For the tenth time, my fiancee mistaken my twin sister for me

People always said my twin Candice and I were impossible to tell apart, but tonight, I wished more than anything that wasnt true.

I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, tracing the curve of my jaw, searching for some signany signthat I was more than just a copy of my twin. But when my boyfriend Harper barged in, his shirt half-unbuttoned and his hair a mess, I already knew what had happened. Again.

For the tenth time.

He stopped short, eyes darting between me and the hallway, guilt written all over his face. I didnt even need to ask.

I could smell Candices perfume clinging to him, could see the faint smudge of her lipstick on his collar. I gripped the edge of the sink, knuckles white.

What is it this time, Harper? My voice shook, but not from fear. I was furious. Did you really think I was Candice again?

He winced, rubbing his forehead. Camille, Im sorry. I swear, I didnt

I cut him off. You didnt what? You didnt realize who you were with? Thats your excuse? Again?

He looked down, avoiding my eyes. Maybe maybe you should do something about it. I mean, you two look so much alike, its

I stepped closer, forcing him to meet my gaze. So what, Harper? You want me to change my hair? Get rid of my freckles? Maybe carve my initials into my cheek so you dont get confused?

He laughed nervously, but the sound died quickly. Its not funny, Cam. I know its messed up. I justsometimes when Im drunk I get caught up between you two.

Before I could answer, Candice appeared in the doorway, her silhouette framed by the harsh hallway light. She looked almost apologetic, but it didnt reach her eyes.

Camille, Im sorry, she said quietly, her voice trembling just enough to sound sincere. I didnt mean for things to get so complicated. I was also drunk and

But I saw the smudge of her lipstick on Harpers collar, the way her gaze flicked to him and lingered. I knew she wasnt sorry for what shed doneonly sorry Id found out.

Dont, I snapped, my anger boiling over. Dont pretend you didnt know exactly what you were doing. You two werent just caught up. You were having an affair. Both of you.

Harper stepped forward, hands raised in a desperate attempt to fix everything. Camille, please. Im sorry. Ill make it up to you, I swear. Ill punish Candice, Ill make sure she never comes near me again. And for you He fumbled in his pocket, pulling out a small velvet box, Lets get married. Let me prove how much you mean to me.

I stared at him, at the ring, at Candices flushed face. The ache in my chest twisted into something sharp, something final.

No, I said, my voice steady and cold. Im done. If you two want each other so badly, then go. I wont stand in your way anymore.

I barely remembered leaving the party. The cold night air stung my cheeks as I walked home, numb and hollow.

When I stepped inside, Mom was waiting in the living room, arms folded tight across her chest. Candice sat curled on the couch, mascara streaked down her cheeks, sobbing into her hands. The whole house felt like it was holding its breath.

Mom turned on me the moment the door clicked shut. What was that, Camille? Her voice was sharp, brittle. Did you hurt Candice just because you caught her with your boyfriend Harper?

I stood in the hallway, every muscle tense. Mom, you dont understand

She said she didnt mean to! Mom snapped, cutting me off. She was just drunk. Why did you have to punish her? Why do you always make things worse?

I didnt punish her, I said, my voice trembling. You think I wanted this? This isnt the first time, Mom. This is the tenth time! Ten times Ive caught them together, and I never said a word until now

Candices sobs grew louder. She looked up at me, eyes red and swollen. Im sorry, Cam. I swear, I didnt mean to. I just

But Mom didnt care. She shook her head, disappointment etched deep into her face.

I cant believe you could do this to your own sister. Youre supposed to protect each other, not tear each other apart. Youre grounded, Camille. Go to your room. Now.

I wanted to scream, to tell her everything, but I knew it wouldnt matter.

I trudged upstairs, the weight of her judgment pressing down on me like a stone. The door slammed behind me, and I heard the lock click. Trapped.

I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall. My phone buzzed in my pocket, it was Harper, but I ignored it. But then, through the haze of anger and heartbreak, one name surfaced in my mindRiley. My best friend.

The one Id let slip away, the one I should have chosen all along.

I grabbed my phone, hands shaking, and dialed her number. It rang twice before she answered, her voice soft and familiar.

Camille?

I swallowed hard, tears finally spilling over. Riley Im sorry for not choosing you back then. Im sorry for everything. But do you still love me? Can youcan you marry me, please?

Since we were kids, everything was shared between Candice and me. Clothes, toys, birthday partieseven secrets. At first, I liked it. There was comfort in knowing someone understood me so completely, someone whose face mirrored mine in every photograph. People said it was special, being a twin. They said we were lucky.

But luck has a way of turning sour.

It started small: Candice wanting the doll Id picked out, or whispering to Mom that Id broken a vase when it was really her. She was clever that way, always ready with a story, and even Mom would get us confused sometimes. Candice would bat her lashes and blame me for things I hadnt done, and Id stand there, too stunned to argue, taking the fall.

As we grew older, it wasnt just toys or trouble. It was people. Friends Id made became her friends. Boys Id liked started liking her.

Shed laugh about it, say it was just a twin thing, but I knew better. She liked having what I wanted. She liked winning.

Then came Harper.

He was different, or so I thought. The first time he saw us together, he smiled at memeand I felt something spark. I thought hed be the one person who could tell us apart, whod see me, not just the twin. I was na?ve. I wanted to believe someone could love me for who I was, not just because I looked like Candice.

But even Harper couldnt tell the difference. At first, I made excuses for him. At first, I forgave. I was a fool. I let it go, let Candice flirt and Harper stumble through apologies, let Mom scold me for things Candice had done.

I thought love meant patience, meant forgiving, meant letting myself be invisible if it made things easier.

Now I know better.

It wasnt just confusion. It was an affair. And I was done pretending.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by the sound of my bedroom door creaking open.

Harper slipped inside, eyes red and pleading, the same way he always looked when he was caught. He dropped to his knees beside my bed, reaching for my hand, tears threatening to spill.

Camille, please, he whispered, voice cracking. Im so sorry. I know I messed up, but I love you. I swear. Ill never let it happen again. Just just forgive me. Please.

Candice was the same. Shed cry, beg, wrap her arms around me, promising shed never do it again. And every time, Id forgive her. Every time, Id let it go.

I looked at Harper, the ache in my chest sharp and familiar. I was tiredso tiredof fighting. Tired of being the reasonable one, the forgiving one, the twin who always bent but never broke.

He took my silence as hope. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the velvet box again, flipping it open to reveal a ring. Lets get married, okay? We can start over. Ill prove I love you. Please, Camille.

I stared at him, at the ring, at the desperation in his eyes. I wanted to scream, to run, to say no. But instead, I nodded. I was just so tired.

Okay, I whispered.

His face lit up, relief flooding his features. He hugged me, promising a thousand things I knew hed never keep.

The next day, I woke up numb. I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, tracing the freckles on my cheeks. They were supposed to be the only thing that set me apart from Candice, but even those felt like a curse now. I grabbed my bag and walked to the salon, the decision heavy in my chest.

I asked for a new haircut, new color, andmost importantlyfreckle removal. The technician hesitated, but I insisted. I wanted to be someone else. I wanted to be anyone but the twin who kept getting mistaken.

When I got home, Harper was waiting in the living room. He stared at me, wide-eyed, taking in the new hair, the smooth cheeks, the unfamiliar confidence.

If you ever mistake me for Candice again, I said quietly, then it means you dont love me. Not really.

He shook his head, rushing to reassure me. Of course not, Camille. I love you. Only you. Lets go on a date, okay? Ill arrange everything. Just get ready. Tonight will be special.

I nodded, forcing a smile. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust.

I went upstairs, picking out a dress, brushing my new hair. I tried to focus on the future, on the promise of something better. But as I moved around my room, I heard voices drifting up the stairsCandice and Harper, talking in the hallway.

I froze, listening.

Im pregnant, Candice whispered, her voice trembling. So why would you marry her? Why not break up with Camille?

There was a long pause. Harpers voice was low, frustrated. You know I cant just break up with her. Everyone knows were the couple, and my mother loves her. She wants Camille to be my wifenot you. So come on, we can just keep this hidden for a while.

Candices voice was sharper, more desperate. Or we can just kill her before your wedding day so I can pretend to be her?

Harper was always good at pretending everything was perfect. That morning, he bounded into my room, his arms full of glossy bridal magazines and a wide, eager grin plastered across his face.

Camille! You should try on your wedding gown today, he said, almost breathless with excitement. We only have a few weeks left. I want you to look perfect. And guess whatGrandma called. Shes already planning the christening for our baby even without the baby yet. Cant you believe that? She said if its a boy, shell give me a huge inheritance. Can you imagine? Our lives could change overnight.

I stared at him, feeling a wave of nausea roll through me.

Im not feeling well, I said quietly, hoping hed just leave me alone.

Harper frowned, disappointment flickering across his face. Youre always tired lately. What is wrong? Or dont tell me you just dont want to marry me anymore?

Before I could answer, Candice breezed into the room, Well, if Camille cant fit the gown, I can do it for her. We have the same build, after all. Shed love for me to choose it, right, sister? Her voice was sweet, but I caught the glint in her eyesa challenge, a mockery.

I forced a smile. Sure, Candice. You always know what I want, dont you?

She laughed, linking arms with Harper. Lets go, then. Ill try on the dress for you, Cam. You can rest and make sure youll be better on your wedding day.

They left together, their laughter echoing down the hall. I watched them go, my heart twisting with something bitter and final.

For years, Id let Candice take what she wanted. This time, she could have it all.

I stumbled to the bathroom, gripping the sink as another wave of nausea hit me. I barely made it before vomiting, my body wracked with shivers.

When I finished, I sat on the cold tile floor, tears streaming down my face. My stomach twisted again, but this time it wasnt just nauseait was dread.

I pressed shaking fingers to my wrist, counting the days since my last period. It had been weeks. Too many weeks. Id been tired, dizzy, and now this relentless sickness.

I scrambled to my feet and dug through the cabinet beneath the sink, searching for the box of leftover pregnancy tests Mom kept for emergencies.

My hands fumbled with the packaging, nearly dropping the test into the sink. I forced myself to read the instructions, but the words blurred through my tears.

I took the test, hands trembling, and set it on the edge of the counter. The seconds crawled by, each one heavier than the last. I couldnt look. I didnt want to know.

But when the timer on my phone buzzed, I forced myself to glance at the plastic stick.

Two lines.

I stared, numb, as the truth sank in. I was pregnant. The word felt like a curse, a chain tightening around my throat. I didnt want this baby. Not with Harper. Not with everything that had happened.

I couldnt imagine bringing a child into this mess, couldnt imagine spending the rest of my life tied to himor to Candice.

I clutched the test in my fist until my knuckles turned white, my sobs echoing in the empty bathroom. I was trapped, and for the first time, I realized just how desperate I was to escape.

I grabbed my phone and called a cab, barely able to speak. At the hospital, I told the nurse what I needed, my voice flat and emotionless.

The procedure was quick, clinical, and when it was over, I felt empty but strangely free. For the first time in months, I could breathe.

On the way home, I stopped at a caf and ordered tea. I sat by the window, watching rain streak down the glass, and started gathering every scrap of evidence I had against Candice and Harper. Messages, photos, recordingsevery betrayal, every lie, including my abortion certificate. I put them all in a box, sealed it with tape, and addressed them to the wedding venue.

To be opened on my wedding day.

It felt like a final act, a way to make sure the truth would come out, no matter what happened to me.

When I finally returned home, the house was quiet except for the sound of Candice humming in my room. I paused in the doorway, watching her twirl in my wedding gown, the silk shimmering around her.

How lovely is this, right? she said, admiring herself in the mirror. I can't believe she even copied my look now that they would mistake us again.

I cant wait for you to fit this, but for now, let me fit it for you so you can see how it looks.

I stepped forward, holding out the engagement ring Harper had given me. Here, I said, my voice calm. You should wear our engagement ring too, if you want.

Candice turned, surprise flickering across her face.

She took the ring, slipping it onto her finger, and looked at me with something like triumph. It seems like youre handing him out to me, arent you?

I shrugged, the weight of everything lifting from my shoulders. Yeah. After all, I dont really love him anymore. You can even attend the wedding for me, Candice. Wear the dress, wear the ringtake it all.

She stared at me, uncertain for the first time. And what about you? Where are you going?

I smileda real, fierce smile. Im leaving.

The morning of my wedding felt less like a celebration and more like a funeral march. The sky was heavy and gray, the air thick with something I couldnt name.

I watched the clock tick closer to noon, each second a warning. I knew what Candice and Harper had planned. I knew they wanted me alone, vulnerable, easy to erase from their perfect picture.

Candice hadnt said a word to Harper about me leaving. Of course, shed wanted him for herself for years, and now that she had everythinghis attention, his child, even my wedding dressshe wasnt about to risk it.

But that was the least of my concerns. I had my own escape planned, and this time, I wouldnt let anyone stand in my way.

They left for the venue early, insisting I should ride alone for the bridal effect. I saw the way Candice looked at me, her smile too wide, her eyes too bright.

Harper barely met my gaze, already caught up in the whirlwind of his new life. I nodded, playing along, letting them think theyd won.

But I wasnt getting in that car. Instead, I texted Riley: Its time. Are you ready?

He replied instantly: Im outside. Hurry.

I slipped out the back door with my small suitcase and the phone clutched in my hand. The decoyone of Rileys trusted bodyguards, dressed in a spare white dress and veilwould take my place in the car.

The plan was simple: let Candice and Harper think I was on my way, and then the car crashed.

Rileys car was waiting, engine running.

We sped through the city, the tension in my chest easing only when we reached the airport. I handed Riley my passport, my ticket, everything Id need to start over. He squeezed my hand, his warmth grounding me.

Youll be safe with me. Ill never hurt you, he promised, and I believed him.

As we waited for my flight, I pulled out my phone and opened the app where the hidden CCTV footage of the venue was streaming.

The screen flickered to life, showing the grand ballroom, the guests in their finery, the flowers and candles and crystal.

For a moment, I let myself watch, detached, as if it were someone elses life about to unravel.

I watched as Candice leaned in to whisper something to our mother, her expression perfectly rehearsed. My mothers face twisted with concern and frustration.

Shes got cold feet, Candice said, her voice trembling just enough to seem real. Camille she left these letters. Im so sorry, Mom. She handed over a stack of forged notesher handwriting mimicking mine, full of apologies and regret and cowardice.

My mother scanned the letters, her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes sharp.

Harper stepped forward, his devastation so theatrical it almost made me laugh.

She left me, he said, voice breaking. I dont know what I did wrong. Please, Mrs. Laurent, I loved her. I dont understand.

He clung to my mothers arm, and she patted his hand, her face softening.

No, this cant happen. You have to be standing for your sister, Candice. This wedding must go on. The scandal if she ran away I wont allow it.

Candice glanced at Harper, feigning uncertainty. Would that be okay? I mean, is it right?

Harper nodded, his eyes glistening with fake grief. Yes, yes. Camille left me. Please, save me, Candice. Dont let this day be ruined.

But I saw the flicker of satisfaction in both their eyes, the way their smiles grew just a little too wide when my mother turned away.

This was their plan all along.

The guests were ushered back to their seats, the music restarted. Candice and Harper stood at the altar, exchanging nervous glances as the officiant began the ceremony. No one even noticed it wasn't me, but Candice, except for my mother who'd always favored Candice. But now, she will know everything.

I watched, numb, as they recited vows meant for mewords that should have belonged to me and Harper. But I was a fool for believing in his love.

And then, as the ceremony reached its climax, the butler approached Harpers grandmother, carrying the box Id sent.

He placed it gently in her lap, and she opened it with trembling fingers.

Inside were the photos, the texts, the recordingsevery dark secret, every betrayal, every proof that Candice and Harper had plotted against me. The evidence spilled out, stark and undeniable.

Harpers grandmother stared at the contents, her face paling.

She looked up, voice shaking with rage and disbelief. What is the meaning of this? Youre not Camille! Where is she? Did you kill Camille?!