Chapter 1
My sister married into Westland twelve years ago. She came home only once.
That visit lasted three days. She smiled through every moment, sharing nothing but good news.
Our parents never stopped boasting about her. They told everyone their daughter was living like a princess overseas.
I didn't buy it. So I booked a flight to Rose City.
Her husband was warm and welcoming. The villa was enormous. The children were adorable.
My sister held her little daughter in her arms, spinning in circles across the garden. Sunlight poured over her. She looked like a painting come to life.
But the instant she bent down to set the child on the grass, I caught a glimpse of the mark on the small of her back.
I was stunned.
*****
The plane touched down at Rose City International Airport.
I dragged my suitcase through the crowd of strangers, my heart pounding in my chest.
This was my first time in Rose City.
I wasn't here to see the Skyspire or wander through the Royal Gallery.
I was here for my sister, Emily Evans.
She'd been married and living in Westland for twelve years, only coming back once when I was in college.
She was only home for three days, but she brought back a mountain of luxury gifts and took our mom shopping at the fanciest malls.
She was all smiles the whole time, gushing about how great Victor Evans was and how romantic life in Westland was.
Our mom couldn't stop bragging to everyone, saying Emily was living like a real princess overseas, with a villa and a fancy car.
But I remembered during those three days, Emily never spent a single night by herself.
Every night, she'd squeeze into my tiny bed, hugging me tight, just like she used to when we were little.
When everything was quiet, I could sense her eyes open in the darkness, her body rigid with tension.
I couldn't buy into her fairy tale.
For twelve years, except for those three days, we only kept in touch online.
She was always all smiles on video calls, with the manicured villa garden behind her.
She said she had five kids and her life was so happy it was about to overflow.
But every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse of something in her eyes: tiredness, emptiness, something I just couldn't figure out.
Our parents were getting older, and they'd rather believe the fairy tale Emily had spun for them.
But I couldn't.
I spent every dollar I'd saved from three years of work just to buy this ticket to Rose City.
As soon as I stepped out of the airport, I spotted Victor right away.
He was holding up a sign with my name on it: blond, blue-eyed, tall, and handsome, just like in the photos.
He pulled me into a warm hug.
Victor said, "Charlie, welcome to Rose City. Your sister's got a feast waiting for you at home. She's missed you so much."
His speech was excellent, with a hint of that refined Westland accent.
On the way, he drove a luxury ride I couldn't even recognize, excitedly showing me the scenery outside like Grand Avenue, Victory Arch, River Grace.
Everything looked as perfect as a postcard, and just as unreal.
Finally, the car pulled into a quiet, upscale neighborhood.
A three-story villa with a massive garden came into view, with white walls, black spires, a perfectly manicured lawn, and a beautiful fountain.
It was exactly like the background in Emily's video calls.
Victor opened the car door for me, ever the gentleman.
"We're here," he said.
The villa's front gate slowly opened.
Emily was standing right there at the entrance.
She was wearing a long, off-white dress, her hair softly curled, and her makeup was flawless.
It was like those twelve years hadn't touched her at all.
She was still as beautiful as ever, like a rose that had been carefully tended.
Emily called out, "Charlie," her voice trembling just a little.
I ran straight to her and hugged her tight.
She was so thin, I could feel her bones right through the fabric of her dress.
I said, "Emily, I missed you so much."
"I missed you too," Emily whispered in my ear, her hand soothing me gently, just like when we were kids.
We pulled apart.
She took my hand, her smile was as perfect as ever.
"Come on, let's go inside and meet the kids," she said.
Victor followed behind us, carrying my luggage.
The whole family looked like the picture-perfect happy family.
But when I took Emily's hand, it felt icy cold in mine.
Inside the living room, a huge crystal chandelier hung overhead, marble floors gleamed like glass, and priceless art covered the walls.
This didn't feel like a home at all.
It was more like a perfectly staged show home.
It was way too quiet and spotless, nothing like a place where five kids would actually live.
Emily led me upstairs to a guest room.
"Charlie, you'll be staying here for the next few days. Do you like it?" she asked.
The room was spacious and cozy, with a view of the garden right outside the window.
"I love it, Emily. It's so beautiful here," I said, and I meant it.
She smiled, but it never reached her eyes.
"Just relax and settle in, I'll go start dinner," Emily said softly.
She said that, then turned to leave, almost too quickly.
Instinctively, I grabbed her wrist.
"Can we sit and chat for a bit, Emily?" I asked.
She stiffened for a second.
Victor called up from downstairs, right on cue.
"Honey, let Charlie rest for now. Long flights are exhausting," he said.
Emily flashed me an apologetic smile, like she was on autopilot, her movements almost mechanical.
"Victor's right. You should rest first. There's plenty of time," she said.
She pulled her hand free and hurried out, as if something was right on her heels.
I stood there, watching her disappear through the doorway.
A wave of unease crashed over me.
This perfect villa wasn't a home.
It was a cage.
I threw my things together and got my stuff sorted out.
I changed into something comfortable, then stepped out of the room.
The whole villa was dead silent.
I headed down the spiral staircase, and the smell of food filled the air.
The kitchen was open, blending right into the living space.
Emily stood at the counter with an apron tied around her waist, busy cooking.
She moved with practiced ease, chopping and simmering like she'd done it a thousand times.
Victor's gaze wasn't filled with love.
It was more like he was admiring his own precious work of art, something expensive and completely his.
"Charlie, you came down," Victor said, spotting me.
He got to his feet.
Emily turned to me with a smile.
"Dinner's almost ready. Go relax in the living room for a bit," she said.
Just then, I heard soft footsteps coming down the stairs.
Five kids came down in a neat little line.
The oldest boy looked about eleven, and the youngest girl was still wobbly on her feet.
They all looked like little dolls, dressed in spotless, perfectly pressed clothes.
"Come on, say hi to your aunt," Victor said.
Victor spoke up.
The five kids bowed to me in perfect unison, like they'd been programmed.
"Hi, Aunt Charlie," they said.
Their voices were clear, but there was no warmth or feeling in them.
I was stunned.