Chapter 3

Three days before the Recognition Ceremony, Mother caught me off guard by asking me to meet her for afternoon tea at the lakeside lodge.

“Just you and me,” she said. “I thought we could talk about what you want to do after Recognition.”

I knew better than to make too much of it.

Still, something small and hopeful stirred inside me.

Maybe this time, she actually wanted to know what I wanted.

I booked a table by the windows for two the next afternoon.

I made sure to get the table with the best view of Blackthorn Lake.

Mother loved watching the mountains reflected on the water, and I wanted everything to be just the way she liked it.

I arrived half an hour early.

I ordered the wild-berry scones Mother always liked and asked them to bring out her favorite tea when she arrived.

Then I waited.

Half an hour after our reservation, I texted her.

An hour later, I called.

Two hours later, a server came by and quietly replaced the pot of tea that had gone cold.

By the fourth hour, almost every table around me had turned over at least once.

Mother still hadn’t come.

At 6:47, my phone finally lit up.

A message from her.

Something came up. We’ll do this another day.

Before I could answer, a photo appeared in the Blackthorn family group chat.

Sienna had sent it.

Look what Mom helped me choose for Recognition. Aren’t they perfect?

She was holding up both hands.

Her nails were painted a pale moon-white, tiny crystals arranged along each one like scattered stars.

Mother replied first.

Perfect for my beautiful girl.

Rowan answered seconds later.

They look good on you.

Even Father responded.

Very elegant.

I stared at the picture until the crystals blurred.

So that was the emergency.

Mother had left me waiting at the lodge for four hours because Sienna needed her help choosing a manicure for Recognition.

I should have known better.

But some stupid part of me had believed her when she said she wanted to talk about what came next for me.

I stayed long enough to finish the food I had ordered for both of us.

Then I drove home alone.

The living room looked like Recognition preparations had exploded across it.

Garment bags covered one sofa. Several pairs of shoes were lined up beside Sienna’s gowns.

An old Blackthorn heirloom necklace lay open on the coffee table. Of course, it belonged to Sienna.

Mother stood behind Sienna, holding different ceremonial wraps against her shoulders.

She looked up as soon as I walked in.

“Where have you been? The ceremony is three days away, and you haven’t helped with anything.”

“I waited for you for four hours.”

Mother’s face changed immediately.

“I told you something came up. I’ve spent the entire day getting things ready for Recognition, and you walk in here looking for another reason to be upset with me.”

My eyes dropped to Sienna’s freshly jeweled nails.

“Her manicure was the emergency?”

Rowan stood from the sofa.

“We’ve been busy all day. Everything for Recognition has been handled, including your things.”

His voice sharpened.

“Do you seriously expect Mom to drop everything just so you can sit around for hours talking about yourself?”

The room went quiet.

Sienna slowly lowered her hands.

“Rowan, stop,” she said softly. “Aria’s right. Mom should have gone. My appointment wasn’t that important.”

But she had let Mother stay with her anyway.

Mother’s lips tightened.

“I was trying to make sure Recognition was perfect for both of you. Somehow, no matter what I do, Aria always finds a reason to make me feel like I failed her.”

Father looked at me, disappointment settling across his face.

“That’s enough, Aria. Your mother has been working all day. The least you could do is appreciate it.”

And just like that, I was the one who had ruined the evening.

All I had done was say what happened.

Before, I would have apologized.

I would have found some way to convince them—and myself—that I had overreacted.

That night, I was too tired.

“All right.”

I turned and went upstairs.

Two things were waiting on my bed.

A pair of ceremonial gloves.

And a cream-colored Recognition wrap I recognized immediately.

It belonged to Sienna.

She had worn it once and said the embroidery made her look like somebody’s grandmother.

Apparently, it was mine now.

That was everything Mother had “spent the entire day getting things ready” for me.

I picked it up and traced the embroidered Blackthorn crest along the edge.

For years, I had believed there was some version of me they would finally choose.

If I became stronger. If I achieved more.

Or, if I needed less.

Eventually, they would have to see me.

Standing there with Sienna’s discarded wrap in my hands, I finally understood.

They had seen me all along.

They had simply decided I was the daughter who could handle being overlooked.