I came to with the sharp sting of disinfectant in the air and blinding white light pressing against my eyelids.

For a moment, I didn’t know where I was. Then everything rushed back all at once, hitting me so hard it felt like I’d been thrown.

My throat tightened as I blinked slowly and forced my eyes open. A nurse noticed immediately and moved closer.

“Oh, you’re awake,” she said softly. “I’ll go get the doctor.”

I tried to push myself up, but pain spread through my body in waves. My hand went straight to my stomach without thinking.

The baby.

Before fear could fully take over, the door opened and the doctor came in, flipping through my file as he walked.

“You collapsed because of incorrect medication,” he explained calmly. “But the baby… is still alive.”

My breath caught.

Part of me expected relief. Maybe even happiness. But there was nothing like that—just a strange emptiness sitting heavy in my chest.

Because that baby… I didn’t even know who I was supposed to be carrying it for anymore.

Julian or Kieran. Either answer felt like poison.

The doctor studied me closely. “Would you like to listen to the heartbeat later?”

I immediately shook my head.

His brows rose slightly. “Ms. Calloway—”

My voice came out broken. “I want it terminated.”

He paused. “You’re requesting an abortion?”

“Yes,” I said quietly. “As soon as possible.”

He exCallowayd slowly, like he was weighing every word before speaking. “Aria… with your condition, you know how hard it was for you to get pregnant in the first place.”

I stayed silent.

“If you proceed,” he added carefully, “you may not be able to conceive again. Are you certain?”

My chest twisted painfully, but I still nodded.

He looked at me for a long moment, something like pity in his eyes. “Alright. I’ll schedule it in three days.”

Three days.

Three days to cut the last remaining thread tying me to Julian. Three days to erase everything. Three days to learn how to breathe again.

When he left, I sank back into the pillow, staring blankly at the ceiling as my thoughts dragged me somewhere I didn’t want to go.

—

Two years ago.

I was carrying grocery bags in one hand and school books in the other when I saw her collapse.

Julian’s grandmother—Rosemarie.

I didn’t know her then. Just an elderly woman suddenly falling on the pavement, clutching her chest, struggling to breathe.

Something in me reacted before I could even think. I dropped everything and ran.

“Ma’am, can you hear me?” I asked, lowering her carefully. Her breaths were shallow—too shallow.

A heart attack.

My hands shook as I called emergency services, then immediately started first aid. I remembered every training I had, every drill I’d ever done. I kept her stable, kept her talking, checked her pulse again and again while waiting for help.

When the ambulance finally arrived, she grabbed my hand tightly.

“Don’t leave me,” she whispered, tears in her eyes. “You saved me.”

At the time, I didn’t understand how serious those words were.

The next day, her entire family appeared at my hospital—including Julian.

He barely looked at me then. Polite, distant, like I was just another stranger.

But Rosemarie… she held onto me like I mattered.

“You’re different,” she told me. “You saved my life. Let me give you one in return.”

I was drowning back then. Barely surviving—living in a cramped apartment with my sick mother, juggling hospital shifts and school, terrified my scholarship could disappear any day.

I had nothing stable. No safety net. No future I could trust.

So when she suggested marrying her grandson… I thought maybe life was finally giving me something back.

A home. Security. A family. A chance to finally breathe.

Julian smiled at me too. Soft. Kind. At least, I believed it was real.

Two years passed like that.

Dinner dates. Quiet conversations. Hands brushing like it meant something. Waking up next to a man I thought I knew.

Two years of believing I was loved.

Now I knew better.

It was never Julian.

It had always been Kieran—the twin I never even knew existed.

And Julian… the real one… belonged to someone else entirely.

The realization made my stomach turn.

A knock pulled me back. A nurse came in holding a small cup.

“I brought you water. Try to rest,” she said gently.

I nodded and took a small sip, even though my stomach was already uneasy.

I closed my eyes for a moment, letting exhaustion pull me under.

Peace lasted barely half a minute.

My phone suddenly vibrated hard against the bed.

I reached for it, expecting a hospital update… or maybe something ridiculous like Julian checking in.

But the screen made my blood run cold.

Hospital Alert: URGENT — Maria Calloway

My mother.

My chest tightened instantly. She was at the cardiac center.

Before I could even process it, the phone rang again.

This time, it was her.

I answered immediately. “Mom? Mom, are you alright?”

Her voice was faint, fragile. “Aria… I’m okay. What about you?”

Tears stung my eyes. “I’m fine, Mom. Why did the hospital contact me? What’s going on?”

She let out a weak, shaky laugh. “I just… wanted to hear you. I don’t think I can wait until your wedding anymore.”

My chest cracked.

“Mom, please don’t say that. Don’t talk like you’re—”

“Listen,” she interrupted softly, each word slower than the last. “You’ve always been strong, Aria. Stronger than I ever was.”

“Mom…”

“I’m proud of you,” she whispered. “And I love you. Always.”

A sob broke out of me. “I love you too. Please don’t hang up—just stay with me—”

“I’m sorry, baby.”

The line cut.

“No—Mom! No, no, please—Mom!” I screamed into the dead silence.

I ran.

Out of the room. Down the hallway. Past nurses calling after me. I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

My legs barely worked, my vision blurred, but I forced myself outside, got into a cab, and begged the driver to go faster.

The ride felt like it stretched forever, each second crushing my chest a little more.

When I finally reached the hospital and rushed into the ICU, everything went quiet.

A nurse looked up.

One glance at her face told me everything before she even spoke.

“Aria…” she said gently, stepping closer. “I’m so sorry. Your mother… didn’t survive.”

My mother’s funeral felt unreal, like I was just drifting through it without actually being there. I stood beside her coffin like a hollow version of myself, staring at the woman who had been my whole world—now silent, cold, unreachable.

Her last call kept replaying in my head. The way she tried to sound calm. The way she said goodbye as if she still had time.

Inside, I felt completely empty.

Julian never came. No calls. No messages. Nothing.

So I didn’t tell him either. He didn’t know my mother was gone. He didn’t know I had collapsed. He didn’t know I was pregnant. He didn’t know I had already chosen to end it.

And maybe that was the truth—I wasn’t important enough for him to care, unless he chose to. I was just too blind to see it before.

When I got back home, the apartment felt heavier than ever, like even the air had given up. I hugged my mother’s worn sweater tightly against my chest and slid down to the floor, crying until my throat felt raw and useless.

I didn’t know how long I stayed there.

Maybe hours. Maybe the whole night.

Then the door opened.

Julian walked in like nothing had happened in the world.

“Aria?” he called casually, almost cheerful. “I brought you something—Grandma said you might like it.”

He came in holding shopping bags—expensive brands, perfumes, clothes I used to love once, back when life still felt normal.

He didn’t even glance at my face properly. Didn’t notice my swollen eyes. Didn’t see how drained I looked. The funeral card was still on the table, but it didn’t register to him.

Instead, he smiled like everything was fine. “I missed you.”

I just stared at him.

He dropped onto the couch and casually pulled out wedding brochures like we were talking about dinner plans. “So… garden wedding or hotel ballroom? Grandma wants us to decide soon.”

My silence didn’t stop him. He kept flipping pages. “Oh, and I spoke to someone I know who has contacts in London. They can get you into a solid medical program there.”

I blinked slowly. “London?”

He nodded, almost excited. “Yeah. Top schools, great future. You’ve always wanted to be a doctor, right? This is your chance.”

“And… leave?” I asked quietly.

He gave a small shrug. “Long distance isn’t impossible. We’ll manage. Maybe it’s even better. You focus on your studies. And I—” he smiled lightly “—focus on business.”

Something cold settled in my chest.

If this was the old me, I would’ve believed it was love and support. Now I could only see it for what it was—convenience. A way to quietly move me out of the picture when I was no longer useful. A way to pass me around without Grandma noticing.

My fingers curled tightly in my lap. “Do you want me gone?”

He didn’t answer.

That silence was enough.

Something inside me didn’t just hurt—it snapped into place. Like everything suddenly made sense.

I nodded faintly. “I’ll think about it.”

His face brightened immediately. “Good. Really, London would suit you.”

Of course it would. For him.

He stood, straightening his suit as if nothing heavy had just been said. “Actually, I want you to meet someone. Two people, really.”

My body tensed.

He opened the door wider.

And I saw him.

Kieran.

Same face. Same eyes. But the expression was completely different—mocking, casual, like he was already enjoying the moment.

“Aria,” he said with a grin too wide to be genuine. “Nice to finally meet you properly.”

My lungs tightened. My hands went cold.

Julian looked pleased, completely unaware of what was happening inside me. “That’s my twin brother. I should’ve introduced him earlier, but he travels a lot. And… well, things with Grandma weren’t great before. Only recently did he come back and apologize.”

I couldn’t even process it properly. My chest felt like it was being pressed from all sides.

Then the door shifted again.

And she walked in.

Mira.

The same girl who had made my life miserable since school.

The queen of every hallway she entered—always loud, always untouchable, always making sure I knew I didn’t belong anywhere near her world.

She ruined my name with rumors, turned people against me with whispers, laughed at my clothes, and made sure I never felt safe walking alone. She cornered me, humiliated me, and turned every day into something I had to survive instead of live.

And somehow, she still looked perfect.

Red lipstick. Soft curls. Expensive dress. She lit up the room like she owned it.

“Aria!” she squealed dramatically, rushing toward me with open arms. “Oh my gosh, it’s been forever!”

Before I could even step back, she hugged me.

My body went rigid instantly.

Every nerve in me recoiled at the contact, like my skin refused to accept it.

She pulled away slightly, studying me. Her smile wavered when she saw I wasn’t smiling back.

A small pout formed. “What, still not over me?” she said lightly, tilting her head. Then she gave a soft laugh. “Wait… shouldn’t I be the one scared of you? You used to bully me, remember?”

My breath caught.

Julian turned sharply toward me. “Bully you? Aria, what is she talking about?”

Mira placed a hand on her chest like she was hurt. “Oh… I guess she never mentioned it,” she said sweetly. “We were friends once. Until she turned on me.”

I shoved Mira hard enough that she staggered back, a sharp gasp escaping her lips.

“You’re the one who ruined me!” I cried, my voice cracking under the weight of everything. “You destroyed my life!”

I didn’t stay to hear anything else. I turned and bolted out of the apartment, tears already blurring my sight.

Behind me, Julian’s voice snapped through the air. “Aria!”

But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t. My chest felt tight, like something inside me was collapsing in on itself.

I barely made it to the hallway when he caught up. His hand clamped around my arm and spun me back toward him.

“What is wrong with you?” he hissed.

“I can’t—” My breath turned thin and uneven. Panic clawed up my throat. “My anxiety… I can’t be near her—”

“Your anxiety?” His eyes turned sharp, almost unfamiliar. “Or just another excuse so you don’t face what you did?”

“Julian, please—”

“Mira told me everything,” he cut in coldly. “How you treated her. How you made her life miserable back in school. And now you want to act like the victim?”

The ground felt like it shifted under me. “She told you that?”

“Yes,” he said flatly. “That you harassed her for years. Spread lies. Humiliated her. Made her feel worthless.” His voice dropped lower, colder. “I know exactly who you are, Aria. And honestly? It’s disgusting.”

Each word sliced deeper than the last. “That’s not true—she’s lying—”

“Is she?” He stepped closer, invading every inch of space. “Because right now, all I see is you losing control. Yelling. Attacking her. While she’s been nothing but polite.”

Tears spilled down my face. “Julian, you have to believe me—”

“I don’t have to do anything,” he said sharply. “What I need is for you to go home, think about your behavior, and come back ready to apologize. To Mira. For everything.”

“I won’t—”

“You will.” His grip tightened painfully. “Or this is over. Decide.”

Then he let go like I meant nothing, turned his back, and walked straight back into the apartment.

I stood frozen in the hallway, shaking, everything inside me breaking at once.

**

Two days later, his message arrived.

Wedding dress fitting. Tomorrow, 2 PM. Mira will be there. You two need to sort things out. She’s important to me.

I stared at the screen until the words blurred together. He wasn’t asking. He was ordering. Forcing me to sit in the same space as the person who had already destroyed me.

And I went anyway.

Because without Julian… without Grandma Rosemarie… I had nothing left to hold on to.

**

The bridal boutique felt suffocating the moment I stepped inside. Julian and Mira were already there—standing too close, laughing like they shared something I wasn’t part of.

When Julian saw me, his expression flattened. “You’re late.”

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.

Mira smiled like nothing had ever happened. “It’s fine, Aria. I know things have been hard for you lately.” She touched Julian’s arm lightly. “Should we start?”

It felt like I wasn’t even real in that room.

Mira chose dresses for me like I was a doll. Julian barely looked up from his phone. When I stepped out in the first gown, she tilted her head.

“It’s okay,” she said, though her tone didn’t match her smile. “But maybe something less simple? This is Julian’s wedding too.”

Julian nodded without even looking at me. “Try another.”

By the third dress, her tone had shifted. “The fit isn’t flattering. Your posture makes it worse. Are you even trying?”

I didn’t respond. I just changed again, numb, like I was being dressed and undressed for someone else’s approval.

“Aria,” Julian said suddenly, irritation in his voice. “Are you going to cooperate or just stand there?”

I looked at him through the mirror. “What exactly do you want from me?”

“I want you to stop acting like this,” he said sharply. “Mira is trying to help. The least you can do is show gratitude.”

“I am grateful,” I said automatically.

“Then act like it,” he snapped. “Right now you just look jealous and childish.”

It felt like being slapped without warning.

Mira quickly stepped in, softening her voice. “Julian, it’s okay. She’s just overwhelmed.”

His expression changed instantly when he looked at her. “You’re too patient with her.”

Something inside me cracked quietly.

**

At the jewelry shop, it got worse.

Mira picked the rings, tried them on, gave opinions like she was the one getting married. Julian agreed with everything she said.

When I tried to speak, he cut me off.

“Just trust Mira. She knows what looks good.”

So I stood there silently while someone else chose the ring that was supposed to be mine.

**

The bridal shower was held at Grandma Rosemarie’s estate.

For a moment when I arrived, I thought maybe it would be peaceful. But Mira was already there, laughing with guests, completely in control of the room.

“She once saved my life,” Grandma said warmly to everyone, smiling at me. “Aria is a good girl.”

For a second, I felt something close to belonging.

Then Mira stood up, raising her glass.

“To Aria and Julian,” she said sweetly. “May they find the happiness they deserve.”

Glasses clinked. Everyone drank.

And then Grandma suddenly swayed.

Her glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor.

“Grandma!” I rushed forward and caught her before she fell completely.

Panic exploded around us. Someone shouted for help. Phones came out. Julian rushed in seconds later, face pale.

“What happened?” he demanded.

“I don’t know—she just collapsed—”

Before I could finish, Mira stepped forward, voice shaking like she was crying.

“I saw Aria near Grandma’s drink earlier… she was doing something with it.”

Silence hit the room instantly.

Every head turned to me.

“What?” I whispered. “No— I didn’t—”

“I didn’t want to say anything,” Mira continued, tears forming perfectly. “But I can’t stay quiet if Grandma was in danger.”

“You’re lying!” I screamed.

Julian grabbed my arm so hard it hurt. “Did you poison my grandmother?”

“No! Julian, I swear—”

“Answer me!” he shouted.

“I didn’t do anything!” My voice broke. “I would never hurt her—never—”

But he wasn’t listening anymore. His eyes were burning with anger I had never seen before.

“Get out,” he said quietly. “Before I do something I can’t undo.”

“Julian, please—”

He leaned in close, his voice dropping into something worse than anger.

“You’re nothing without me,” he whispered. “Nothing without my family. Without us, you’re just a nobody with nothing to her name.”

His words sank in like poison.

“So remember that,” he added. “Because I can take everything from you. And you won’t be able to stop me.”