Iris


    The entire ballroom falls silent as Selina strides in looking like she wasn''t just in aa yesterday. She''s fully decked out to the


    nines in a stunning silver ball gown, her hair and makeup utterly perfect.


    But her face is thunderous, cold gray eyes narrowed and fixed directly on me.


    Even after months in aa, it seems her


    shrewdness has only intensified.


    People step out of her way as she cuts through the crowd without hesitating. Some look rmed, but most just look excited by the


    drama unfolding. Margaret and the other Selina supporters I''d been warned about are practically buzzing.


    Arthur moves to stand in front of me, but I ce a hand on his arm, recalling Veronica''s words. I won''t appear weak. Especially


    not tonight, on one of the most important nights of my life.


    Selina stops a few feet away, her eyes raking over me from head to toe. She takes in the wildflower gown, the expensive jewelry,


    my ce at the center of a party clearly thrown in my honor.


    "So," she says, lifting her chin. "I see you''ve been ying dress-up while I''ve been gone."


    Whispers ripple through the crowd. My mother makes a small sound of distress, and my father ces a hand on her shoulder.


    I take a deep breath and step forward, ignoring the throb in my ankle. "Selina. I''m d to see you''re feeling better."


    Her eyes narrow further. "Don''t pretend you care about my well-being. You''ve been busy, haven''t you? Stealing my fiance,


    taking my ce in my family, wearing my mother''s jewelry."


    My cheeks burn, but I keep my expression neutral. Getting defensive will only make me look guilty, and I''ve done nothing wrong.


    "I understand why you''re upset," I say calmly. "This must be confusing and overwhelming for you."


    "Overwhelming?" she scoffs. "Try infuriating. You manipted your way into my family, convinced them of some ridiculous


    baby-swap story-"


    "It''s not a story, Selina," my father interjects firmly. "DNA tests have confirmed it."


    Selina''s eyes sh to him, hurt flickering across her face before hardening again. "And you just epted it? Twenty-six years of being your daughter, and you toss me aside for -for her?"


    "No one is tossing you aside, honey," my mother says gently. "You''re still our daughter in every way that matters."


    Selina ignores this, turning back to me. "And you. What''s your endgame here? Money? Status? Revenge?"


    I straighten my shoulders, suddenly tired of this whole charade. "Would you like something to eat?" I ask, surpris


    including myself. "There''s an amazing selection of food over there, and I imagine hospital meals aren''t particul appetizing. Or perhaps a drink? You must be exhausted after everything you''ve been through."


    Selina blinks, clearly caught off guard by my change of subject. "What?"


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    "Food. Drink. You know, the normal things one might want at a party they just crashed." I keep my voice light, conversational, as


    if we''re just two acquaintances chatting at a-social event. "This is a celebration,


    after all, and you''re wee to join us."


    The crowd is watching with rapt attention, waiting for the explosion. I catch Veronica''s gaze from across the room, and there''s a


    sparkle in her eye.


    "I don''t want to rece you, Selina," I go on. "That was never my intention. I can''t help that I''m the biological child of the


    Willfords-that''s just a fact. But that doesn''t make you any less their daughter, and honestly, I hope we can be sisters."


    Selina stares at me, her mouth slightly open. Whatever reaction she was expecting, it clearly wasn''t this.


    "Sisters?" she repeats, her nose wrinkling. "You think you could possibly be my sister?"


    "Why not? We may have been swapped at birth, but you were still raised as part


    of the family. We''re both their daughters." I offer


    her a small smile. "And I''ve always wanted a sibling."


    For a moment, she looks uncertain. Then she nces around, seeming to


    remember that we have an audience. Her expression


    hardens again.


    "I don''t need your pity."


    I nod. "Good, because I''m not offering any. Just food, drink, and the possibility


    that we can one day put aside our... troubled


    pasts." I try not to think about the fact that she fucking tried to kill me. "We don''t have to be enemies forever."


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