The ghost from the past

"Victor! Long time no see!" they shouted over the engine roar.

 

"The last two people to the finish line have to kiss each other!" Victoria shouted back.

 

The group roared with laughter, joined the race, and cheered as they sped down the open road together.

“Hey, you always win; give someone else a chance to shine!” someone shouted.

“Never,” Victor replied.

“I’m heading out,” she said, speeding off before anyone could answer.

She had always slipped away to the countryside whenever a mission brought her into town; that's how she’d met these bikers in the first place. But now that she was back as Victoria, keeping her distance was the only smart move.

Lying on the couch, she switched on the TV only to be met with Cordelia’s advertisement.

Watching how glorious Cordelia had become left her completely numb. In the past, she would have thrown a tantrum at her father and taken it out on everyone. Now, looking back at that naive girl, her heart just felt blank.

Well, I’ll be seeing you soon, she thought.

The next day, Victoria did light makeup and changed into a short skirt with a slit. Today was audition day, and she was going to crash it. She had already filled out the application herself, subtly sliding her name onto the roster at her father’s company. Cordelia was also auditioning, aiming for the main lead in their new series, No Love.

Standing in front of the massive building that had nurtured one daughter while abandoning the other, Victoria walked in with effortless elegance.

“Excuse me, which room is the audition in?” she asked a girl passing by.

“Third floor!”

Victoria headed upstairs and stepped inside the waiting area.

“Name?” a assistant stopped her.

“Victoria Brown,” she replied, using her mother’s maiden name.

“Take this,” the assistant said, handing her a script.

Just as Victoria sat down, a wave of excitement rippled through the doorway.

“Cordelia’s here!”

“Wow, she’s even prettier in person!”

Cordelia strutted into the room like she owned the place, sweeping her gaze over the crowd as if deciding who was worthy enough to play her supporting character. But the moment her eyes locked with Victoria’s, she froze, recognizing the striking resemblance to her step-sister.

Not wanting the crowd to notice her slip, Cordelia turned and abruptly walked out. But Victoria caught the flash of shock on her face, knowing Cordelia had just realized the truth.

Outside, Cordelia lost her cool. Her manager had hinted that Victoria was back, but she hadn't taken it seriously. Now, after seeing her looking even more stunning than before, rage took over.

She gripped her phone and dialed her mother.

“Mom, Victoria is back! Did you know?!” she almost shouted into the receiver.

“So what if she is?” her mother replied coolly. “Your father doesn’t know either.”

Hanging up, Cordelia whirled around to face her manager. “Make sure she doesn’t get that role.”

Without waiting for an answer, she turned on her heel and stormed toward her father’s office.

“Dad, did you know that Victoria is back?!” Cordelia demanded, storming into the office.

Sitting back in his chair, her father stared at her, completely unaware. “Victoria is back?” he asked, taken aback.

He pulled out his phone and made a quick call, only to find out she had been discharged and released a long time ago.

“Where is she?” he muttered, anger flaring. “That girl comes back and doesn't even bother to visit her own father? Not even her grandfather? Unfilial!”

Watching the bitter resentment twist across her father's face, Cordelia smiled.

Back in the audition room, it was Victoria’s turn. Her entrance instantly commanded the room, pulling everyone’s attention directly to her.

Yet, when she took the floor, the judging panel barely bothered to look up. Seeing them ignore her made a spark of temper flare beneath her cool exterior.

Scanning the script, she saw she could choose her own performance method, so she chose to dance.

When her name was called, she walked onto the podium and waited for the signal. The music swelled, vulnerable, soft, and tragic. To tap into that raw emotion, Victoria closed her eyes and thought of her mother. Instantly, her entire aura shifted. She slipped seamlessly into the character, delivering a spellbinding performance that left the judges speechless.

As soon as she finished and walked out, Cordelia was already waiting in the hallway.

“Sister...” Cordelia called softly, pouting with performative sadness. “Why didn’t you tell me you were back? Do you still resent me? Do you still think I’m a bad person?”

In the past, Victoria would have taken the bait and argued. Now, she just gave a dry, indifferent smirk.

“No. It just slipped my mind,” Victoria replied coolly, stepping right past her and leaving Cordelia stranded with her lapdogs.

Determined not to let her slip away, Cordelia called out, “Sister! I already told everyone at home that you’re back. Why don’t we have dinner together tonight? It’s been so long.” She closed the distance between them, putting on a sweet smile.

“Sure, I’ll come,” Victoria said evenly, walking away without even turning to look back.

The moment Victoria was out of sight, Maria spoke up. “How is she so pretty? Are you sure she didn’t get surgery?”

Cordelia whipped around with a deadly glare, shutting Maria up instantly. Maria lowered her head, terrified.

“I gave you one simple job, and you couldn’t even handle it,” Cordelia hissed, her voice dripping with venom. “Follow her closely. Give me every detail about her life and everyone she talks to. Fail me again, and you’ll be right back on the streets sucking dicks.”

Making her way outside, Cordelia spotted Julian waiting for her by the car. Seeing him brought an instant surge of satisfaction; at least I successfully won him.

She smiled bright and wide as he opened his arms to pull her into a hug, dropping a kiss on her cheek. The onlookers cheered at the sweet display.

Knowing Julian would eventually find out Victoria was back, Cordelia decided to break the news herself first to test his reaction.

“Babe… my step-sister is back,” Cordelia murmured, her eyes instantly brimming with tears. “She’s still so angry with me and refuses to talk. What should I do?”

“Hey, it’s okay, babe,” Julian soothed, taking her hand and brushing a soft kiss over her knuckles. “I’ll track her down and talk to her for you. Now that we’re officially together, she’ll just have to understand.”

Cordelia beamed, hiding a triumphant smile against his chest.