Chapter 1

When I was a kid, my mom was swept out to sea trying to save me.

Dad never forgave me for that. In his mind, I was the reason she died. After that, he and my brother, Ethan, made sure I paid for it. And as if that wasn't enough, Dad adopted a girl my age to replace me.

I became the extra in my own house. I did everything for her—ran errands, cleaned up after her, stayed quiet when she needed someone to blame. On the night of our coming-of-age ceremony, Dad even planned to pass me off to some rich, spoiled heir like I was part of the party favors.

And just when I was about to give up on everything, the mother who had been missing for ten years came back.

*****

On the day Bella Stewart and I turned eighteen, Dad came home with a pearl-covered gown draped over his arm.

Bella hurried over and slipped her arm through his, leaning against him with a sweet smile. "Wow, Dad. Look at you, being all thoughtful for once."

My brother, Ethan, followed behind her, grinning. "Great choice, Dad. Bella likes it. This dress would look amazing on her."

I glanced down at my own shirt, the fabric worn thin and faded, and quietly stepped back.

Beautiful things were never meant for me.

But this time, Dad called my name.

He walked over and placed the dress in my hands. "It's yours."

Bella's smile dropped instantly.

Ethan's face darkened. "Dad, it's Bella's birthday too."

He snatched the dress right out of my hands and glared at me. "She doesn't deserve something like this."

Whatever light had flickered in my chest went out just as fast.

But Dad ignored them. He took the dress back from Ethan and pushed it into my arms again, more firmly this time. "It's your ceremony. Make an effort. Look nice."

Ethan let out an irritated scoff and pulled Bella closer. "Don't worry. Didn't Dad just buy you that gemstone necklace? Wear it. Let everyone see who the real Stewart heiress is."

He shot me a cold look and walked away without looking back.

Ethan and I shared the same mother. If anyone knew who the real daughter of the Stewart family was, it was him.

But after Mom disappeared beneath the waves, I became the villain in their story—the unforgivable one.

And people like me didn't get to belong.

I took a few slow breaths and put the dress on anyway.

When I stepped out of the dressing room, I realized the house was already full.

Most of them were Bella's friends—the kind of girls who only ever sided with whoever had the upper hand.

Every time they came over, Bella introduced me as the maid.

With Dad and Ethan backing her up, she'd grown from cautious and insecure into someone who carried herself like she owned the place.

The moment they saw me, they started laughing.

"Bella, you're way too nice. It's your big night, and you've even dressed up the help?"

"Bella, aren't you worried she'll steal your spotlight?"

Bella frowned at me, but before she could respond, Ethan stepped in. "Come on. You can't turn a nobody into royalty just by putting her in a nice dress. She could wear couture, and she still wouldn't have Bella's presence."

The room burst into laughter.

One of the girls noticed my expression and smirked. She nudged my ankle with the tip of her heel. "Hey. Go grab me a drink."

After Mom was gone, I stopped expecting anything good out of life. Whatever they threw at me, I took it. I didn't argue. I didn't fight back. I just endured.

But this dress—stupid as it sounds—lit something small inside me again: a thin, fragile spark of hope.

I shook my head and looked at the girl who'd just kicked me. "I'm not the maid. If you want a drink, go get it yourself."

Her smile stiffened. Embarrassed, she turned straight to Bella. "What's wrong with your help? She's ignoring guests now? You should really fire her."

Bella was about to respond when Dad called her over.

They spoke in low voices for a moment. When she came back, her whole attitude had shifted.

"I've always treated Abigail like a sister," she said gently. "Don't tease her."

Then Dad stepped onto the stage.

He started by talking about Mom—how much he missed her. His voice even cracked at the right places.

Then he turned to Bella. "Bella has been raised with nothing but love from Ethan and me. Today she turns eighteen. I hope her life is filled with peace and happiness."

My throat tightened.

Ever since Mom disappeared, my life had been nothing but atonement. No one had wished me happiness in years.

Then Dad looked at me.

There was something in his eyes—hesitation, or maybe calculation.

My heart shot up into my throat. I gripped the fabric of the dress without realizing it.

He lifted his hand and pointed at me. The lights followed, a bright beam pinning me in place.

He finally spoke. "Maid. Who said you could steal Bella's dress?"

For a second, I thought I'd misheard him.

Whispers rippled through the room.

The girl who'd ordered me to get her a drink let out a sharp laugh and patted Bella's shoulder. "That explains the attitude. If she's bold enough to steal her employer's dress, who knows what else she'd do?"

Cold spread through my body.

So this wasn't a change of heart. It was a setup. He wanted me humiliated publicly.

Ethan leaned in close, his voice low and merciless against my ear. "Did you forget? You killed Mom. Someone like you doesn't deserve to live—let alone be loved."