You Chose Her, Remember?

I popped open the washer and stared at the heap of perfume-soaked clothes. My stomach turned.

Every piece reeked of the truth—I was just a fill-in. A punching bag they could dress up or tear down whenever they felt like it.

Right as I reached for the pile, Sophie's voice cut in.

"Wait. That Valentino's hand-wash only. Don't ruin it."

I froze.

"What? Got a problem?" She strutted over and yanked the dress out. "This one's fifty grand. Don't screw it up."

I grabbed it and moved to the sink. Cold water rushed over my fingers while I scrubbed like a machine.

"Use cold water," she added, posted up in the doorway like a hall monitor. "Hot'll wreck the color."

I said nothing. Head down. Scrubbing.

She kept going.

"Honestly? Pathetic. Top of your class at Parsons, and now you're my maid. But hey, that's what happens when you've got MY face."

My head snapped up.

Her face?

I stared into the mirror. Two versions of the same girl stared back—no. She looked like me.

"Daniel couldn't sleep the night he saw you," she said, all sugar turning sharp. "Said you were basically my twin. But a knockoff's still a knockoff."

I kept scrubbing. The water turned freezing.

"Hurry it up. Daniel's taking me to Broadway later." She stretched, smug. "That same theater where you two had your first date. He wants to relive it—with me."

My hand slipped. The dress dropped into the sink.

Our first date. Christmas. He'd rented a private box for 'Phantom of the Opera.'

Guess even that memory was borrowed.

"Oh my god, are you brain-dead?" Sophie shrieked. "My dress!"

Daniel stormed in. His eyes locked on the soaked fabric.

"What happened?"

"She did it on purpose!" Sophie dove into his arms. "She's jealous and wrecked it!"

"I didn't mean to."

"That's enough," Daniel snapped. "I know exactly what this is. You ruined her dress, you replace it."

"It cost fifty thousand," Sophie said instantly.

Fifty grand. I couldn't even find five to save my dad. How the hell was I supposed to pay that?

"I don't have that kind of money."

"No money?" Daniel's smile was ice. "Then you'll stay and work it off. Once it's paid, you can go."

So this was the trap. A dress. Just another leash.

"Fine." I stood, water dripping from my hands. "I'll pay for it."

As I walked out, Sophie's voice trailed after me, way too pleased.

"Daniel, you're evil. Now she's stuck."

"She was never leaving," he said. "A stand-in doesn't get to decide."

I clenched my fists, nails digging in deep.

Twenty more days. Then I was gone.