Chapter 1
I watched the trending video titled "Innocent Starlet Caught Kissing In Club" three times in a row.
That was definitely my face. But the girl in the video wasn't me. It was my identical twin, Holly Hill.
I zoomed in and out on the screen, trying to catch signs of Photoshop.
But the profile was flawless, right down to the barely visible mole on my right earlobe.
"Annalee, fun night?" Holly texted, with a tongue-out emoji.
I replied with a string of question marks.
She instantly fired back. "Just borrowed your face for a bit. No one can tell us apart anyway."
My hands shook with rage. I nearly flung my phone into the fish tank.
Right then, my agent Joslyn Espinoza called.
"Annalee Hill, this kind of buzz? Perfect timing," she said, voice all bubbly like she'd just counted a stack of cash. "The company's decided that it's time for a rebrand."
I swallowed hard. "Joslyn, that wasn't me."
"Don't explain. I get it," she cut me off. "Just roll with it. We've got a drink endorsement meeting next week."
Before hanging up, Joslyn added, "Post something on X—something like 'When you're young, love hard, hate louder.'"
I stared at the darkened screen, my stomach churning.
On my vanity sat a half-used bottle of antidepressants. My doctor had just upped the dosage last week.
I twisted the cap off, poured out two white pills.
Then I hesitated, put one back, and swallowed a vitamin instead.
The bare face in the mirror looked nothing like the one from the video—heavily made-up and smeared across the internet.
I began practicing that tipsy, sweet-and-clueless smile.
My mouth curled to the perfect sweet angle, eyes just misty enough to sell the illusion.
It was lesson one at rookie training when I debuted.
By the fifth try, the doorbell rang.
On the security monitor, Holly stood outside in my identical trench coat, flashing a peace sign at the camera.
"Surprise?" she chirped, kicking off her heels the moment she stepped inside. "I even did my hair like yours."
I grabbed her wrist. "Do you even realize what this could do to my image?"
"What, the innocent sweetheart thing?" she rolled her eyes. "God, how boring."
She pulled a lipstick out of her bag and touched up her makeup in the foyer mirror.
It was "First Love Pink", my endorsement shade.
"Relax, I didn't sleep with the guy," she said with a smirk. "Just a kiss with a C-list influencer. He's not even as famous as you."
A vein pulsed at my temple.
Three years ago, we auditioned for the same talent show. I made it to the finals, and she got cut in round two.
Since then, she'd loved playing this twisted little twin-swap game.
"Let me guess. Your agency told you to post on X?" she asked as she rummaged through my closet. "Lend me a dress? I've got a party tonight."
I yanked the Chanel dress out of her hands. "Are you insane? Haven't you done enough?"
She suddenly leaned in, her nose nearly touching mine.
"Your eyeliner's smudged," she said.
I instinctively stepped back.
That closeness reminded me of when we were kids—always mistaken for the same person.
When we were twelve, a dance teacher picked her as the lead.
I missed the recital because of a fever.
That teacher became my first agent.
"I'm releasing a statement," I said, grabbing my phone.
Holly laughed, sharp and glassy.
"Sure, go ahead. Tell the world you have a twin sister," she said, tilting her head. "And then what? You think your fans will believe it? The press?"
She twirled once, her skirt catching the air.
"Why not lean into it?" she winked. "You're going to rebrand sooner or later."
My thumb hovered over the "Post" button, frozen.
She wasn't wrong.
Just last month, a rising actress blamed AI for a scandal video and got mocked online for weeks.
The doorbell rang again.
This time, it was Joslyn with a stack of contracts and a bright face.
"And who's this?" she asked, eyes darting between us.
"I'm her cousin," Holly said smoothly, offering her hand. "I'm just crashing for a few days."
Joslyn's eyes sparkled.
"A first cousin?" she asked, squinting. "You two could be clones."
I pinched my own arm.
Holly was already looping her arm through Joslyn's. "It's such an honor to meet you. I study acting. I'm a huge fan of the artists you manage."
I swear I saw dollar signs in Joslyn's eyes.
"Perfect!" she clapped. "There's a web drama casting for a supporting role. Come in tomorrow?"
Holly nodded shyly, tossing me a triumphant wink.
My phone buzzed nonstop.
My fan club group chat had exploded.
"Annalee's in love?"
"Who's that guy? He's hot!"
"Unfollowing—so much for the pure image."
That last message came from my oldest fan of three years, "AlwaysYours".
I took a deep breath and opened X.