You Want My Sister? Fine! I'll Have Your Uncle

Chapter 1

SOPHIE WESLEY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, IVY.

My eyes swept over the living room. The beautiful cake, the wrapped gifts, mom and dad sitting by Ivy's side like she was the most precious thing to them.

Yeah. She was.

Nobody noticed me, even though it was my birthday too.

"I got you this, darling," Dad said, pressing a set of car keys into Ivy's hand.

Her face lit up. "A car? Dad... this is the exact one I told you about." She gasped excitedly, squeezing the keys. "I've always wanted this."

"And this, sweetheart." Mom added a small black box.

Ivy lifted a necklace free from the box, and as it caught the light, it glittered. I recognised it immediately. It was the same one I had begged Mom to buy me for years.

My fingers tightened around the stair rail.

The Wesley family adopted me seventeen years ago, two years after their biological daughter, Ivy Wesley, went missing on her birthday.

I was eight. Ivy's age mate. Someone they needed to have around to help them relieve them of their grief.

For fourteen years, I was made to live as her... Adopting her birthday, walking like her, wearing her favourite dresses, eating her favourite meals, celebrating her birthday as my own... And even her name.

I endured all of it. I thought if I did all of those things without complaining, they would love me like their own daughter.

Then, three years ago, they found her.

They didn't hesitate to strip me off of everything I'd grown comfortable with... The name, the birthday, the love. Everything shifted to her, as if I had never existed. I became invisible in the Wesley family and household.

The ache in my chest was already burning when Anthony walked in, a bouquet of red roses in his hand. My favourite.

Something in me lifted. At least he remembered.

Anthony was the grandson of grandpa Louis Floyd, founder of the country's biggest and most influential investment company.

We met seven years ago on my eighteenth birthday. It was love at first sight for me. Four years later, our parents arranged our engagement.

Even as an arranged couple, Anthony had always been good to me. Kind, protective, and the one person I knew I could count on. At least, that was until Ivy came into the picture.

'She's your sister, Sophie. My sister-in-law. It wouldn't be fair if I am not kind to her' Those were always his excuse whenever I raised issue about their closeness.

I was meant to understand. To let it go even when they were obviously crossing the line. She's my sister, after all.

"Anth-" I started down the stairs, but Ivy was already on her feet.

"Anthony!" She crossed the room and stopped inches from him.

Mom glanced at me, and a smile found her face, except that it didn't reach her eyes. "Oh. You're here."

She looked away. As if my presence meant nothing.

"I thought you weren't coming," Ivy said, her hands finding Anthony's arm.

Her eyes dropped to the roses, and her face lit up even more. "Are those for me?"

I held my breath. Say no, please. Tell her the flowers are for me. That was all I needed.

Anthony's eyes found mine across the room, something crossing his face. Hesitation. For just a second. Then he turned to Ivy and held the bouquet out to her.

"Happy birthday, Ivy."

My breath stopped, knees buckling beneath me.

"I'm right here!" I wanted to say, but didn't. Of course, he saw me. He knew that was meant for me and still gave it to her.

Ivy's eyes met mine for half a second before she took the flowers. The corner of her mouth curved into a smirk.

Anthony turned back to me, and for a moment something crossed his face. Guilt? Ivy was already pulling him toward the couch before I could fully name it.

"Come on. Let's blow the candles. I've been waiting for you." She said with a light chuckle, sitting beside Anthony.

They looked more like lovers.

My chest tightened. I couldn't breath.

I should walk away, but I couldn't move. My feet felt like they'd suddenly grown branches to the floor.

They gathered around the cake, all leaning in as Ivy closed her eyes briefly before she blew out the candles.

They clapped and cheered.

"What did you wish for, darling?" Dad asked, leaning forward as if he'd move heaven and earth on her word.

Actually, he would.

Ivy's smile faded, then her gaze found mine for just a moment before she looked away.

Here we go. Last year she had wished for Anthony to take her on a tour when he should've been spending time with me, and of course, my parents didn't let me refuse.

'Life hasn't been fair to her'

'You should be nicer to Ivy. She is your sister'

'We've done everything for you' They'd kept at it until I was forced to give in.

"Whatever you want, baby. Another car? A trip? Anything," Dad pressed.

Silence thickened in the room for a moment, then Ivy spoke, her voice dropping low to something like a murmur. "I don't think you can give me this one."

"Don't say that. We'll do anything for you. You know how much we love you." Mom held her hand, her eyes already searching Ivy's, as if the wish was written on her face.

The silence lingered for another moment, then her gaze found mine again, a pathetic sad look already on her face.

"I want to marry Anthony. That is my wish..."

I froze.

A small smirk curled her lips, almost invisible as she continued. "Will you grant it, sister?"