Chapter 2

In three days, Summer and I would both celebrate our birthdays.

Eighteen years ago, in Cascade City Hospital, Summer and I were mixed up and taken home by the wrong families. That mix-up started my 18-year-long nightmare. My adoptive father looked down on me, and my adoptive mother scolded me every single day...

Mom wheeled in a giant mango cake to the party venue, but only Summer's name was on it. My name was missing, and I could not even eat mangoes without having an allergic reaction.

Dad put Grandma's pink diamond tiara on Summer's head and said, "Happy 18th birthday, Princess Summer! We're so lucky for the Moon Goddess' mix-up that brought us a daughter like you."

Mom added, "If the healer hadn't made that mistake, we wouldn't have found our Summer. Thank goodness for that mistake!"

My parents were thankful for the very incident that made my life so hard.

I watched the servants give Summer their handmade gifts. Previously, the servants had told me things like, "Don't even think about trying to be more loved than Princess Summer!"

"Remember, Summer is the real daughter of Mr. Vektar, the true princess. You're just a nobody from the Scarclaw Pack. Stay in your place!"

Now, they were all sweet-talking Summer, and it was gross.

"Happy birthday, Princess Summer!"

Everyone cheered for her, and there was not one wish for me. Even so, I went back to my room and retrieved the presents I had picked out for my parents.

I had never thought of today as just my day. It was also the day Mom worked so hard to bring me into the world. I should be thankful for that.

When I got back to the party venue, Summer's eyes were wet. "Dad, does Rose not like me? She won't even wish me a happy birthday..."

Mom and Dad looked upset like they were going to tell me off for being rude. However, when they saw the two scarves I made with my own hands, their eyes lit up with surprise.

I knew our neighbors always bragged about the sweater their daughter made, and it made my parents wish for something like that.

Mom held onto the scarf like it was her favorite thing. Dad put it on right away, forgetting he had just been about to scold me. He asked me gently, "Rose, when's your birthday? We'll make sure to throw you a big dinner."

I looked at him and said slowly, "It's today."

Mom and Dad looked at each other, shocked.

Mom tried to laugh it off. "Haha, we knew that. We were just joking."

She hurried to her bedroom and came back with a wolf bone necklace for me. "See, this was your gift all along."

However, it had "Summer" written on it.

I did not get mad like before, but Mom was all nervous, and Dad looked worried.

Mom started searching everywhere. "Rose, you gotta believe me. I got one for you too—one for you and one for Summer!"

She was talking fast, trying to sound like she meant it.

"We bought them last month on our trip to Halavai, really. Rose, trust me!"

Dad's face went all serious, and he nudged Mom, who then realized she had said too much. She looked all scared and sorry, like she was afraid I would get mad.

It turned out they had gone on a trip last month without me… I should have known something was up when I got back from boarding school and found the front gate locked tight.

I stared at the bone necklace in my hand, the one Summer had turned her nose up at before it ended up with me, and my heart felt empty. "It's fine. This one will do."