Chapter 2 The perfect life that was never mine

My name is Clara cole and I have lived my whole life as the girl people forget to notice.

I stood in front of the full length mirror in my bedroom, staring at my reflection as I slipped into a simple knee length blue dress. It was not expensive or glamorous like the clothes my younger sister wore, but I liked it. It fit my style and it matched my calm personality. Tonight was important. It had been a while since Ethan and I had a real date night. He had been busy with work and I had been drowning in responsibilities at the bakery where I worked.

I checked the time again. Seven thirty. Ethan should have been here.

He was never late.

I picked up my phone, hoping to see a message from him, but my screen was completely blank. No missed calls. No texts. A dull ache began to form in my chest but I pushed it away. He probably got caught up in traffic or an unexpected meeting. Ethan was responsible like that.

I walked out of my room and into the living room where Elianna was lounging on the couch in a silk robe. Her hair was styled into soft curls that fell over her shoulders. She looked like she stepped out of a magazine even when she claimed she had no plans.

“Going somewhere” she asked, raising her eyes from the TV screen.

“Yes, Ethan and I are supposed to have dinner tonight” I replied, smoothing the front of my dress.

Her lips curved into a small smirk. “Dinner It must be nice to have a boyfriend willing to take you out so often”

I ignored the sting from her tone. Elianna always knew how to make a compliment sound like a mockery.

I grabbed my purse and stood at the doorway. “I will see you later”

“Sure” she said, but there was a strange glint in her eyes that made me pause for a moment. Something unreadable. I brushed it off and headed outside.

The evening breeze felt cool against my skin as I waited outside our gate. The street was illuminated by soft yellow streetlights and the distant sound of cars filled the air. Ten minutes later, a familiar black car pulled up and my heart fluttered like it always did whenever Ethan arrived.

He stepped out wearing a perfectly fitted shirt and dark pants, his smile warm enough to melt every doubt I ever had. I rushed into his arms and he held me close, breathing in the scent of my hair.

“I missed you” he whispered, kissing the top of my head.

“I missed you too” I replied, feeling whole again for a moment.

We drove to a beautiful restaurant downtown, one I had only seen in pictures. Crystal chandeliers, soft music playing, and waiters dressed in crisp uniforms. It felt expensive. Too expensive for me. But Ethan seemed relaxed, comfortable even.

“You look worried. What is it” he asked, resting his hand over mine.

“Nothing. Just not used to places like this” I joked weakly.

“Well get used to it. I want to spoil you” he said with a smile.

It was moments like this that made me believe everything would always be fine.

We ordered dinner and talked about random things. I told him about the new pastries I was learning to bake and he told me how work had been hectic lately. But through all the laughter and conversation, I noticed something different in his eyes. A flicker of hesitation. Like he was holding back.

“Ethan are you okay” I asked softly.

He looked at me for a long moment, his expression tense. He opened his mouth to speak when suddenly his phone rang. He sighed and gave me an apologetic look before answering it.

“Yes I will be there soon” he said quietly before hanging up.

He stared at his phone a little too long before finally meeting my eyes.

“I am sorry Clara. I need to go back to the office. Something urgent came up”

My chest tightened. The night was going so well.

“Oh okay. I understand. Work comes first” I forced a smile.

He stood and helped me from my seat, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. “I promise we will finish this later. I will make it up to you”

I watched him walk away and a cold feeling settled into my stomach that I could not explain. On the car ride home he was quieter than before, and even though he held my hand, his mind felt far away.

When we reached my house he kissed me goodnight quickly and drove off. I stayed outside for a moment, staring after his disappearing car.

Something was wrong.

I walked inside quietly and the lights were dimmed. Elianna was not in the living room anymore. I climbed the stairs slowly but the moment I reached the hallway I froze.

A sound.

A very familiar sound.

My heart dropped as I took a step forward. Then another. The sound grew clearer. Muffled voices. A soft laugh. A voice that belonged to Ethan.

And another voice that could only belong to Elianna.

My entire body went cold as I slowly walked toward Elianna’s bedroom door. My fingers trembled against the wooden surface as the laughter turned into moans that tore through my soul like a knife.

No.

No.

This cannot be happening.

I pushed the door open.

And my world shattered.

Ethan and Elianna froze. They were tangled in each others arms on her bed, sheets partially covering their bare skin. Both their faces filled with shock and guilt.

“Clara wait” Ethan scrambled for words.

But I could not breathe. I could not think. All I felt was the weight of betrayal crushing my chest.

My sister.

My boyfriend.

The two people I trusted most.

Tears blurred my vision as reality ripped me apart.

And before I could decide whether to scream or collapse to the floor…

Elianna smirked.

As if she had already won.