By the time Isabella arrived in Texas, the sky had already begun turning orange. She stood outside the apartment building with one suitcase beside her and exhaustion sitting heavily on her shoulders, watching cars rush past without slowing down, their headlights flashing across her face while warm evening wind brushed against her skin. Texas felt nothing like home. Everything looked larger here the roads, the buildings, even the silence between strangers carried a different weight, like the city had no interest in making anyone feel comfortable.

The landlord handed her a spare key before pointing toward the second floor. "Apartment 2B. The university is only ten minutes away." Isabella nodded politely and thanked him, and he studied her tired expression for a moment before offering a small smile. "First time living alone?" She hesitated before answering yes. "Well," he said, "you picked a good city for starting over." The phrase stayed in her mind long after he walked away.

The apartment itself was simple a small kitchen, a narrow hallway, cream colored walls that looked almost empty beneath the evening light. It was not luxurious, but Isabella found herself smiling anyway, because for the first time in a long while, nobody was shouting, nobody was banging on doors, and nobody was reminding her that she was unwanted. She placed her suitcase near the couch and walked toward the window overlooking the city streets below, and a soft breath escaped her lips. "This could work," she whispered, and this time, she almost believed it.

About an hour later Isabella found herself inside a busy supermarket downtown, pushing a cart through crowded aisles while trying not to feel overwhelmed. A child cried somewhere near the snacks section, music drifted softly from speakers overhead, and everything smelled faintly of coffee and fresh bread. She grabbed necessities carefully pasta, bread, eggs, soap, cheap, cereal checking price tags twice before placing anything into her cart, and her fingers tightened around the handle when she realized how quickly money disappeared. "Texas is definitely trying to bankrupt me already," she muttered, and an elderly woman passing nearby laughed softly. "You get used to it eventually, sweetheart." Isabella smiled awkwardly. "I hope so."

As she turned into the cosmetics aisle, her steps slowed without warning. A massive advertisement hung above a luxury makeup display near the center of the store, and at first Isabella barely glanced at it but then she stopped completely, her heartbeat stumbling in her chest. The woman in the advertisement looked exactly like her. Not similar, not close, but exactly the same eyes, the same lips, the same dark hair framing the same face Isabella had stared at in mirrors her entire life. The only difference was the confidence radiating from the woman in the photograph, who looked polished and elegant and untouchable in a way Isabella had never felt. Underneath the image, bold golden letters read: MIRABELLA VANCE THE FACE OF LUXE BEAUTY.

Isabella stepped closer to the poster without realizing she was doing it. A sales assistant noticed her staring. "Beautiful, right?" Isabella swallowed carefully. "Who is she?" The assistant looked surprised by the question. "You seriously don't know Mirabella Vance? She's everywhere online billionaire family, fashion icon, makeup ambassador. People are completely obsessed with her." Isabella barely heard the rest, because she was still staring at the woman's face, at her own face, while a strange chill crept slowly down her spine. "Do people ever tell her" she started, then stopped herself. The assistant frowned. "Tell her what?" "That she looks like someone else?" The girl laughed casually. "I doubt there's anyone else who looks like Mirabella Vance." Isabella forced a smile, but her chest felt tight, because she was standing right there.

Later that evening Isabella returned home with grocery bags hanging from both arms, and the moment the apartment door closed behind her, silence wrapped around her again but tonight it did not feel peaceful. She unpacked her groceries slowly before taking a long shower, hoping the hot water would calm the strange uneasiness growing inside her chest, but it didn't help. After changing into comfortable clothes she sat cross-legged on her bed with her university papers spread around her class schedules, campus maps, registration forms and told herself to focus. Tomorrow would be her first day at one of the most prestigious universities in Texas, and she should have been excited. Instead, her mind kept drifting back to that face, that impossible face, until she finally switched off the bedside lamp and lay down beneath the blankets. Sleep refused to come easily, and every time she closed her eyes, she saw the woman from the advertisement staring back at her.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains and warmed the small apartment with golden light. Isabella opened her eyes slowly and smiled to herself, taking a quiet moment to let the feeling settle today was important, a fresh beginning, a chance to become someone better than the girl she had left behind. She got ready carefully, taking extra time brushing her hair and choosing an outfit that looked decent without appearing like she had tried too hard, though her hands moved a little slower than usual and she caught herself staring at her own reflection longer than she meant to. On the bus ride to campus her nerves only worsened, and she kept adjusting the strap of her bag while watching buildings pass outside the window, rehearsing nothing in particular, just trying to breathe steadily.

When the university finally came into view, her breath caught entirely. The campus was breathtaking massive glass buildings reflected the bright morning sky while students walked confidently through crowded pathways lined with trees and fountains, and everything about it looked expensive and purposeful and alive. Isabella stood near the entrance for a moment, taking it all in quietly, and pride flickered warm and steady inside her chest. "I actually made it here," she whispered.

Then the sharp sound of an expensive engine cut through the morning noise around her, and several students nearby turned their heads at once. A sleek black Rolls-Royce pulled slowly into the driveway near the entrance gates, and whispers spread through the crowd almost instantly she's here already, did you know her family owns half of Houston and Isabella frowned slightly at the name before her stomach could even tighten. The driver stepped out first, dressed neatly in black gloves and a tailored suit, and walked around to open the back door carefully. One elegant heel touched the ground first, and then she stepped out fully, and the world seemed to stop breathing.

Isabella froze completely. The girl from the advertisement lifted her sunglasses slowly and froze too, shock flashing openly across both their faces at exactly the same moment. Neither of them moved while students around them began murmuring louder, some reaching for their phones, voices layering over each other in disbelief wait, what, they look exactly alike. Mirabella stared at Isabella as though she had seen a ghost, and the confidence surrounding her moments earlier cracked, not completely, but enough for Isabella to notice.

Mirabella took one slow step forward and Isabella instinctively mirrored the movement, bringing them close enough now that Isabella could see tiny details the way Mirabella's jaw was set, the careful blankness she was trying to hold onto, the faint tremor at the corner of her mouth that gave her away. Mirabella looked more polished and controlled than anyone Isabella had ever stood beside, the kind of person who had spent her entire life being admired, and Isabella felt painfully ordinary beneath her stare. But the resemblance between them was terrifying, because even their expressions matched.

Mirabella spoke first, her voice quieter than Isabella expected. "Who are you?" Isabella opened her mouth but no words came immediately, because hearing Mirabella's voice felt like hearing her own the same tone, the same softness running underneath the words. Mirabella crossed her arms slowly, though the movement looked more defensive than confident. "This is not possible," she whispered. "I don't understand either," Isabella admitted softly.

Students had already begun recording on their phones, and whispers continued to ripple outward through the crowd as Mirabella glanced around uncomfortably and then stepped even closer to Isabella, her eyes searching Isabella's face carefully, almost desperately, as though she were trying to find the flaw that would explain everything away. Then her expression changed completely the color drained from her face and her lips parted slightly, as though she had just remembered something horrifying.

"What's wrong?" Isabella asked nervously, but Mirabella didn't answer. Instead her gaze dropped slowly toward the silver necklace hanging around Isabella's neck the small crescent-shaped pendant resting at its center and the silence that followed was heavier than anything either of them had said. Because Mirabella was wearing the same one.

The silence between Isabella and Mirabella felt heavier than the crowd surrounding them.

Students stood frozen near the university entrance, whispering among themselves while phones remained raised in the air.

Nobody had ever seen anything like this before.

Two girls.

One face.

Mirabella stared at Isabella as though she were something offensive standing directly in front of her.

Something that should not exist.

Her eyes slowly traveled across Isabella's clothes, her cheap bag, her nervous posture.

Then her lips curled slightly.

Not into a smile.

Into disgust.

"Why do you look like me?" she asked quietly.

The words were soft.

But sharp enough to cut.

Isabella opened her mouth, but no sound came out immediately.

Because she did not know the answer either.

Mirabella's gaze hardened when Isabella remained silent.

"You are seriously not going to say anything?"

"I..." Isabella swallowed carefully. "I do not know."

Mirabella laughed once under her breath, though there was no humor in it.

"Convenient."

One of the girls standing behind Mirabella folded her arms. "This is honestly creepy."

"Maybe she is obsessed with you," another suggested.

Mirabella continued staring at Isabella without blinking.

The resemblance unsettled her.

That was obvious now.

But instead of fear, Mirabella covered it with arrogance.

With cruelty.

Isabella noticed.

And somehow that hurt more.

Students nearby kept whispering loudly.

"Are they twins?"

"They have the same eyes."

"This is insane."

Mirabella suddenly looked away first, clearly irritated by the attention around them.

"Come on," she muttered to her friends before brushing past Isabella's shoulder.

The movement was deliberate.

Cold.

Isabella lost her balance slightly from the impact but quickly steadied herself.

As Mirabella walked away, a group of students immediately followed behind her.

"That is Jackson's daughter."

"The Jackson family?"

"Of course. Who else drives a Rolls-Royce to campus every morning?"

"She is literally business royalty."

Isabella quietly stood there, listening.

Jackson.

The powerful tycoon.

Even she had heard the name before.

Her eyes slowly followed Mirabella disappearing into the crowd.

Rich.

Powerful.

Admired.

And somehow carrying the exact same face as her.

The thought made Isabella's chest tighten strangely.

A few minutes later, Isabella finally found her classroom after getting lost twice inside the massive university building.

The lecture hall was already half full when she stepped inside.

Conversations filled the room, but several students turned the moment they noticed her.

Then the whispering started again.

Isabella pretended not to hear it.

She walked quietly toward the front row and sat near the window, placing her notebook carefully on the desk while avoiding eye contact with everyone around her.

She hated attention.

Back home, attention usually brought problems.

A few students continued staring openly at her.

Others secretly took pictures.

Isabella noticed.

She simply chose not to react.

A few minutes later, loud laughter echoed from outside the classroom.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Students straightened in their seats almost automatically.

Then Mirabella walked in with three girls following closely behind her.

Confidence radiated from her naturally.

She did not even glance around the room at first, because she already expected everyone to notice her.

And they did.

The moment students saw her, several immediately stood up.

"You can sit here, Mirabella."

"No, take mine."

"There is space over here."

Mirabella barely acknowledged them.

One of her friends smirked. "Move."

The students obeyed immediately.

But instead of taking the offered seats near the center, Mirabella walked toward the back row casually.

Her eyes briefly landed on Isabella sitting alone in front.

The resemblance hit her again instantly.

Mirabella looked away almost immediately afterward.

As though looking too long made her uncomfortable.

She sat at the back beside the window while her friends continued whispering around her.

"Why is she sitting here?"

"She really thinks she belongs."

Mirabella leaned back in her chair quietly, though her gaze kept drifting toward Isabella despite herself.

It irritated her.

Everything about this situation irritated her.

Especially the fact that she could not stop looking.

Suddenly the classroom door opened again.

A tall man wearing glasses entered with several books in his hands.

The room quickly fell silent.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, sir," the students responded together.

The lecturer placed his books on the desk before adjusting his glasses slightly.

"My name is Professor Carter, and I will be teaching Business Management this semester."

He smiled briefly.

"I hope at least some of you are here because you actually care about business and not because your parents forced you."

A few students laughed.

Mirabella did not.

Professor Carter began the lecture immediately afterward, speaking confidently while writing key points across the board.

For the first thirty minutes, Isabella focused carefully on her notes.

She genuinely wanted to succeed here.

This university meant everything to her future.

But concentration became difficult whenever she felt eyes on her.

Every single time she looked back -

Mirabella was staring.

Not openly.

Not enough for anyone else to notice.

But enough for Isabella to feel it.

At one point their eyes accidentally met.

Mirabella looked away first.

Her jaw tightened slightly afterward.

Almost annoyed with herself.

The lecture continued for nearly two hours.

By the end, students already looked exhausted.

The moment Professor Carter dismissed the class, conversations exploded throughout the room again.

Chairs scraped loudly against the floor while students packed their bags.

Isabella remained seated for a moment longer, organizing her notes carefully before standing.

As she walked toward the exit, she overheard two girls whispering nearby.

"They seriously look like copies."

"No, it is actually terrifying."

"I heard Mirabella is furious."

"Obviously. Imagine someone suddenly stealing your face."

The words stung more than Isabella expected.

She lowered her head slightly and continued walking.

The cafeteria was crowded by lunchtime.

Students filled nearly every table while the smell of coffee and fried food lingered heavily in the air.

Isabella stood quietly in line near the drinks section, staring at the menu overhead while trying to decide what she could actually afford.

Eventually, she settled for tea and bread.

Simple.

Cheap.

Safe.

The line moved slowly.

People chatted around her while soft music played overhead.

Then suddenly

The entire atmosphere changed.

Students began moving aside almost immediately.

Some left the line completely.

Others straightened awkwardly while whispering.

Isabella frowned slightly in confusion.

"What is happening?"

The girl in front of her leaned closer. "Mirabella is here."

As though that explained everything.

A few seconds later, Mirabella entered the cafeteria with her usual group surrounding her.

Her heels clicked sharply against the floor while conversations lowered around her.

Nobody told Isabella the unspoken rules.

Nobody warned her.

So she remained exactly where she was.

Still holding her tray.

Still waiting for her tea.

Mirabella noticed instantly.

Her steps slowed slightly.

One of her friends scoffed loudly. "Seriously?"

Another crossed her arms. "She is either brave or stupid."

Isabella finally collected her tea and bread before turning carefully -

And suddenly something caught her ankle.

Her body jerked forward violently.

The tray slipped from her hands.

Hot tea spilled across the floor.

The cup shattered loudly.

Gasps echoed around the cafeteria as Isabella hit the ground hard.

Pain shot through her palms instantly.

For half a second, complete silence filled the room.

Then quiet laughter followed.

One of Mirabella's friends slowly pulled back her leg with an innocent expression.

"Oh my God," she said mockingly. "I did not even see her there."

More laughter spread.

Isabella's cheeks burned with humiliation.

She immediately began gathering the broken pieces while kneeling on the floor.

Her fingers trembled slightly.

Not from pain.

From embarrassment.

Then expensive heels stopped directly in front of her.

Mirabella.

She slowly crouched down, picking up the fallen teacup lid between two fingers before staring at Isabella silently.

The cafeteria watched closely.

Waiting.

Mirabella tilted her head slightly. "You should probably learn how things work around here."

Her voice remained calm.

Too calm.

Isabella slowly stood up, breathing carefully.

Tea stains covered part of her sleeve now.

Mirabella's eyes briefly flickered toward it.

Then toward Isabella's face again.

That face.

That identical face.

It irritated her more every time she saw it.

Without warning, Mirabella reached up and grabbed Isabella's chin roughly.

The cafeteria went silent again.

"Maybe if you stopped following me around "

Isabella immediately pulled her hand away.

Not aggressively.

But firmly.

The movement surprised everyone.

Including Mirabella.

For the first time since arriving at the university, Isabella looked directly into Mirabella's eyes without fear.

"I do not know who you are," she said quietly.

The cafeteria remained completely still.

"And I have never offended you."

Mirabella's expression hardened slightly.

Isabella continued, though her voice trembled just a little.

"So I think you should stop picking on me."

No yelling.

No drama.

Just honesty.

That somehow made the moment heavier.

Mirabella stared at her silently.

Almost shocked.

Nobody spoke to Mirabella that way.

Nobody.

Especially not calmly.

One of her friends immediately stepped forward. "Watch your tone."

But Isabella had already picked up her bag.

She looked exhausted now, more than angry.

"I just came here to study," she said softly before turning away.

Then she walked out of the cafeteria without looking back.

The silence she left behind felt strange.

Uncomfortable.

Mirabella remained standing there, motionless.

Her jaw clenched tightly.

Not because Isabella had insulted her.

But because something about those words lingered unpleasantly in her chest.

For a brief second

she almost felt guilty.

And she hated that feeling immediately.

"Mirabella?" one of her friends called carefully.

Mirabella snapped out of her thoughts. "What?"

"You okay?"

"I am fine."

But she did not sound fine.

Not even close.

Near the far corner of the cafeteria, someone quietly watched everything unfold.

Floyd.

He leaned casually against the wall with one hand in his pocket, slowly sipping black coffee.

His sharp eyes followed Isabella disappearing through the cafeteria doors.

Interesting.

Most people would have cried.

Or screamed.

Or tried desperately to defend themselves.

But Isabella did none of those things.

She stayed polite even while being humiliated.

That kind of restraint usually came from pain.

Real pain.

Floyd glanced toward Mirabella again.

She looked angry on the surface.

But underneath that anger

confusion.

Fear.

And something else he could not fully read yet.

He lowered his coffee cup slowly.

Then his phone vibrated in his pocket.

A message from Clara.

Watch them carefully. Especially Isabella.

Floyd stared at the text briefly before typing back.

You already know something, don't you?

Three dots appeared immediately.

Then disappeared.

Finally another message arrived.

And the moment Floyd read it

his expression completely changed.

If Isabella remembers the fire, everything will collapse.