up."

I opened my mouth. I wanted to tell her I'd just spent four hours being hunted too. But in the end, I said nothing.

The next day, the family threw a small party. Dad said it was to help Theo get over the scare.

I sat at the top of the stairs, listening as Mom, Dad, and the members of the main branch celebrated Theo's safety.

A maid brought me a leftover slice of strawberry cake. I didn't eat it.

It was never about the cake. I just wanted to know if Mom and Dad could put me before Theo, even once.

But the answer was always no. Dad cut my long hair short because I had to look exactly like Theo. Mom threw out all my favorite dresses because "Theo would never wear anything like that." They were even willing to sacrifice my life for him.

Dad always told me my job wouldn't be done until Theo officially took over the family.

That was why I'd been so eager for this day to come.

I thought I had my whole life ahead of me. Once I was no longer Theo's stand-in, Mom and Dad would finally get to know the real Daisy instead of seeing me as nothing more than his double.

But I died on the very last day.