Chapter 1

On my wedding day, the makeup artist mistook my twin sister for me.

Chloe didn't bother to correct her. She sat there getting the full bridal glam and slipped right into my custom designer gown.

Just as I was about to tell her to change back, my fiancé, Brandon, shoved a bridesmaid dress into my hands with an easy grin.

"Sierra, you two look identical anyway. Let Chloe have her fun for a bit. You can be the bride when it's time for the evening gown."

My parents chimed in immediately, pulling my arms. "You're the older sister. The older one is supposed to give in to the younger one."

I swallowed the bitter lump in my throat, speechless.

All these years, whenever Chloe wanted something, I had to give it up.

When we were kids, my parents forced me to cut off the sweet tips of the strawberries for her, leaving me with the sour, pale bottoms.

When I met Brandon, he took their side, always telling me to accommodate Chloe. I even had to settle for whichever birthday gifts she didn't want.

Yet, I was only older than her by a single minute.

It wasn't until the evening ceremony that I finally put on my white wedding dress and stood at the altar.

Brandon read his vows: "In sickness and in health, I promise to take care of you..."

Down below, Chloe suddenly shouted, "And me! Brandon, you have to take care of me and my sister!"

The whole room erupted into laughter.

Instead of stopping her, Brandon laughed along and changed his vow on the spot. "All right. I'll take care of you too. I'll pamper you for the rest of my life!"

Out of everyone in that room, I was the only one who couldn't smile.

When Brandon finished, the officiant held the mic toward my lips.

"And do you, Sierra, take Brandon to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

I stood in silence for a long time. Then, I slowly raised my hand and ripped off my veil.

"I don't."

I was done giving in.

The officiant froze, completely stunned. He quickly forced a nervous laugh to smooth things over.

"Haha, looks like our bride is just so overwhelmed with happiness that she's lost for words! No worries, let's try that one more time."

"Sierra, do you take Brandon to be your..."

Before he could finish, I hurled the torn veil onto the floor.

"I said, I don't!"

I grabbed the train of my gown, turned around, and marched straight toward the dressing room.

Brandon chased after me and grabbed my wrist.

"Sierra, what the hell are you doing? If you have something to say, say it! Did you really have to humiliate me in front of everyone at our own wedding?"

I turned to look at him.

"So you know this is a wedding?"

"Can you just rewrite marriage vows on a whim? Can you say wedding vows to another woman?"

Brandon frowned, looking at me as if I were being ridiculous.

"She's your twin sister, not some stranger. What's the big deal?"

"You're the older sister. Just let it slide."

Let it slide.

Give in.

Always that same line.

Ever since we were little, whenever Chloe threw a tantrum, I was the one who had to back down.

Why?

Just because I was born sixty seconds earlier, did I have to spend the rest of my life swallowing my pride for her?

My eyes burned with tears.

I shoved Brandon's hand away with all my strength and kept walking toward the dressing room.

Brandon let out a heavy sigh behind me.

He didn't follow.

I knew where he was going. He was going to find my parents and Chloe to figure out what to do.

Just like my birthday party last week.

It was supposed to be my birthday, yet I ended up with an outdated, cheap necklace that Chloe didn't pick. And when she decided she liked mine better, she snatched that one away too.

I was left with nothing.

If I dared utter a single "no," Brandon and my parents would immediately corner me with, "You're the older sister. What's wrong with letting your sister have it?"

Twenty-seven years. I was sick to death of hearing it.

I wasn't going to hear it ever again.

Inside the dressing room, I stripped off the wedding dress and stared blankly at my reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, the door swung open with a bang.

Chloe leaned against the doorframe, whining,

"Sierra, are you throwing another tantrum at Brandon?"