Chapter 3

Genevieve's POV

It was only meant to be a fifteen-minute drive from the hotel to our home, but with so much weighing on my mind, it felt like a whole day's trip. The wind whipped against my face as I stared outside the window, trying my hardest to forget the videos and pictures of David's and Doris's engagement that Nora showed me, but the more I tried, the more those images became vivid in my mind.

My memory just couldn't forget the hashtags I saw; #DavidandDoris #PackEngagement #TrueLove #Matesareoverrated

My hands trembled on my thighs as I felt my eyes water. I couldn't stop asking myself—Why do the very people I hold dearly to my heart choose to betray and hurt me like this?

Nora reached for my hands and gave me a comforting squeeze. "Are you sure you want to go straight to your parents' house, Eve?" She glanced at the cab driver to make sure he wasn't listening to us. "They are probably celebrating now."

I stayed silent for a moment before taking a deep breath and replying, "Now is the perfect time to confront them and end things with David formally."

She nodded in support, not bothering to ask any more questions, then the rest of the drive continued in silence.

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Soon, the driver slammed the brakes in front of my family estate. Even though I was still inside the cab, I could hear the sound of clinking champagne glasses and joyous laughter drifting from the open patio doors. Festive ribbons were already draped over the front gates.

It's funny how times change so quickly. Just yesterday, David was my mate and boyfriend, but today, he's my twin sister's fiancé.

"Come on out," Nora's voice dragged my attention away from the gates.

She had alighted from her side and was holding the door open for me. I also got out quickly. I attempted to pay the driver, but she stopped me and paid instead, and I whispered a "thank you" to her.

"Are you coming with me?"

She smacked my head lightly. "Of course, silly. I can't leave you to face this alone."

"Thank you, Nora."

She rolled her eyes. "Stop thanking me. Let's go inside."

I stared at the door. Going inside means confronting my family, asking a lot of questions, and possibly dissolving David's and my mate bond. Am I sure I'm ready for the outcome?

(Brace yourself, Eve. The rejection pain can't be stronger than cheating pain. Let's get it over with him once and for all.) My wolf, Linda, said in my head, and I couldn't agree more with her.

I inhaled deeply. I signaled Nora to come with me, then we approached the front door. I shoved the door open so hard that I heard it crack against the wall. The once lively and joyous atmosphere suddenly went silent as everyone snapped their heads towards my direction, with surprised expressions.

My eyes subconsciously scanned the room, searching for David, and in no time, I found him. As expected, he and Doris stood near each other with his arms protectively wrapped around her waist, pulling her close to him as if she wasn't already close enough. I felt my lower lip tremble, and I literally heard a crack in my heart at the sight of them.

Just swallow her—I wanted to scream in his face, but I refrained myself since I didn't want to be perceived as the jealous and evil twin who wants to destroy her sister's happiness.

He suddenly raised Doris's face and crashed his lips on hers, engaging her in a passionate kiss. I clenched my jaw as I ground my teeth against each other, and just as I attempted to approach him and demand answers from him, my mom came out from somewhere in the room, a crystal champagne flute in her hand with a smile on her face. She looked like the happiest person here.

"Eve, you are here..." She trailed off as she assessed my face, and her smile vanished instantly, and was replaced by a cold, disappointed glare. "Where on earth have you been? Your sister just got engaged and you decided to show up at their after-party looking like... this?" She pointed at my disheveled hair and smudged makeup.

I raised my brows at her. "How am I supposed to show up? My mate and twin sister got engaged, how am I supposed to show up at their after-party, Mom?"

"Watch your tone, young lady!" My dad's voice boomed from the dining room. "That's not how you speak to your mother."

I ignored him. Brushing past my mother, I approached David and Doris. As if she was scared I'd hit her, she clung onto David, and he protectively pushed her behind him. My eyelids flapped closed, and I did a sharp intake of breath as my heart twisted painfully in my chest, because I couldn't help the little jealousy that struck me. Even my wolf whimpered in my head. Throughout our six years of being mates, David has never protected me from anyone or anything just like he's protecting her now.

"What do you want?" he asked.

The guests were already gossiping by now. I could hear some women calling me 'the jealous and bitter twin' even when I haven't spoken a word yet. I wonder what rumors they've been hearing about me.

"Eve, it is our fault for not inviting you to our engagement party, but—"

"Since when?" I cut off David's explanation.

A confused frown appeared on his face. "Since when what?"

"Since when have you been cheating with her?"

In a split second, the frown wiped off his face and was replaced by a proud smile. He pulled Doris forward and planted a kiss on her forehead.

"You can't call it cheating," he said.

"Oh. I can't?"

He shook his head. "You should be asking when we fell in love." Doris giggled at his words and nodded in affirmation.

"You are my mate, David. I caught you and my sister fucking each other, and you said I shouldn't call it cheating?"

He was about to say something, but Doris stopped him and stepped forward, a bit closer to me. "So what if you're mates? Should we deny the connection between us because you're mates?"

A bitter, lifeless laugh escaped my lips as my brows furrowed, staring at my twin as if she were a total stranger. I found it hard to believe that I actually grew up with her.

"What connection could there be between you and someone who already has a mate, Doris? Even if you're second-chance mates, you can't feel the bond until he and I reject each other."

She rolled her eyes. "Well, we love each other, and there's nothing you can do to separate us, so deal with it!" Then she walked back into David's waiting arms.

"You... you..." I was short of words. I turned towards our parents, seeking their interference and fair judgment. "Dad,"

"Doris is right, Eve. Having the mate bond with someone doesn't mean you'll end up with them." He turned and looked away from me, taking a sip from his champagne.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned around, only to come face to face with my mom, and she said, "We can't ruin our child's happiness. Let her have him, please."

I gaped at her. Her words seemed to cut deeper than everyone else's. I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.

"You can't ruin your child's happiness? WHAT ABOUT ME? AM I NOT YOUR CHILD? WHY CAN YOU COMFORTABLY SACRIFICE MY HAPPINESS FOR HER BUT NOT THE OTHER WAY ROUND? WE ARE BOTH YOUR BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN, WHY ARE WE NOT GETTING THE SAME TREATMENT?"

All my bottled-up emotions had suddenly surfaced. Nora rushed to my side. She placed her hands on my shoulders and began massaging them as though to help me calm down.

My mom shook her head. "No, you're not my biological child."

The room was already quiet and awkward, then she released those words, and the quietness just became louder. A suffocation suddenly sat on my chest.

"What... what did you just say?" She must have made a mistake. How can I not be her biological child when I have a twin sister?

My dad narrowed his eyes at her, silently questioning or scolding her as if she had just leaked a secret. Judging from his expression, there's more to it. Doris was as shocked as me. She stepped closer to our mom and me.

"Mom, what do you mean by that?" she asked.

My mom's gaze moved towards my dad as though she was asking for permission to speak, and he shook his head in disapproval.

Doris reached for her hand and pulled desperately on it. "Say something, Mom. What are you talking about? How come she is not my biological sister?"

'She?' I'm now a 'she?' I didn't let that bother me, though, because I'm more interested in my mom's confession. She flashed my dad an apologetic look before facing us.

"I don't think there's any need to hide the truth anymore." She paused briefly. "After ten years of marriage, your father and I couldn't conceive. We became desperate. I wanted to have a child so badly, I wanted to know what motherhood felt like, so we paid for a surrogate because it was our only option of fulfilling my dream of becoming a mother. But something happened."

Doris and I weren't the only ones invested in this story anymore; everyone at the party was. We were waiting for her to continue.

"Two months later, a miracle happened—I got pregnant naturally with Doris." She faced me and looked me in the eyes. "You were a mistake, a miscalculation from our end." Her words were lethal, and her eyes held no remorse. "We brought you home because we had to. We've never considered you our real child. Doris is our only real child, birthed from my vagina."

I staggered back and almost lost my balance, but thankfully, Nora was standing behind me. Her body supported my weight. Tears brimmed my eyes as a realization dawned on me—they see me as a lab test. It all made sense now. I finally understood why we've been getting different treatments since childhood. I finally understood why they don't care about me. And I finally realized something: they don't deserve my tears or attention.

My eyes swept around quickly. Some of the guests were scowling at me, and others were giving me pitiful looks.

Wiping off my tears, I faced Doris. "You know what, Doris? If my leftover is your happiness, then have it!"

"You..."

I turned away from her, not giving her the chance to speak, then faced David and flashed him an emotionless smile. "David Miller," my voice echoed through the quiet house. "I, Genevieve Rivers, hereby reject you as my mate. I sever my ties to our bond, and I expect you to accept my rejection."

He narrowed his eyes, with annoyance flashing through his eyes.

"You don't have to reject me, Eve. The three of us can just be in this relationship—" I couldn't control my hand. My palm went across his face, cutting off his words.

Doris pushed me away and rushed to him, cradling his face in her hands. She threw me a nasty glare. "What is wrong with you, Genevieve?!"

I ignored her. "Accept my rejection this instant," I told David.

His eyes narrowed even more. "You're going to regret making me accept this rejection because you'll never find someone like me anywhere."

I laughed. "That's the aim. I don't want another jerk in my life!"

He stayed silent for a moment, clenching and unclenching his fists.

"Fine. I, David Miller, accept your rejection."

A sharp, searing pain sliced through my chest as the lingering thread of our unsevered bond snapped violently in half. My wolf howled agonizingly in my head, while I clenched my fists tightly, letting my nails dig into my flesh to help me keep my composure. I felt myself lacking oxygen, but thankfully, Nora rushed to my side and threw a supporting arm around my shoulders.

David, on the other hand, couldn't contain his pain. He winced, clutching his chest as a gasp escaped his lips. I smirked in satisfaction after seeing his reaction.

"Let's go," I whispered to Nora. She nodded and escorted me out.