Just as I was fretting, the doorbell rang nonstop.
I quickly fixed my hair, annoyed, and opened the door.
The person standing at the door looked even more annoyed.
Before I could say anything, Pranav tossed a photo at me.
"Alanna, you're really something. You had me wearing the fool's crown on our wedding day."
I glanced at the photo. It was a good shot of me and Alastair running away, captured from behind.
Pranav: "Come on, tell me. When did it all Janett with this guy?"
I tucked the photo into my pocket and shot back, "Then when did you and Essence Janett?"
Pranav looked taken aback but then spoke confidently.
"I've got nothing to hide with her. You saw her fainting too, didn't you? What's wrong with me taking her to the hospital?"
I sneered. "There are so many ways you could have taken her to the hospital. Why did you have to do it yourself? Are you just brainless or heartless?"
"I…" Pranav's fiery attitude faltered. "Essence was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The doctor said she only had six months to live. I couldn't just leave her."
"Are you really not sad? After all, Essence is dying, and you're her sister."
I Janeted at him as though he were a fool.
Essence and I were swapped at birth by the Kemp family. She's the fake, and I'm the real one.
After discovering our ancestry, she changed her surname to Gaines, and I took the Kemp surname.
Mom didn't want her to suffer at the Gaines family, so she stayed at the Kemp family.
But the moment she saw me, she became sarcastic, constantly undermining me, and for that, I received a lot of blame from my parents.
Eventually, I debuted successfully and moved out of the Kemp family. Pranav Craig, my fiancé, was always there to support Essence. I was so blind back then to have agreed to marry him. I frowned and raised my hand to close the door.
Pranav stopped the door, his voice pleading, "Alanna, I've always loved you. But Essence has only six months left. After I'm done taking care of her, I'll throw you the wedding of the century. Okay?"
It was disgusting. I shoved him away with all my strength.
Essence came running from the elevator and grabbed Pranav. He turned and asked, "Essence, what are you doing here?" Essence looked at me and flashed a soft, sweet smile.
"I was worried you might misunderstand, so I came to explain."
"Honey, if anyone should be blamed, it's me. I want someone I love to be with me at the end of my life."
"I only have six months left. When the time's up, I'll return Pranav and my parents to you. Is that okay?" She spoke with such grievance, but I could clearly see the provocation in her eyes. She grabbed my hand, and I felt a sharp pain in my wrist. Instinctively, I pushed her away. Essence stumbled and fell to the ground.
Pranav helped her up, his gaze toward me cold as a blade.
"Apologize to her."
Essence tugged at Pranav's sleeve and softly said, "Forget it. My sister didn't mean it. I've taken her identity for so many years. Whatever she does to me is well-deserved."
Slap—!
It came without warning.
I slapped Essence across the face.
Pranav wrapped his arms around her, roaring at me, "Alanna, what the hell is wrong with you?"
I shrugged innocently, "She said it herself, everything I do is just what I should be doing. What, can't handle a slap?" I slammed the door shut, cutting off the bizarre pair on the other side.
