RAQUEL'S POV

I walk out of the courthouse, breathing in the sharp scent of fresh air like it’s the first clean breath I’ve taken all day. The golden ring on my finger catches the sunlight, the diamond crystal glinting mockingly. Pretty. Shiny. Cold. A perfect metaphor for this marriage.

Sitting in that courtroom felt like suffocating in my own skin, like I was being buried alive in silk. But I endured it. Because I had to.

Good thing Kai arrived before me and signed the papers without waiting. At least I was spared the torture of watching my husband look at me with nothing but hatred in his eyes. That alone made today feel like a minor win.

I arrived late because I wasn’t ready—because no matter how much makeup I put on or how perfectly I styled my hair, I still felt like a fraud. Like a replacement bride standing in someone else’s dress.

Rachel’s dress.

Kai will never see me as his wife. To him, I’ll always be the substitute—the leftover twin he got stuck with. My chest squeezes painfully at the thought, but it’s the truth.

I tell myself I don’t care if he hates me. I tell myself I don’t even care if he never falls in love with me. But the ache twisting in my chest proves I’m lying.

Is he even aware of the changes? I'm already being forced to live someone else life, the last thing I want is to appear in someone's life uninvited.

Mom said they didn't go through much details about Rachel's life during the engagement. I doubt they even know Rachel's is a model. But then again, the Rodriguez are know for their genius brain, they probably did their investigation.

This is definitely a bad idea.

Then my thoughts drift, uninvited, to Eliana. She’s going to lose her mind when she finds out I went through with this without telling her. The guilt is immediate, sharp, and unwelcome.

I hate myself a little for this. But what choice did I have?

My parents threatened to cut me off if I refused to go through with the alliance. No allowance, no backup, no safety net. I’m barely scraping by as it is, and I still need to afford my medication. Without their money, I’d be more than broke—I’d be vulnerable.

So here I am. Married. Legally shackled to a man who was supposed to be my sister’s husband. A man who doesn’t even know I exist beyond the paperwork.

A man who will never want me.

But at least I got one thing out of this disaster—I get to leave the Milton mansion. That place always felt like a mausoleum anyway, filled with shadows of Rachel’s greatness and reminders that I was never enough.

Maybe Eliana was right—maybe this wouldn’t be such a bad thing. Maybe this could be my ticket to a life I’ve always wanted. A life where I am powerful. Seen. Recognized. Where I can walk with my head high. Where I’m not always Rachel’s twin, but my own damn person.

But then the other thought creeps in, the one I can’t fight off no matter how hard I try:

What if Kai never looks at me as anything more than her shadow? What if he spends the rest of our marriage resenting me for wearing her ring?

The thought guts me, leaving behind only the hollow echo of my own laugh. Maybe that makes me pathetic. Maybe it makes me a gold digger. So what? People’s opinions don’t pay bills, or buy freedom.

I walk farther until I reach the sidewalk and stand by the curb. I didn’t bring my old truck—I wasn’t about to roll up looking pathetic. No way was I giving my new husband a reason to mock me at first sight.

I flag down a cab and slide into the backseat.

“Where to, miss?” the driver asks, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

I freeze.

Where am I even supposed to go?

I mean, I’m technically supposed to move in with my new husband… right? But I don’t even know where he lives.

Guess it’s back to my parents’ house—for now. I still need to grab my things. And I’m definitely not mentally prepared to start living with Kai just yet. I need time to digest all of this.

I rattle off the address to the driver, then sink back into the seat.

*****

I stand at the door of the Milton house. No keys. They never trusted me with that much privilege.

I knock.

Muffled voices echo from inside, followed by the creak of footsteps.

The lock clicks. And then Mom’s face appears—followed by a wave of disappointment so strong it hits me like a physical slap.

“What are you doing here, Raquel?”

I blink. Did she just…?

I step forward, but she blocks me instantly, her glare sharp enough to slice through glass. “You’re no longer a Milton. You don’t belong here. You need to leave.”

Her tone is cold. Final.

“You can’t do this, Mom. I’m still your daughter.”

She lets out a short, humorless laugh. “Don’t play the guilt card. This marriage benefits you just as much as it benefits us. Now leave.”

“But I need to get....”

SLAM!

She shuts the door in my face before I can finish.

I always knew my family was cruel. But I never imagined they’d make me feel this disposable.

It should hurt. But it doesn’t—not in the way I expected. It’s not pain. It’s emptiness. Like I’ve been dropped into some vast, silent void where even grief doesn’t exist.

I glance into my mini purse, fingers trembling. Relief washes through me when I see the container of pills. Good. At least I have those. I always carry them—for unexpected nights just like this. They didn’t even allow me to pack my stuff.

It’s already getting dark. I pull out my phone and dial Eliana. She’ll let me crash for the night and we’ll figure things out tomorrow.

She picks up on the first ring.

“Bunny! I was just about to call you,” she chirps, her voice buzzing with excitement. “Remember that hot colleague of yours? I finally got his contact. And guess what… he’s in my apartment right now.” She drops her voice to a whisper.

I smile faintly. That’s Eliana. Always landing the guy. At least one of us gets to have the fun.

“Bunny? You still there?”

“Yeah. How about you fill me in on the details tomorrow? You wouldn’t want to keep the dude hanging.”

“Sure. Love you!”

She hangs up.

I inhale deeply, stuffing the rising panic back down. I can’t tell her anything right now, or she’ll rush over. No need to ruin her night.

I run a hand through my hair and chew my lip. I won’t cry. Not over this.

I dial Kyle next. No answer. Straight to voicemail. Figures.

Fine. I’ll just crash at his place. I still have the spare key he gave me months ago. And no, I won’t tell him about the marriage. Not yet.

He has a fragile heart, I wouldn't want to break it.