Chapter 2

I slept terribly that night, my mind stuck replaying two decades' worth of memories.

If Ivy wanted something, Mom and Dad would hand it over without a second thought. I remembered asking for a new school uniform—because my old one had worn through and become a source of ridicule—only for Mom to chew me out for being wasteful instead.

It wasn't even light out yet when a noise from the living room jolted me awake. I opened the door and stepped out, then froze. Ethan, Khloe, Ivy, Mom, and Dad were all there, gathered around the coffee table and happily looking through the photos the photographer had taken the day before.

Ivy leaned against Mom's shoulder and pointed to a photo on the screen. "I like this one. Ethan and I look so good together in this, Mom."

Mom was grinning from ear to ear. "You've always been beautiful since you were young, Ivy. Not like Violet, who's always walking around with that sour look on her face."

Khloe chimed in right away. "Exactly! Violet has always been so broody! She's got nothing on Ivy!"

Ethan looked at the photo of Ivy holding onto his arm, a smile appearing on his face.

They didn't seem to notice me standing at the hallway entrance.

It was only when I walked over to the coffee table that the laughter abruptly stopped, leaving the room completely silent for a beat.

Mom looked up and frowned slightly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're still willing to show your face around here, huh? If Ivy hadn't stepped in and entertained the guests for you yesterday, you would've made a complete fool of our family, Violet!"

I sneered and exposed their lie on the spot. "Didn't you scheme this whole thing out from the beginning? You have always intended to sacrifice me just so Ivy could get what she wanted."

Mom and Dad noticeably tensed up.

I clenched my fists, overwhelmed by resentment and hurt. "If your plan was always to let her take over the wedding, why not tell me from the beginning? I would have stepped aside gracefully rather than being forced to uncover the truth in such a cruel way!"

I had to uncover the truth that no one truly loved me.

Ivy suddenly came rushing over the moment I finished speaking. She grabbed my hand as tears streamed down her face. "I'm the one to blame here, Violet. Mom and Dad had nothing to do with this. It's all my fault. I did this all on my own, Violet…"

She dropped to her knees after saying that, hitting the floor with a loud thud. "I'll beg you on my knees, alright? Please forgive me, Violet…"

"Ivy!" Ethan closed the distance in two strides and hauled her up. He then turned and yelled at me, "That's enough, Violet! Ivy is your sister! How could you make her kneel before you? What the hell is wrong with you?"

Mom pointed straight at my face, flushing red with anger. "You brought all of this on yourself! You could never bear to see Ivy doing better than you growing up. If you'd found out that Ethan was the one she had feelings for, who knows what kind of scene you would've thrown?

"You would've gone straight to trashing her to everyone, calling her a homewrecker for trying to steal your man!"

I stayed rooted in place, watching them all crowd around Ivy. Ethan wrapped his arms around her, Khloe rubbed her back soothingly, and Mom held her hand tight, saying, "It's going to be alright, Ivy. I'm right here with you."

Every single one of them looked at me like I was the enemy.

In that instant, tears welled up as I forced the words out through gritted teeth. "Isn't she a homewrecker? She's been taking whatever I loved since we were kids—my clothes, my school supplies, and now even the man I was supposed to marry.

"Why does it always have to be me who gives everything up? She's your daughter, but aren't I your daughter too?"

Mom slapped me hard across the face, the loud crack echoing throughout the living room.

I turned sharply to the side as a burning sting spread across my face.

Mom then pointed at me and barked, "That's enough! Do you intend to push Ivy over the edge? Do you not see how badly she's crying? How could you still go after her, Violet?"

I chuckled bitterly, blood dripping down my chin from the corner of my mouth. It had always been this way. I had always been the one to blame, no matter what happened. How could I have expected them to change after hearing about all my grievances? "It's all my fault, then! I'll just get out of your way for good!"