Chapter 2

The next morning, I woke to Mom laughing on the phone.

"That's right. Amelia's applying for Halston.

"She's always made us proud. After all these years of worrying about her, Fabian and I can finally breathe easy."

I stepped into the living room. The second she saw me, her smile vanished.

She covered the phone. "Don't say anything."

I stared at her. "I'm the one who will get into Halston. So are you talking about me?"

Mom frowned. "Do you have to start drama this early?"

Dad sat at the table without even looking up. "We made ourselves clear last night. Starting today, you're Emily. Emily is Amelia."

"I don't agree."

The room went silent.

Mom hung up and walked over.

"Give me your ID, SAT admission ticket, and bank card."

I froze. "What are you doing?"

"I'm keeping them for now. That way, you won't do anything impulsive and make this family regret it."

I stepped back. "Those are mine."

Her eyes instantly filled with tears. "So you don't trust me now?

"You really think I'd hurt you?"

This from the woman who'd painted me as Emily, the family loser, in the group chat last night.

Kenneth came out of his room and headed straight into mine.

By the time I ran after him, he was already digging through my backpack.

"Kenneth!"

I lunged for my bag.

Kenneth shoved me back.

My elbow slammed into the desk, pain shooting up my arm.

He stared at me. "If you've got nothing to hide, what are you so scared of?"

In the end, they took my ID and bank card.

I only managed to slip my phone and a few dollars into my pajama pocket.

Dad locked everything in a drawer.

"Starting today, no more allowance.

"You'll get it back when you come to your senses."

I looked at him. "You're forcing me."

He finally met my eyes.

"I'm teaching you a lesson."

That morning, Kenneth carried a stack of papers into Emily's room.

I recognized them instantly.

My competition certificates. My college essays. Halston's admissions brochure.

I rushed after him.

"Give those back."

Kenneth blocked the door.

"Emily needs to know your background.

"Otherwise, when she goes to Halston as Amelia Aerstall, she'll mess up if anyone asks questions."

I stared at him. "She's not Amelia Aerstall."

He looked annoyed. "That's why she has to learn."

Inside, Emily sat at my desk wearing my new white dress.

I'd saved three months of lunch money for it. I was supposed to wear it on my first day at Halston.

She studied herself in the mirror.

"Amelia... do I look like you?"

I walked over, my voice cold.

"Take it off."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I just wanted to get used to being Amelia Aerstall."

Mom heard us and rushed in. "You're seriously fighting over a dress?

"Emily's taking your place at Halston and dealing with all that pressure, and you're still being this petty?"

I laughed bitterly. "For me?"

No one seemed to understand how insane this was.

That afternoon, I went back to my room to text my homeroom teacher.

I'd barely typed a few words when the door opened.

Mom stood there, watching me.

"Who are you texting?"

I flipped my phone facedown.

She walked in and lowered her voice. "What happens in this house stays in this house.

"If your teacher finds out, Emily's life will be ruined."

"What about mine?"

Mom went quiet for a second.

Then she said, "You're stronger than she is."

That night, I got a delivery alert.

My acceptance letter had arrived.

I rushed to the front door.

The package was gone.

Mom claimed she hadn't seen it.

Kenneth said I was imagining things.

Late that night, Emily's bedroom door was cracked open.

Through the gap, I spotted the corner of a delivery envelope.

My acceptance letter sat on her desk.

Right there on the front:

[Amelia Aerstall.]

Emily sat under the lamp, practicing the same signature over and over.

[Amelia Aerstall.]

[Amelia Aerstall.]

[Amelia Aerstall.]

That's when it finally hit me.

They weren't just trying to steal my spot at Halston.