Chapter 3

The next day, our relatives showed up with flowers and gifts, already grinning.

"Where's Amelia? Where's our future Halston student?"

Mom lit up and pulled Emily out of her room.

She wore my white dress, her hair styled exactly like mine.

Mom patted her hand. "Amelia, say hi."

Emily ducked her head.

But she didn't correct them.

Everyone crowded around her.

"Amelia really made you proud."

"Halston? She's putting the Aerstalls on the map."

"I always knew Amelia would go far."

I stood off to the side like I wasn't even there.

Finally, one of my aunts noticed me.

"So how did Emily do?"

Mom's smile froze for half a second.

"Emily didn't do well this time. She's pretty upset, so let's not bring it up."

I opened my mouth, but Dad shot me a look.

Cold. Sharp.

A warning not to embarrass them.

Mom pulled me into the kitchen and shoved a fruit tray into my hands.

"Take this out and get everyone drinks."

I stared at her. "Isn't today supposed to be about me?"

Her face darkened. "Do you have to embarrass us in front of the family?"

Then she lowered her voice. "You're Emily now. Don't forget it."

I carried the fruit tray back out.

Everyone was still praising Emily.

No.

They were praising "Amelia Aerstall."

One by one, they handed me their empty cups.

"Emily, refill this?"

"Emily, pass the fruit knife."

"Emily, your sister really made this family proud."

I kept my head down and did whatever they asked.

I felt like a waitress at my own celebration.

Everything I'd worked for was being handed to Emily.

Someone asked about her study habits.

Kenneth smiled.

"Amelia's always been disciplined. Unlike Emily, who's emotionally unstable.

"Maybe this score will teach her a lesson."

I shot him a look.

He acted like I wasn't even there.

"You can't rely on one lucky break. Consistency matters."

Everyone nodded.

"That's true. Amelia's always been exceptional."

My grip tightened around the glass until my knuckles went white.

A 1580.

Somehow, that had become proof of Emily's years of hard work.

And I'd become the unstable screwup.

One of my cousins spotted the math competition medal on the wall.

"Did Amelia win first place in that too?"

I'd earned it junior year.

Emily opened her mouth.

But Mom beat her to it.

"She did. All those awards belong to Amelia."

Emily glanced at me.

Just once.

Then she ducked her head with a shy smile.

That's when I got it.

She wasn't staying quiet because they were forcing her.

She was getting comfortable being Amelia Aerstall.

Later, one of our relatives tried to comfort me.

"Emily, it's okay if you bombed the SAT. You can still do well at a regular college."

I set down my glass.

"I didn't bomb the SAT."

The living room went dead silent.

Mom's face changed instantly.

Kenneth shot to his feet, clearly pissed.

"What is your problem now?"

Dad's voice went cold. "Emily, apologize."

He said Emily on purpose.

I didn't move.

Dad turned to everyone else with a tight smile.

"She didn't take her score well. She's not thinking straight."

Mom instantly started crying.

"She's always been proud. She just can't accept that her sister did better."

The way everyone looked at me changed.

No one believed me.

Why would they?

My parents, my brother, and my sister were all against me.

After everyone left, Gideon showed up with a stack of Halston prep materials for Amelia.

He pulled me onto the balcony and lowered his voice. "I know you feel like it's unfair. But Emily can't handle any more stress right now. Just help her this once."

I stared at him.

"You think she should take my name too?"

He went quiet for a second.

"You're twins. There's no reason to draw such a hard line."

Whatever feelings I'd had for him since we were kids died right there.

That night, I passed Dad's study and heard him booking a hotel.

"The party theme should be: Congratulations to Amelia Aerstall on Getting Into Halston."

Mom spoke beside him.

"Don't mention Emily. We don't want to embarrass the poor girl."

I stood outside the door, ice spreading through me.

They weren't just stealing my name.

They were going to turn me into Emily in front of everyone.