Chapter 1

Violet's POV

I turned and walked out of the banquet hall. I heard Ethan Carter, my fiance, speaking softly behind me, his voice brimming with affection. "You shouldn't drink so much. I'll do all the drinking for you instead. You'll feel sick if you overdo it."

Ivy Jensen, my twin sister, murmured, "I'll do as you say, then."

I didn't bother looking back. I stood at the hotel entrance, where the cold wind blew against my neck. I hailed a cab, intending to return home.

The cab driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror and froze. "Is it your wedding today? How did you end up like this on your big day?"

I looked down at my hands, which were bloody with two broken nails from breaking the lock on the closet. I replied hoarsely, my voice tight with unspoken pain. "Yeah, but the wedding's off."

He handed me a tissue and said earnestly, "If he wasn't the one for you, then there's no need to put yourself through this. I'm sure no parents out there want to see their child go through something like this."

I froze slightly as I took the tissue. I knew what the cab driver said made sense—no parents would want to see their child go through something like this—but unfortunately, Mom and Dad only ever cared about Ivy.

I returned home and turned on the light in the entryway, noticing that the whole house was still decorated for our wedding, with white ribbons hanging from the ceiling and wedding decorations covering the walls. I wasn't tall enough to put them up myself, so Ethan carried me up to do it.

I looked at the white bedding set on our bed, something we had chosen together after spending an entire weekend shopping for it. I recalled how he held me close back then, saying that sleeping on white meant we were starting a clean slate and a bright future together.

It seemed like Ethan was going to build that life with Ivy instead.

My phone suddenly buzzed. It was my best friend, Khloe Larson, calling.

"Where are you, Violet? Ethan is hopeless! He spent forever looking for you and came up empty. We went to check the closet and found that you weren't there, so Ivy stepped in and greeted the guests for you. You should hurry over to the banquet hall. The guests are waiting for you to cut the wedding cake!"

Khloe sounded worried, and for a moment, she sounded like my best friend who had once fought off five bullies for me, standing firmly right in front of me even when she was covered in bruises.

I couldn't help but keep replaying the scene from earlier. Khloe had long since joined their side, making me look like a complete fool.

I remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly, every single word measured. "Didn't you guys lock me in the closet on purpose? Didn't you guys want Ivy to stand in for me at the wedding?"

Khloe fell silent on the other end of the line and, after a long while, asked softly, "You already found out everything?"

I said nothing.

Khloe said hurriedly, "Hear me out, Violet—"

Mom suddenly spoke up from the other end. "You shouldn't waste your breath on her, Khloe. You can just ignore her and let her do whatever she wants. It's honestly for the best if she doesn't show up. Ivy and Ethan would have one less thing to worry about."

I stood frozen, my fingernails digging deeply into my palms. That action reopened the wounds, causing blood to drip onto my wedding dress. "Today was supposed to be my wedding; I'm supposed to be the bride, Mom."

"Who cares if you're the bride? Ivy has always been the one giving in to you. Why can't you do the same for her, Violet?" Mom didn't catch the hurt or disappointment in my voice at all, as every single word out of her mouth felt suffocating. Or maybe she knew exactly how I felt and just didn't give a damn.

"Did you really have to make the whole family miserable over a wedding? How could you be so selfish? You've been like this since you were a kid, Violet!" Mom then hung up without a second thought.

Just then, an Instagram notification popped up. Khloe had just posted something. "These two are just too perfect together—such a treat to look at!"

In the photo, Ivy had her arm linked with Ethan's as they went around toasting the guests. They were both beaming, their faces illuminated by the lights. They really did make a good-looking pair.

Mom was the first to like the post, dropping three clapping emojis in the comments.

Ethan's friends had all left comments as well.

"They may be twins, but they're worlds apart! Ivy is clearly the one more suitable to be with Ethan!"

"Congrats to Ethan for finally getting rid of that awful woman and winning the woman of his dreams!"

Ethan didn't bother explaining himself. He just replied, "Thanks."

It was still enough for everyone to assume the worst about me. They showered the two of them with well-wishes while tearing apart everything they thought was wrong with me.

I smiled faintly, lifted the phone high, and hurled it at the floor. The screen shattered instantly, and the lock screen photo showing Ethan and me smiling together was completely ruined.

Just as dawn broke, I picked up my phone and booked a flight to Navoria. I thought since everybody hated having me around, I was going to leave and disappear from their life for good.