The Real Daughter

Selene 

“Hi, nice to meet you." Selene said, a hand stretched out with a sinister smile plastered on her face. I stared at her hands unsure of what to do, my head snapped between her and my mother, looking for a little chuckle or anything to tell that they were joking but I found none.

I coughed, but Selene spoke up before me. "Do I have something on my face?” She said, looking between me and my mom.

My mom's brows furrowed and I spoke up before the thought could form in her head. “No, It's something else.”

“Nice to meet you too.” I said, taking her hand that hung in the air. My mother looked between the both of us, a satisfied smile growing on her face. 

“Great. I can only tell that you both will have a great relationship." My mom said, nodding with her eyes glistening with joy.

I faked a smile, trying my best not to let my confusion show in my expression. “We'll definitely have one, if she gets the chance.” Aurora said, her voice in a low whisper as she completed her words.

I felt the hair on my skin raise. I blinked, taking my gaze off her. 

"Mrs. Hart.” A guest called from downstairs, stealing my mother's attention immediately. As soon as she sighted the face, a new glow hit her face. 

"You're finally here.” My mom said, turning towards Aurora. "Let's go, I'll introduce you to some people.” She said, dragging her down the stairs with enthusiasm. 

I stayed, staring at their retreating figures as Aurora’s last words rang in my ears—’if she gets the chance to.’

My mind spiraled as I looked down. Aurora was introducing herself with a smile on her face but something about her smile sent shivers down my spine.

Was it really just a coincidence? Was it just my luck for Aurora to be the one who stole both my husband and my identity?

I thought to myself, staring hard at her perfect face from above like expecting it to give me answers but it didn't. I lowered my hand to my pockets, wanting to ask for answers when I realised it wasn't on me. 

I hit my head slightly, crushing beneath my breath before turning back. My eyes scanned the room for my phone, but I couldn't find it. 

I raised a brow, checking my purse again but it still wasn't there. My feet moved slowly across the marble floor, a premonition starting to form in my head but I pushed it off as soon as I saw a reflection of light behind the mirror.

My hands flew onto my chest as I breathed a sigh of relief. I grabbed my phone, tapping it repeatedly. It buzzed, signalling a low battery.

“Fuck”! I said under my breath.

“Selene." My hands froze mid-air as I heard my name being called. I stood straight, about to answer when the caller finished. “Your husband is here." 

My heart skipped a beat. “My husband is here?” I repeated the words again in my head, trying to make sense of it. 

How could he come? He hated me now, he didn't want me as his partner anymore, why would he come to this? To mock me? I thought to myself, different possibilities running through my mind. 

I rushed downstairs in the heat of the moment, thinking he could have wanted to talk about the divorce but his current actions pushed me deeper into confusion.

Xavier sat chatting heartily with the relatives like nothing was wrong. He spoke to them like they had been friends finally reuniting. 

I arched a brow, walking forward slowly trying to understand his actions. Was he trying to save me some face? 

I paused abruptly as soon as I got closer to him. I stayed observing his movements, wanting for some kind of action but he only seemed to talk to them sweetly.

Was this really for me? I asked myself, slowly starting to think that he could have thought it through and felt I didn't deserve to be left alone.

The thought slowly brought a smile to my face but I soon shook my head. No, I had to hear it from his mouth first.

I tapped on his shoulder and he turned but his kind and cheerful demeanour disappeared immediately. His face scrunched up like he was annoyed to see me.

My phone buzzed. I pulled it out, grateful for the distraction.

Xavier: We need to talk about the divorce terms

My stomach dropped. It's not been a day yet, but he's already pushing about paper work.

Another message followed: And your decision about the pregnancy.

I looked up and found Aurora watching from across the room. She raised her glass slightly with a devilish smile.

She knew. Somehow, she knew everything.

I looked at Xavier and he ignored my signal at first but I walked up to where he was standing and I grasped hard onto his hands and smiled at the relatives. “I'll be borrowing him for a while." I declared and they nodded. 

Xavier followed quietly behind me but as soon as we got to a less crowded area, he snapped his hands out of mine. 

"Why are you here?” I asked, and a smug expression immediately rose on his face. “I'll sign the papers if that's what you're here for." I said, thinking I had figured his motive but his face didn't drop.

“Oh, I didn't come here for you." He said, his voice cold and piercing. I felt a sudden chill as he continued to speak. “I came for something more exciting. And those papers…” he scoffed. “You'll sign them whether you like it or not." He finished, walking out before I could say another word.

I stared at his retreating figure only to feel myself dragged deeper into the whirlpool of confusion. What was it with the riddles today?

Still pushing down my fright, I smiled, thinking nothing bad could happen. I walked back into the party and the speakers sounded instantly.

“I appreciate my parents for welcoming me back home with such glamour and love." Aurora said, her million-dollar dress shimmering under the night light. 

Aurora spoke on, and I couldn't help but feel myself getting bored. I headed towards the stairs when she said something that caught my attention.

“There's something I would like to reveal to everyone present tonight." Aurora paused, her eyes searching the crowd until she finally landed on me. “Think of it as my way of appreciating you all for coming." 

She smiled yet again, but this one my heart raced and my whole body twitched. I couldn't help but feel something was about to go wrong, terribly wrong.

"It's about my sister." Aurora spoke before taking a dramatic pause. “Oh wait. I mean the girl who stole my identity." She finished and the entire crowd gasped.

My parents looked at her, their eyes widened. My mom raised a hand to warn her but she didn't stop. 

"I didn't expect anyone to be surprised.” She continued, her voice higher now, carried by pride. "I thought we all knew that Selene Hart was a fake, living in luxury while I, the real daughter, suffered.” She said, her voice now carrying a hint of sadness.

My eyes scanned the room, and it was happening, guests raised their phones to film the wonderful moment. 

I swallowed hard on nothing, looking at the numerous crowd who had their eyes glued to Aurora and the lies that she spouted.

"I know you might all be thinking that it wasn't her fault. But what do you think about her stealing my lover.” I saw the smirk on Xavier's face. It wasn't surprising anymore, but still I felt that sharp pain linger in my chest.

It all started to make sense. Xavier claimed he came for something better, this was it. This was what he was talking about, because he seemed to be liking the show.

“Selene, knowing fully well that I was in a relationship with Xavier, took him from me”. Aurora's tears spilled over beautifully. “I watched you take him. Watched you at charity galas, your hands wrapped possessively around his arms wearing designer clothes I could never afford”. “You had everything”. “The money, the status, the family, the success, and you still needed to take the one thing that was mine “.

The air left my throat but before she could say another word, I spoke. “That's bullshit." I said. My voice rising from behind. “ You want to talk about the truth? Let's talk about the truth”. The room's attention shifted to me. Appalled.

“I had no contact with Aurora until yesterday. “ How about we talk about you fucking my husband few hours to your dumb ass welcome party at his office yesterday, knowing fully well he is married to me”!

The room leaned collectively, hungry for the scandal

“Ladies please”. Mom tried to intervene. 

“No, let her speak” Aurora said confidently but with a low voice, pretending to wipe her tears.

“You know what”? “ She can have it all.” I said to mum. 

The house, the family, Him. I looked at Xavier.

I turned towards the door to take my leave, because all this is bullshit, total nonsense and I could no longer take the humiliation.

“You have to admit,” Aurora said gently. “ You've had a good run. 28 years of a life that wasn't yours, a man who wasn't yours… maybe it's time to give back what you borrowed.” 

This was the moment something inside me went still. The kind of stillness that comes before damage. She deserved to suffocate in the humiliation and disrespect she's poured over me. Before I could respond, the lights dimmed. A large projection screen descended from the ceiling. Something I never imagined was there.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I think there's one more thing everyone needs to know about Selene” She said, leaving me utterly frozen.

Medical records filled the screen, documents, hospital records…my name written boldly at the top.

No. No. No!

“This" Aurora, pointing to the screen,”is from Lucent Vale hospital. August 10th of last year.” 

This time, the room glimmered with light from their phones, recording.

“ It shows that Dr Selene Hart performed a surgery on that day. A procedure that went horribly wrong.” Aurora's voice was soft and alluring. “The patient has been in a coma ever since.”

Gasps rippled through the room.

“ Hold on everyone, that's not even the interesting part.” Aurora continued, clicking the next slide.

“Selene didn't perform that surgery. She wasn't at the hospital on that day. Dr Gordon performed it” Aurora said. “ He was drunk, and when the patient ended up in a coma, Selene helped cover it up. She put her name on the paperwork, and had Dr Gordon's license revoked to protect the hospital's reputation.”

My heart pounded so loud, I could hear it in my ears. This had to be the worst day of my life. It felt like I've lost everything— my family, my identity,my husband, my reputation and slowly… my career, because of this manipulative bitch!

“That patient,” Aurora added, “is still unconscious. 

Still fighting for her life all because of a medical malpractice that was swept under the carpet. Selene simply chose her career over the truth.”

“That's… that's not”… I stammered “ I was trying to protect —”

“Protect who?” Aurora asked. “ The patient or yourself?”

Dad stood frozen, mom's mouth hung open.

I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe. The weight of it all crushing down on me.

.

“ I hope you choke.” I said, my voice hollow. “On

every lie, every manipulation, every fucking thing you've stolen while playing the victim”. 

I couldn't stay there for another second. I turned and ran.