Eve

The cab I boarded came to a slow stop in front of my parents’ house or what used to feel like home. A tall, black iron gate stood before me, just as cold and unwelcoming as the people who lived behind it. I sighed deeply, the kind of sigh that feels like it comes from your bones, and stepped out of the cab. After paying the driver, I held my tote bag tightly as I dragged my feet, walking through the gate.

Every step I took toward the house felt heavy. The air around this place was always thick with tension. I braced myself, ready for the empty smiles, sharp comments, and disapproving looks that never failed to meet me at the door.

As I entered the house, I was greeted not by silence or concern, but by laughter. It was light, carefree laughter that echoed off the high ceilings.

I paused near the entrance, peeking into the dining room. There they were: my father, his new wife, and their twin daughters, sitting around the table like a perfect little family. They were chatting and giggling like nothing else in the world mattered.

They didn’t even notice me.

It hurt. No matter how many times I told myself to stop caring, it always hurts. My father used to be everything to me. After Mom passed immediately after my arrival on earth, it was just the two of us. But everything changed when he remarried. He moved on not just from my mom, but from me too. He built a new life and pushed me out at a young age as if I was an old furniture that no longer matched the house.

I went to Grandma's side to live. I turned, heading for the stairs that led to my room. I wanted to disappear before anyone saw me. But just as I placed a foot on the bottom step, her voice stopped me.

“Eve,” my stepmother called, sharp and accusing. I turned slowly to face her.

“Why are you just getting home now? You know you have responsibilities here, especially to my daughters, Ellabel and Arabel,” she said, emphasizing their names like they were royalty.

My eyes shifted to Arabel, who was busy wiping my father’s mouth with a napkin like he was a baby. Ellabel, on the other hand, kept her head down, quietly eating her meal.

“What exactly am I supposed to do for them?” I asked, my voice low and tired. I’d had a long, difficult day, and I wasn’t in the mood for her demands.

She folded her arms. “Where were you? I called you twice. You should’ve hurried back.”

“I was at the hospital,” I replied, barely loud enough to be heard.

My father scoffed. “Always an excuse. Your sisters need you. Can’t you see how delicate they are?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. Delicate? Those two girls were anything but a pain to me. Arabel was clever, strong, and manipulative when she wanted to be, and Lydia made Ellabel a pain despite her gentleness. But I didn’t argue. I simply lowered my eyes and muttered, “I’m sorry.”

“Mom, Dad, stop,” Arabel suddenly said. “It’s okay. She was taking care of Grandma at the hospital. Let’s not be too hard on her.”

She smiled at me, a strange, too-sweet smile. I almost laughed out loud. Arabel? Defending me? That was a first. I whispered to myself, “Fake,” and turned my face away.

“Welcome back, Eve,” Ellabel said softly. She gave me a small smile, and I smiled back. She was the only one who showed me any kindness in this house. Between the twins, she was always the gentler one.

Then Arabel stood up, walking over to where I stood near the staircase. Without asking, she held my shoulder and led me toward the sofa.

I sat down stiffly, confused. Something wasn’t right. Arabel never touched me unless it was to push past me or yank something out of my hand or if it was to trample her feet at her.

That's actually her routine.

But now, she was guiding me gently. Her smile didn’t fade.

Ellabel joined us, sitting on my other side. I found myself trapped between the two of them on the plush sofa. My heart started beating faster. What were they up to?

“Sis, how is Grandma doing?” Ellabel asked sweetly, her voice soft like feathers.

Arabel nodded, still smiling. “We know you do a lot for this family. We don’t say it often, but we see it. And… I got you something.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small box. Opening it, she revealed a silver necklace with a delicate heart-shaped pendant.

I blinked, surprised. “You… got this for me?”

She nodded. “Yes. I wanted to show my appreciation.”

I reached out slowly, hesitantly. Arabel had never given me a gift before not even on my birthdays. It was always Ellabel who’d sneak me cards or candy. But never Arabel.

“Thank you,” I whispered, touching the necklace gently. “But… why now?”

She smiled, her eyes flicking to her twin before looking back at me. “Because I need something from you.”

And there it was.

I pulled my hand back. “What do you want?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she looked at Ellabel. They shared a look, a silent conversation I wasn’t part of. Then Arabel turned back to me with that same unsettling grin.

“I need you to marry someone for me,” she said casually, like she was asking me to borrow a dress.

My jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”

“The second son of the Harrington family,” Arabel answered, as if that explained everything.

My heart skipped a beat. I looked at the faces around the room. My father and stepmother wore matching expressions, cold and impatient. Ellabel looked away, as if she didn’t want to be part of this anymore. But Arabel? She looked satisfied, like a cat who had just set a trap.

Something was definitely wrong. Very wrong