Chapter 1
After three years in a coma, all to save my brother, Andrew Langley, and three childhood companions, I finally woke up.
My parents, my brother, and my three childhood friends crowded around my hospital bed, their faces filled with emotion. But I felt nothing.
It was because I knew the truth. After the hospital called to say I was awake, they had all continued celebrating my adopted sister, Emily Langley's birthday, before coming to see me.
In those three lost years, she had taken everything that was once mine.
A voice inside warned me that if I tried to fight for their love, I would become the jealous villainess.
Finally, I would be hated, discarded, and doomed.
I sneered. Fight for them? No. A family and friends like that weren't worth fighting for.
*****
On the TV in my hospital room, the news was showing Emily's extravagant birthday party.
The heirs of Harbor City's top families, the Rivers, Cooper, and Grant families, were all in attendance.
Those handsome young heirs were gathered around Emily, celebrating her birthday. Now that was what being a princess was like.
I stared at those familiar faces on the TV screen.
My parents, my brother, and the three guys I grew up with, Ethan Rivers, Ryan Cooper, and Lucas Grant, were all there.
They already knew I was awake; the nurse had made the call right beside me, and my dad picked up.
But there they were, still smiling and celebrating at that birthday party, acting like everything was perfectly fine, right up until the very end.
The nurse had just finished my physical therapy, and I was lying in bed, ready to get some rest.
Out of nowhere, hurried footsteps echoed at the door.
The door swung open, shattering the quiet in my room.
"Charlotte," Andrew called out.
Ethan said, "Charlotte, you're finally awake."
So many excited faces and voices, like my waking up was the biggest deal ever.
If I hadn't seen them on TV giving Emily those soft, loving looks, I wouldn't have realized the truth.
If they hadn't shown up so late after I woke up, maybe I would have believed that they were still the same parents, brother, and childhood friends I used to know.
But now, my face was expressionless as I glanced at Emily in the doorway, still wearing the same beautiful white dress I had just seen on TV.
My mom caught my gaze and softly beckoned her over, her voice gentle.
My mom said, "Charlotte, this is your sister, Emily. She's the daughter of your father's friend who passed away. We took her in three years ago.
"While you were in a coma these past three years, Emily kept us company. If it hadn't been for her, I don't know how I would've made it through."
"Yeah, Emily really was like a blessing from above when things were at their hardest," Dad said with a sigh.
"Emily, you've got a big sister now. Come on, greet her," Andrew said softly.
Emily gazed at me, eyes brimming with emotion. She said, "Charlotte, I can't believe you're finally awake. Mom, Dad, and Andrew are so happy. I always said, if you could just wake up, I'd be willing to leave the Langley family in a heartbeat."
"Emily, what nonsense are you talking about?" Mom said, quickly pulling her into a hug.
"Don't ever say you want to leave the Langley family again, okay? You're one of us, and now you've got a big sister, too," Mom added.
"Yeah, silly girl, no one's ever going to let you leave the Langley family," Dad said, his voice full of affection.
"Silly Emily, always thinking about leaving. Are you going to abandon Mom, Dad, and me? That would break our hearts," Andrew said, pretending to be sad.
"Andrew, I would never leave you guys," Emily said, her cheeks turning red with embarrassment.
She pouted and stamped her foot, looking adorably flustered.
That made everyone in the room laugh.
"If the Langleys ever treat you badly, just come to me. I'll treat you like a princess," Ethan said, flashing a playful grin.
"Hey, why does she have to go to you? Why not come to me?" Ryan said, sounding a bit jealous.
"We're the closest, aren't we? Emily should come to me," Lucas called out, trying to steal the spotlight.
"As if! who says we're the closest?" Emily said.
The others booed him, making the room burst into laughter.
"Alright, you guys can forget it. Emily's our little princess; no way anyone's ever going to bully her," Andrew said.
Mom and Dad just laughed and shook their heads.
Emily blushed and snuggled up to Mom.
Just like that, all eyes in my hospital room were on her.
Lying there in bed, it was as if I were just an afterthought.
Feeling bored, I turned my head and saw Emily glancing at me with a triumphant little smirk, as she had just won some kind of prize.