PICTURE THIS: BASTARD TWINS

“Heaven, I’m taken aback by your remark,” Jewel said, her voice tight with hurt. “I’ve been loyal to Silvia’s family since childhood, yes, but that doesn’t make me a slave. And Silvia has been more than generous, providing us all with a roof over our heads.”

Silvia slipped out of the room, her shoulders stiff. Danielle’s glare followed me, a silent “you’ve gone too far.” Even my twin’s unspoken disapproval stung. “Heaven,” she murmured, a quiet reprimand.

I went to the balcony, the city lights blurring through a sudden sting of remorse. Silvia joined me, her expression surprisingly gentle. “I’m sorry,” I said, the words sincere. “That was…awful. About Jewel. About making you seem…”

“Like we own people?” Silvia finished, a wry twist to her lips. She sat beside me, gazing at the view. “We’re not exactly saints, Heaven.” A pause. “The only thing I truly care about is…”

“Being the only girl, spoiled rotten,” I finished, a knowing smile spreading across my face.

Silvia grinned, bumping my shoulder with hers. “Exactly. Except for my mother, who seems determined to disapprove of my every breath, I’m…well, I’m the center of everything.”

A wistful sigh escaped me. “I wouldn’t know. The only time I ever got attention was when I did something wrong. Our adoptive parents…it was duty, not love. A service to God, not to us.”

Silvia turned, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. “So, it’s true? You were adopted?”

I nodded, the old ache returning. “Our parents met in the States. Rumor has it my father had a royal wife waiting back home and no room for the bastard twin daughters of an environmental activist. He went back to Nigeria, and my mother followed—not to reclaim him, but to leave us at his father’s gate with a note claiming his paternity. He denied everything. We ended up with the vicar.”

“You’ll show him,” Silvia said, her voice full of conviction. “You’ll be rich, famous. You’ll marry Terrence King.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Where did that come from?”

“Jewel was reading your diary. Loudly. Yesterday.”

I stormed back inside, confronting Jewel. She didn’t flinch. “I can’t believe that just by loving him from two continents away, you ripped him off his star quality and caused him a helicopter crash!” she teased, a sharp edge to her voice. “Your love is a curse, Heaven. Give it up.”