REVENGE OF THE PHANTOM HEIRESS

"You're not eating," Gina said, poking at her scrambled eggs. "Mom will notice if you don't eat her special breakfast."

Jezza looked down at her untouched plate. The eggs were perfect. The toast was golden. The orange juice sparkled in crystal glasses. Everything looked beautiful, just like Margaret wanted.

"I'm just nervous," Jezza said. "Big day today."

Marcus laughed from across the table. "It's just an engagement party. You act like you're getting married right now."

"Don't tease her," Gina hit her brother's arm. "She's allowed to be nervous."

Jezza smiled at her step-siblings. They were the only family who actually felt like family. Marcus and Gina never made her feel like an outsider, even when their mother did.

"Where is everyone else?" Jezza asked.

"Mom's on a call with the party planner," Marcus said. "She wants everything perfect for tonight."

"And Nessa?"

"Still sleeping. She was out late again."

The dining room door opened. Margaret walked in wearing a silk robe and a bright smile.

"Good morning, darlings," Margaret said. She kissed Gina and Marcus on their heads. Then she looked at Jezza. "How's our bride-to-be feeling?"

"Good," Jezza said. "I'm a little nervous."

"That's normal. Every bride feels nervous." Margaret sat down and poured herself coffee. "Though some brides have more to be nervous about than others."

Gina frowned. "What does that mean, Mom?"

"Nothing, sweetheart. Just wedding talk." Margaret sipped her coffee. "Jezza, have you spoken to Alex this morning?"

"He texted. He's getting ready."

"Such a handsome man. And so... practical."

Something cold moved through Jezza's chest. "Practical?"

"Well, yes. He knows what he wants. He knows how to get it." Margaret's smile was sharp. "That's important for a husband."

Marcus looked between them. "Mom, you're being weird."

"Am I?" Margaret laughed. "I'm just excited for tonight. Everything will finally be the way it should be."

The way it should be. The words made Jezza's stomach turn.

"I should get ready," Jezza said, standing up.

"Eat your breakfast first," Margaret said. Her voice was sweet, but her eyes were cold. "You need your strength for tonight."

"I'm not really hungry."

"Sit down, Jezza."

The command was quiet, but everyone heard it. Gina looked confused. Marcus put down his fork.

"Mom," Gina started.

"Eat," Margaret said to Jezza. "Now."

Jezza sat back down. She took a bite of eggs. They tasted wrong, bitter under the salt and butter. But Margaret was watching her with those cold blue eyes.

"All of it," Margaret said.

Jezza ate. The eggs sat heavy in her stomach. The orange juice tasted metallic. By the time she finished, she felt sick.

"There," Margaret said. "Now you can go get ready. The stylists will be here at noon."

Jezza stood on shaking legs. "I think I need some air first."

"You need to prepare. This is your big day." Margaret's smile was perfect and terrible. "The day you get everything you deserve."

---

Hours later, Jezza stood in her bedroom mirror. The stylists had left. Her hair was perfect. Her makeup was flawless. The ivory silk dress cost more than most people made in a year.

She looked like a princess. She felt like a prisoner.

"You look beautiful," Gina said from the doorway. She wore a soft pink dress that made her look younger than twenty.

"Thank you." Jezza turned from the mirror. "Gina, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Do you think Alex loves me?"

Gina was quiet for too long. "Why would you ask that?"

"Just... things he says sometimes. The way he looks at me. Like I'm something he owns instead of someone he loves."

"Jezza—"

"And your mother. She's been acting strange all week. Stranger than usual."

Gina sat on the bed. "Mom's always planning something. You know that."

"But this feels different."

"Different how?"

"Like she's waiting for something to happen. Something bad."

Gina reached for Jezza's hand. "You're just nervous. Wedding nerves make everything seem scary."

"Maybe." But Jezza didn't believe it.

A knock on the door interrupted them. Nessa walked in without waiting for an answer. She wore a black dress that hugged every curve. Her dark hair was swept up, showing off diamond earrings.

"The guests are arriving," Nessa said. "Alex is asking for you."

"I'll be down in a minute."

"He seems impatient." Nessa smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You shouldn't keep your fiancé waiting. Men don't like that."

"Since when do you give relationship advice?" Gina asked.

"Since I started paying attention to what men really want." Nessa's smile grew wider. "Some women learn the hard way."

She left as suddenly as she'd come.

"She's in a weird mood too," Gina said.

"Everyone's in a weird mood." Jezza took a deep breath. "Except you and Marcus."

"We're just happy for you."

"Are you?" Jezza looked at her step-sister. "Really?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't we be?"

"Because maybe you see what I see. Maybe you know something's wrong."

Gina was quiet again. Then she said, "Do you want to talk to Marcus? He's good at figuring things out."

"No time. I have to go down."

"Jezza, wait." Gina caught her arm. "If something feels wrong, trust that feeling. Mom always says women's instincts are usually right."

"Your mom says a lot of things."

"This time she might be telling the truth."

---

The ballroom was full of New York's richest people. Crystal chandeliers threw light across silk dresses and expensive suits. Everyone looked perfect. Everyone smiled and laughed and drank champagne.

But something felt wrong about all of it.

"There she is," Alex appeared at her side. He wore a black tuxedo that made him look like a movie star. His smile was bright and perfect. "My beautiful fiancée."

He kissed her cheek. His lips were cold.

"You look handsome," Jezza said.

"Not as beautiful as you." His arm went around her waist. His fingers pressed too hard against her ribs. "Ready to celebrate our future?"

"Of course."

But she wasn't. Every instinct screamed that something was wrong.

"Alex, darling," Mrs. Van Der Berg appeared beside them. She was one of Margaret's friends, all pearls and fake smiles. "You must be so excited."

"Very excited," Alex said. "Tonight changes everything."

Changes everything. Not everything starts or begins. Changes everything.

Like things were ending instead of starting.

"Jezza looks lovely," Mrs. Van Der Berg continued. "Though a bit pale. Are you feeling well, dear?"

"Just tired," Jezza said.

"Wedding planning is exhausting," Alex said. "But it's worth it for the result."

Again, that strange way of talking. Like the wedding wasn't about love or happiness. Like it was about getting a result.

"There's my daughter," Harold Clarksville's warm voice cut through the crowd. Jezza's father appeared, tall and solid and real. He hugged her tight, and for a moment, everything felt safe.

"Dad," she whispered.

"You look just like your mother," he said. His eyes were wet with happy tears. "Elena would be so proud."

"Don't make her cry," Margaret appeared with champagne glasses. "She'll ruin her makeup."

Margaret handed one glass to Jezza and kept one for herself.

"Time for a toast," Margaret announced.

People gathered around them. Nessa appeared on one side. Marcus and Gina on the other. Alex's arm tightened around Jezza's waist.

"To get exactly what you deserve," Margaret said, raising her glass.

The words hit like cold water. Exactly what you deserve. Not what you want. Not what you dream of. What you deserve.

Like punishment.

Jezza looked at the champagne in her hand. It looked normal, but something about Margaret's eager expression made alarm bells ring in her head.

"I don't think I should drink," Jezza said. "I've had enough alcohol today."

"Nonsense," Margaret's fingers wrapped around Jezza's wrist. "It's your engagement party. One toast won't hurt."

Marcus stepped forward. "Maybe I should talk to Jezza privately first—"

"After the toast," Margaret snapped. "Family traditions matter."

Everyone was watching now. Waiting. Even the servers had stopped moving.

Harold raised his glass with tears of joy in his eyes. He saw his daughter surrounded by family, celebrating love. He had no idea what was really happening.

For her father's sake, Jezza raised the champagne to her lips.

It tasted wrong. Bitter under the bubbles. Metallic, like blood.

"Feeling alright?" Alex asked, but his concern sounded fake.

The room started to blur. Faces became unclear. Voices sounded far away.

"I need to sit down," Jezza said, but her words came out wrong.

Alex caught her as she fell. "Too much excitement," he told the worried crowd. "She just needs air."

"Should we call a doctor?" someone asked.

"No need," Alex said. "I'll take care of her."

As darkness closed in, Jezza saw Margaret's face above her. For just a second, the fake concern disappeared. Something cold and satisfied took its place.

"Finally," Margaret whispered. Only Jezza could hear. "Finally, you're getting exactly what you deserve."

The last thing Jezza saw was Nessa's terrible, victorious smile.

Then Alex was carrying her away from the light and music and her father's confused panic.

Her engagement ring slipped from her numb finger. It hit the floor with the sound of breaking crystal.

But Jezza was already gone.