Chapter 3
I walked over, scissors in hand.
Channeling Cassie perfectly, I scoffed, "I totally forgot, Skye. You're all grown up now and still wearing my old clothes? That's seriously not cool."
I snipped each piece to shreds, and nobody lifted a finger to stop me.
Cassie looked at our parents with a blank, lost expression.
Mom scrunched up her face at Cassie. "Come on, Skye, you're old enough to buy your own clothes instead of passing down your hand-me-downs. Cassie is just looking out for you."
Dad shook his head and added, "Cassie managed to live on her own overseas for two years. Skye, you need to toughen up too, instead of just crying all the time."
Just then, footsteps echoed through the room, and both Cassie and I looked up at the same time.
It was Elliot. His gaze was no longer unfocused; his eyes had healed.
He took in the drama unfolding in front of him, confusion written all over his face.
"Cassie, what's going on here?" Elliot asked.
That was right. To the outside world, the Blevins family only had a daughter: Cassie.
Meanwhile, Skye was the family's dirty little secret, terrified she'd embarrass the Blevins Group.
I dropped the scissors and hooked my arm around Elliot's.
"That's my sister, Skye," I said. "She's always been a bit touchy and insecure, ever since we were kids.
"Wasn't I with you for two whole years, Elliot? I finally get to come home for once, hoping to spend some time with Mom and Dad since you're doing better, but she acts like I'm here to steal from her."
I pouted dramatically, acting aggrieved. "She went and shredded every single outfit I brought back for her. I got scared that she'd hurt herself, so I took the scissors.
"Clothes don't matter. What matters is that she's okay, right, Mom, Dad?"
Mom and Dad lit up and hurried over. "Yes. Elliot, you barely recovered and you're here—how thoughtful! Come in, make yourself at home."
Elliot was as aloof as ever; he didn't even bother to look at Cassie.
He just strode straight inside.
Cassie, in her panic, rushed forward and latched onto Elliot's leg, shaking her head with frantic desperation.
She snatched up her phone and started texting him frantically: [I'm the real Cassie!]
Elliot frowned, his gaze cool as he looked at me.
"What's going on?" he asked.
Of course he'd be confused.
I'd been looking after him for two years straight, never saying a word the whole time.
My family's explanation: after Elliot's accident, Cassie got so worked up she just stopped talking entirely—a classic case of psychogenic muteness.
The doctors promised Cassie would start speaking again as soon as Elliot pulled through.
Elliot's folks totally bought it—they were very moved by Cassie's supposed devotion.
But Elliot? He was completely indifferent, even letting out a cold, mocking laugh. "Only a fool would buy that crap. Who would ever care about a useless cripple?"
I spent two years earning Elliot's trust, doing everything I could to win his heart.
And now here he was, face-to-face with two girls who looked exactly alike.
One was the Cassie who could speak.
The other couldn't speak, yet swore she was Cassie.
I flashed a sweet, confident smile, totally unfazed.
I said, "Elliot, Skye's been mute since she was a kid, and her mind's always been a little messed up.
"She's always after my stuff. Now that she's seen how good-looking you are, she wants to steal you too."
Cassie would always talk like this to our parents, and to anyone else around.
I was just copying her.
"Mute since she was a kid?" Elliot arched a brow, his tone all cold.
As far as Elliot was concerned, Cassie's muteness should've disappeared the minute he got better.
Elliot shot a look at my parents, and they nodded.
"Cassie's right," Mom said. "Skye's always had issues, ever since she was a kid."
Dad said, "Cassie can never stand to see our family doing well. Sorry you had to see this mess, Elliot."
With that, Dad waved at the bodyguard. "Hurry up and get Skye out of here."
But the bodyguard didn't know where to take Skye to.
He nearly spoke up, but thought better of it and kept his mouth shut.
The bodyguard threw Cassie out of the villa complex. Meanwhile, I slipped my arm through Elliot's with a smug grin, like I was watching a show unfold. "Let's go for a walk," I suggested.
We followed Cassie at a safe distance.
A wealthy socialite glided past, cradling her pampered poodle.
She gave Skye a condescending glance, lips curling into a sneer. "Well, if it isn't Skye Blevins. Two years gone and you still look as pathetic as ever."
Skye clawed at her ragged hair—my handiwork—and glared daggers at the lady.
Behind them, I could barely hold back my laughter.
With most families, people couldn't tell identical twins apart.
But in my family? Everyone swore they knew exactly which one was which. Except, when it came down to it, nobody actually did.
*****
After getting kicked out, Cassie moved into a youth hostel.
She slept in a bunk bed, sharing a cramped room with strangers, all for just a few dollars a night.
She ended up working as a flyer girl at the mall.
Cassie had muddled through university—after all, Mom and Dad had already paved the way for her with cushy prospects.
But together with my parents, I made sure to put the word out to every company in Shardford not to hire her.
Moreover, now that Cassie couldn't speak, no company would touch her.