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The ivory card hit Alyhana like a punch to the gut.
"Miss Aurora Bennett and Mr. Killian Mikaelson cordially invite you to their wedding."
Usually, those words would inspire daydreams and fantasies, but now they twisted like knives in her heart. A wedding? How could they even think about starting their 'happily ever after' while she was left picking up the pieces of her own shattered dreams?
Her hands shook, and she barely stopped herself from tearing the invitation to pieces. Still, destroying the paper would only be a momentary act of defiance, a small victory against the immense weight of betrayal.
Watching her, Layla, her best friend since childhood, felt a mix of deep concern and frustration mirrored in her eyes. The shock on Alyhana's face was a whirlwind of emotions—disbelief so intense it felt physical. Layla was used to seeing Alyhana handle life with her trademark kindness and sharp wit, but in recent years, she'd turned into a mere shadow of her former self.
"I'm so sorry, Alyhana," Layla whispered, her voice soft and somehow inadequate against the tide of Alyhana's pain.
Finally, Alyhana's anger broke, and the tears streamed down her cheeks, burning hot. "How could they do this to me, Layla?" she gasped, her voice raw. "How could Killian betray me like this?"
Layla's heart ached for her friend. She knew how close the twins had been, a bond that had once seemed unbreakable. Growing up, they had shared everything; secrets, dreams, laughter—it all echoed in their childhood home. But everything had changed when they hit their teenage years, their once inseparable connection splintering into chaos.
Layla wrapped her arms around Alyhana, the hug a momentary comfort but hardly enough. "I don't know, I'm so, so sorry," she murmured.
The weight of betrayal pressed down on Alyhana, leaving her gasping for air. All those shared years—the laughter, the tears, the fights—now felt like a cruel ruse, memories that were painfully fake. How could he do this to her after everything?
As the night dragged on, Alyhana's sobs faded to soft whimpers. Layla held her tight, letting her mourn for a love that had never really been. Alyhana might never forgive Killian for this, but Layla hoped that someday she'd find a way to forgive herself for believing in something that never existed.
After what felt like an eternity, Alyhana pulled back from Layla, her face pale and eyes swollen, but with a glimmer of resolve sparking in them.
"I need a drink," she croaked, her voice hoarse.
A flicker of hope crossed Layla's face. It was the first hint of Alyhana's fighting spirit, a small step toward healing.
"I'll make some tea," Layla offered, her tone warm against the coolness of the night. "And then, I'm all ears."
As Layla moved around Alyhana's tiny kitchen, Alyhana caught a glimpse of herself in the window, a stranger staring back. Traces of the vibrant girl she once was remained, but she felt like a ghost of her former self.
"Are you okay now?" Layla asked, handing her a steaming mug.
"Yeah," Alyhana replied, her voice still shaky. "But I'm not sure what I'm going to do."
Layla settled in, her kind brown eyes scanning Alyhana's face, the faint wrinkles a testament to her compassionate spirit. "Why would your own twin do this? That's like the ultimate betrayal!"
Alyhana sighed, the weight of the question heavy. "I wouldn't put it past Aurora," she said bitterly. "She's always been a bit...evil, even when we were kids."
Layla's eyebrows lifted. She had known Aurora for years, but Alyhana's words painted a starkly different picture. "We've known each other forever, Aly. I still don't get what happened between you two."
Taking a deep breath, Alyhana's hand trembled as she lifted the mug to her lips. "I think I'm ready to share it now," she whispered.
The warm tea felt soothing, but the words folding in her chest felt like ice. She had buried this painful truth for so long, afraid of letting it see the light. But now, with the wedding invitation burning in her mind, she knew it was time to speak up.
Looking at Layla, her closest friend and confidante, Alyhana started, "It all began when we were kids."
Memories flooded back—two inseparable kids bonded by secrets, dreams, and the complexity of sibling rivalry. "We were always competitive," she continued, her voice gaining strength. "We both wanted to be the prettiest, the most popular. It was a constant silent war at school and the playground."
Layla listened, understanding shining in her eyes. She knew their rivalry was legendary, amusing to some, concerning to others. But it always seemed like a healthy competition that pushed them both to excel.
"But then it changed," Alyhana said, her voice cracking. "I don't know how; it just did. We started fighting more, pushing each other away. Things got uglier, the competition more intense. Every day became a battle, and love turned to hate."
She paused, searching for words to express how their bond had shifted into something painful. "It was like we became strangers," she finally admitted, despair thick in her voice. "We both feared losing, feared being second best, and we were terrified of being alone."
Layla nodded, knowing that feeling all too well. She had seen their rivalry's consuming nature but never imagined it could lead to something this destructive.
Taking another sip of her tea, Alyhana felt warmth spread through her but couldn't shake the chill in her heart. "And then Killian came along," she murmured.
"He was everything my family wasn't," she said, regret heavy in her voice. "He was kind, gentle, patient. And I thought he loved me...or at least, I hoped he did."
His kind eyes and easy grin stood out in her memory, a beacon of hope amid the coldness of her relationship with her twin. "It felt like fresh air," she whispered, her voice cracking again. "He was my escape...but eventually, he became just another player in the game."
The truth hung heavily in the air, weighed down by unspoken realities and hurt.
"I need to tell you everything," Alyhana stated, determination mingled with fear in her tone. "It won't be easy, but I need to share it all."
Layla took Alyhana's hand, her grip a silent promise of support.
"I'm right here for you, Aly," she reassured her, her voice steady. "Whatever happened, whatever you need to say, I'm all ears."
Alyhana squeezed Layla's hand back, gratitude flickering in her eyes. It was going to be a long journey, but with Layla beside her, hope stirred within. She knew the road to healing would be tough, but she had to take it step by step.