VALERIA Pa! The sharp sound of the slap echoed through the living room. My head snapped to the side from the sheer force of it, a burning sting spreading across my cheek. For a moment, my ears rang, drowning out every sound. I blinked—a disoriented look flashing in my eyes—before raising a trembling hand to touch my face. She hit me. At this realization, I turned to face my mother, my voice wavering between disbelief and anger. “You hit me?” “Because I helped Nessa escape this damned marriage? A marriage that shouldn’t have existed in the first place?” For a split second, I saw something flicker in her eyes—regret? Guilt? But just as quickly, her expression hardened. “You shouldn’t have helped your sister escape!” she snapped. “Do you even realize what you’ve done or consider what happens when that man’s subordinates come looking for her?“ “You’ve put this family in danger, and you have the audacity to ask why I hit you?” “We all could no longer be bothered to care about your rebelliousness and thoughtlessness on normal days but not this time, Valeria! You have gone too far!” Her voice continuously rose as she spoke, breaking the composed and dignified facade she always maintained. For a while, I watched in stunned silence, almost finding her unfamiliar, because even in her angriest moments, she had never yelled like this—not at me, not at anyone. But before today, she had also never raised a hand to me, right? I thought to myself in mockery. So instead of remorse, her words ignited something else in me—defiance. I let out a cold laugh, my voice sharp, yet somewhat bitter as I painted at myself, “I put the family in trouble? I did?“ My gaze shifted to my father an s brother who had been watching the drama unfold, saying nothing. ”So you all plan to put this on me when you clearly know who exactly is responsible for this mess?“ I jabbed a finger at each of them in turn. “You. And you. And you.” “No one but the three of you are to blame for this.” Anger surged through me the more I spoke. “This marriage should have never been arranged in the first place!” “You should have seen how desperate Nessa looked when she begged me to help her. How terrified she looked.” “And you—” I turned to glare at my mother’s my voice shaking with disappointment. “Even if they are willing to, do you—as her mom—really have the heart to marry her off to that devil incarnate?” “A man widely known for being ruthless, sadistic and cruel? Yes, his reputation might include some elements of exaggeration, but he must have gained the nickname, ‘Mr. Devil’ for a reason, don’t you think?” The more I spoke, the more I realized just how ridiculous this arranged marriage was proving to be. “Most importantly—” “No one, and I mean no one, has ever seen his face! No one knows if he’s old, young, or hideous! But the general idea is that he’s an old, dying man because only that explains why he’s kept himself hidden for so long.“ “That’s the kind of man you want to marry your daughter to? Aren’t you embarrassed?” Pa! Another slap. This time, I didn’t flinch. I just stood there, staring at her with cold, empty eyes while letting the numbing pain on my cheek spread. “That’s enough, both of you!” My father’s voice resounded through the room as he slammed a hand onto the coffee table. Silence fell immediately. As my gaze shifted to him, I saw him exhale heavily before speaking, his tone sharp, “The situation is bad enough as it is, yet both of you seem hellbent on making it worse.” Listening to him, I lowered my gaze, biting back a sarcastic laugh. Making it worse? Who, me? But I wasn’t the one who planned to marry off my daughter to a man of dubious character, was I? While I couldn’t be sure of the real reason, I knew it had to be one of the following—power, money, influence or resources. That was the price of being born as a Hale’s daughter. My eyes flashed a dark look at this thought. While I still didn’t know the exact details of their deal with Mr Devil, one thing was clear—he was offering something so valuable that they would willingly sacrifice Vanessa. And that was what baffled me the most. We might be twins, but Nessa was nothing like me. She was their pride and joy, the perfect socialite they had groomed for years. I, on the other hand, was the family disappointment, the rebellious daughter they barely tolerated. So if they were so eager to throw her away, I guess whatever they gained in return must have been worth all of the efforts they had poured into cultivating Nessa all these years. This conclusion left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. If this was the fate of their cherished daughter, how better could mine be? From when I became sensible, I had always known that there was only one ending for a girl born as a Hale—to be another wealthy family’s trophy wife. But I hated and felt unwilling about it, so I tried to fight against that outcome. So far, I seem to have succeeded. Although, it was at the expense of my parents growing increasingly dissatisfied with me, and my siblings and I growing somewhat distant. This point could be seen clearly from the fact that if I hadn’t happened to hear rumors of Nessa’s marriage while I was away on a band gig, I never would have known my own twin sister was being married off today. Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly felt a gaze falling on me. I looked up—straight into my brother, Aaron’s eyes. His hazel irises, identical to mine, were unreadable. Then he spoke. “Valeria, you and Nessa are identical twins…” Without warning, a chill crept up my spine. Aaron wasn’t the type to say anything meaningless, especially with an unresolved issue on ground. There was only one reason why he would mention this—he wanted me to… No. I refused to think about it. Refused to acknowledge the possibility. Because the moment I let myself entertain the thought—just for a fraction of a second—a deep, paralyzing dread settled in my bones. That was my brother. My biological brother. He wouldn’t do that to me. He wouldn’t be that unfeeling and mercenary, right? Yet, my inner voice told me. Yes, he could. Someone who could even acquiesce to his closest sister being married off, why would be be reluctant when it comes to me—whom he had grown distant to? Silence fell after he finished speaking, then I felt my parents’ eyes shift toward me—bright with excitement at having found a backup plan. Outwardly, my expression was blank but inside, my heart was already in tatters, the pain almost unbearable.
VALERIA “Yes! How did I not think of that?!” My mom was the first to leap to her feet, clapping her hands in excitement. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at me, and for some reason, my stomach twisted. Her expression reminded me of how a hungry dog might look at a fleshy bone. A disrespectful description, I know. But that’s just how I felt. She continued, voice bright with enthusiasm, “Nessa and you are identical twins, and most importantly—when we made the agreement with that man, we never specified which daughter it would be!” “Shut up!” “Mom!” The moment those words left her lips, both my father and Aaron shouted at her in unison. Their sharp voices cut through the room, and for some reason, their reactions made my heart sink. If I hadn’t seen it wrong, they seemed afraid. Anxious. But afraid of what? These two weren’t the type to lose composure over just anything. And then—my mom’s words echoed in my head again: “…and most importantly, when we made the agreement with that man, we never specified which daughter it would be!” That line. That seemed to be the what they were reacting so intensely to. Up until now, I’d assumed the devil of a man had seen Nessa, gotten infatuated, and then, demanded her hand in marriage. But if that were the case, wouldn’t he have made it clear exactly who he wanted? That would’ve been the logical and right thing to do. At first, I hadn’t thought too deeply about Mom’s statement. I’d brushed it off as another one of her careless comments. But with the way Dad and Aaron reacted, I couldn’t help but think deeper. And the moment I did, a terrifying thought crept into my mind. No. I shook my head. That couldn’t be it. That was impossible. They wouldn’t do that to me. Right? But then I looked at their faces, and saw the way they wouldn’t meet my eyes. No. No. No. I could accept being asked to replace Nessa. I could even forgive them for that. But this? It’ll break me. Tears welled up in my eyes as I turned to my mom, desperate and pleading. “Please tell me I’m wrong. Please… Just… please,” I whispered, my voice trembling and barely audible as I looked from her to Dad, then to Aaron. My vision blurred, but I forced myself to search their faces for something—anything—to prove that I was overthinking. But no one answered. Instead, my dad turned sharply to glare at my mom. “You really can’t get anything done right,” he snapped. That one sentence nearly crushed me. My mom, too, seemed to realize she’d said something wrong, though judging by the confused crease in her brows, she wasn’t entirely sure what. Still, she stayed quiet, lowering her head, likely afraid she’d make things worse if she spoke again. So even as I looked to her, silently begging for answers, she refused to meet my gaze. ‘Anyway, I have no idea what’s going on,’ I read her expression loud and clear. It wasn’t that she didn’t have feelings for me. She did. But her expensive lifestyle depended entirely on her husband, and she wouldn’t risk that. Not even for her own daughter. I turned to my dad. “Dad?” He turned his face away. And then, finally, I looked at Aaron. The person I once trusted the most. “Brother?” I called softly—just like I used to when we were kids, when I’d fallen or gotten hurt. He smiled, like he used to back then. But the moment I saw that smile, my heart turned to ice. Because this time, there was no warmth. Only confirmation. It was true. It was all true. My legs gave way, and I dropped to the floor. A single tear traced its way down my cheek. I wanted to believe they’d only pushed me to replace my sister because they were desperate. I wanted to believe it had been an impossible decision forced on them. But now, I knew the truth: There was never a substitute bride. It had always been me. From the very beginning, they had planned this. My dad. Aaron. Even Nessa, my twin sister, who I thought I was protecting. How laughable! I let out a bitter, broken laugh as tears streamed down my face. I cried, and laughed, and sobbed until the emotions tore me apart from the inside out. Like a clown, they must have watched me walk straight into their trap—step by step—thinking I was fighting for justice, while they all watched me from behind mockingly. Hahaha. No wonder it had been so easy to help Nessa escape. They knew me. They knew I wouldn’t sit back and let her be forced into marrying a man we knew nothing about. A man feared and whispered about. They counted on it. They knew I wouldn’t stay put. They counted on me saving her, and then naturally, I’d have no choice but to marry him myself. In the end, the only thing I managed to do was condemn myself. What a perfectly executed plan. With it, they would manage to get rid of their black sheep daughter, preserve their reputation, and also, earn the devil’s favor—all in one go. Three birds, one stone. I regretted it. I extremely regretted it. I shouldn’t have returned home after hearing the news of Vanessa’s marriage in the first place. I should’ve known that they wouldn’t be that willing to marry her off to such a man. If Vanessa were their only daughter, maybe they would’ve been tempted and considered it. But when there was me? Rebellious. Unruly. Embarrassing. Easy choice. I cried until there was nothing left. Until my body shook from exhaustion and the sobs faded into silence. And then, when the tears dried up and only numbness remained, a thought surfaced in my mind. Maybe… Maybe marrying that man wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.
VALERIA Even if I ended up dying by that man’s hands someday, it’d be a thousand times better than staying in this pit of snakes and scorpions I once called family. Once I made the decision, I quietly wiped the tears from my face and rose to my feet. I looked at the three of them, and one bitter question formed in my mind. How had I not seen how selfish, hypocritical, and mercenary these people truly were? Let’s start with Mom. She liked to present herself as a doting mother, always fawning over her children like we were her world. But in truth, the only thing she loved was the luxurious life my father provided. She’d never allow anything or anyone, to threaten that comfort. Not even us, her children. As for my dear father… He seemed like the typical respectable and dignified head of the family. But deep down, he was nothing more than a hypocrite. The kind of man who wouldn’t hesitate to sell his daughter to the highest bidder, as long as it bought him glory. And Aaron? Today shattered any illusions I had left of him. The brother I remembered, the one who used to smile gently and pat my head when I cried, was nothing more than a snake with a pretty face. A man who didn’t hesitate to push his sister straight into a fire pit, just so he could stay warm and untouched on the sidelines. And my so-called twin sister? Ha. Perfect little Vanessa. The ideal socialite. She wore her hypocrisy like second skin. It was no wonder she fit into high society world so well. Because that’s what people like her did best. Backstab you with a smile. “What a family,” I muttered aloud, somehow managing to find amusement in my situation. “If there was ever a mistake in the gene pool, it must’ve been me. A genetic mutation. That would explain why I’ve never fit in with them since day one.” Some might call it adaptability—my ability to cope and keep going, no matter how bad things got. But my friends called it being cold. Heartless, even. My ex-boyfriend did too—back when I dumped him without so much as a tear. Back then, I laughed it off. But now… I was beginning to wonder if they were right. Because despite everything, despite the betrayal and humiliation I’d just been through, my heart was now disturbingly calm. As though the tears I’d just wiped away had washed every last ounce of indignation, grief, hatred, and pain from my body. I felt hollow, from inside out. But maybe I’d simply learned how to bottle everything up so well that even I couldn’t tell what I was feeling anymore. But none of that mattered right now. There were more important things to focus on. I took a slow, deep breath, locking away the rest of my thoughts, stood up and spoke calmly. “Fine. I’ll marry him.” “Really?!” I wasn’t surprised at Mom’s gleeful outburst. Of course she’d be the first to react. I didn’t bother sparing her a glance, turning instead to face the two people who actually held the power in this room. And sure enough, while they didn’t display their excitement as openly, I saw the gleam in their eyes as well as the faint curl of satisfaction at the corners of their lips. Hypocrites. Before they got too comfortable, I continued unhurriedly. “But only on one condition.” That wiped the smugness right off their faces. Instantly, both men straightened, an alert and guarded look in their eyes. I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out at their reaction. “Really? Relax. I’m not after anything that belongs to you. I promise.” I let my eyes settle on Aaron before adding, “Or anything that will belong to you.” His expression darkened slightly. I knew what he’d been thinking—whether I intended to carve out a share of the inheritance or his future place as the family’s crown jewel. After all, with Mr. Hale’s very obvious patriarchal values, Aaron probably already saw the entire Hale estate as his. Too bad for him, though—I didn’t want any of it. Anything of theirs would be too dirty and stinky for my liking. “My condition is simple. I want a letter of severance from this family. A clean break. No ties, no claims, no obligations.” I stated. “That shouldn’t be a problem, should it?” As the words left my mouth, I watched Dad’s expression darken. While Aaron didn’t speak, he looked pensive and suspicious, likely trying to figure out if there was some hidden trap in my request. As if I was that bored. Meanwhile, Mom exploded. “What do you mean by that, Valeria?!” she snapped, pointing at me furiously. “You’d better explain yourself!” I met her anger with indifference. “That’s my only condition. You either agree to it, or I don’t go through with this farce of a marriage. You can also try to force me if you’d like… but something tells me he wouldn’t appreciate that.” That shut her up. I turned to face Mr. Hale once more, watching as calculation flickered across his features. I knew him well enough to know what he was thinking—and I also knew how this would end. Sure enough, a moment later, he spoke. “Alright. I agree.” “What? Darling—!” Mom tried to protest, but he cut her off immediately. “Shut up. Your thoughts aren’t needed here.” She fell silent instantly, shrinking back into her seat, her shoulders hunched and head bowed. But not before casting me a conflicted look—one I didn’t care to interpret. It didn’t matter anymore. None of them did. I smiled coldly. “That’s great, for all of us. After today, you’ll have nothing to do with me, and I’ll have nothing to do with you. From now on, let’s consider ourselves strangers.” “Val—” “I think that’s all I have to say. Do let me know when that man—or his people—arrive.” And with that, I turned and walked away. I didn’t wait for a response. I didn’t look back. I just climbed the stairs slowly and left them all behind in that suffocating space.
AARON The issue hanging over our heads had finally been resolved—or so it seemed. But none of us still in the living room felt even remotely relieved. Especially me. I stared at the spot where Valeria had disappeared, my heart weighed down by a tangle of emotions I couldn’t name. I turned toward Dad, hoping to make sense of things, but my attention caught on Mom first. She was fidgeting, her eyes glued to the staircase, unable to hide the worry etched into her features. To be honest, I still don’t fully understand the kind of person my mother is. For all her outward affection and devotion, she’s always been someone who prioritizes her own interest above everything else. A calculative person. Yet, there were moments when she didn’t seem like that. Moments like now. Moments she seemed genuine, controlled by emotions, rather than reason. It made it hard to judge which side was the real her—if either even was. It was exactly because of how unpredictable she was, that, when Dad, Nessa, and I were planning how to force Valeria into this marriage, I insisted we keep Mom out of it. Because it was impossible to tell who she’d choose to side with. People like her have no loyalties; they do things based on self-interest or on their moods. Take today, for instance. Even when she knew perfectly well that the groom was no good, she hadn’t once tried to dissuade either me or Dad from marrying Nessa to him. Why? Because she knew how crucial the arrangement was to preserving the lifestyle she enjoyed. And when Valeria helped Nessa escape the wedding, Mom was furious—not because it wasn’t right, but because it might jeopardize the family, which would in turn affect her. Then, the moment she realized Valeria could serve as a replacement, she was the first to leap at the idea, practically glowing with renewed excitement. Now, she looked worried. Visibly troubled. As if the same girl she was ready to hand over a few minutes ago had suddenly become someone worth protecting again. It was like watching two completely different people wear the same face. She was too confusing. Too unreadable. But can I blame her for it? Honestly, I’m not sure. Her upbringing shaped her into this. In her family, girls were raised to be bargaining chips, trained to choose the safest bet in order to survive brutal power struggles among the men. Then she married into the Hales, where nothing really changed, as Dad also valued power and profit over people. We all did. Well… almost all of us. Except Valeria. Maybe that’s why she never fit in. A sigh slipped out before I could stop it. “Mom, why don’t you go talk to Valeria? Try to smooth things over.” Her eyes lit up as she immediately jumped to her feet, like she’d been waiting for someone to say that all along. Then, almost comically, she turned to Dad and asked in a timid voice, “Darling, may I?” He glanced at me, then nodded. “Go.” “Thank you,” she whispered, hurrying upstairs before he could change his mind. Once she was gone, I turned to Dad. “Don’t you think Valeria was a bit too… calm, at the end?” He frowned. “Yes. For someone with her temper…” He trailed off, but I knew what he meant. Valeria had never been the type to let things go easily. Her sudden calm felt unnatural—like the quiet before a storm. Dad must’ve sensed it too, but he only shrugged. “So what if she’s planning something? As long as she marries that man, what happens after doesn’t concern us. And I doubt she’d turn on us once she gains power.” “We’re her family, after all. A piece of paper can’t change that.” I nodded along, but a tight knot had already formed in my stomach. A rebellious daughter in exchange for the Hale family’s survival—Dad saw that as a fair deal. And logically, I agreed. Still, unease tugged at me. I couldn’t forget the way Valeria had looked at me—eyes full of desperate hope, asking for something I refused to give. I knew exactly what she wanted. And yet, I’d crushed it, and put out the last light in her eyes. It made my conscience stir—something I thought I’d long buried. We were siblings, after all. I did care for her., but unfortunately, she can’t contend with the family’s interests. Judging by her reaction and that severance letter she demanded, I’d likely destroyed whatever little bond we had left. Valeria was never a docile and obedient person to begin with. Rather she was independent, opinionated and strong-willed. She might value familial ties but wouldn’t be tied down by it. She was someone who would rather not have it than compromise. I actually admired her for that, even though it made her harder to control. Thinking about her always drained me, so I shifted focus. “As long as we secure cooperation with Blaze Corporation, we’ll pull through this,” I said to Dad. “It’s our best chance.” He nodded. “Exactly. If this goes well, the Hale family might not just survive—we might rise further.. That’s why nothing can go wrong with this marriage.” He wasn’t exaggerating. We’d long been the most powerful family in Meteor City, but recent years had seen our dominance slipping, no matter what or how hard Dad and I did to reverse it. Rivals were circling and eyeing us like vultures. We couldn’t afford to let our guard down. “I understand, Da.d. I’ll see to it that nothing goes wrong.” I said seriously. He patted my shoulder. “Good. You’ve never disappointed me.” He paused. “Oh, and that severance letter Valeria wanted? Don’t worry about it. She was just throwing a tantrum. She doesn’t really mean it.” I frowned slightly. I didn’t agree with him—not at all. Valeria had meant every word. She truly wanted nothing more to do with us. But I didn’t argue. Dad could be incredibly stubborn when convinced he was right. Sooner or later, he’d see the truth.
VALERIA Upstairs Inside my bedroom, I was stuffing clothes and other necessities into my suitcase when the door creaked open. I glanced over casually. The shadow that entered was slender and hesitant. The moment I realized who it was—my mom, I looked away with disinterest, and continued packing. Only then did I ask, voice flat and unwelcoming, “What is it that you want?” I didn’t need to see her face to know my tone stung. But whatever disappointment or irritation she felt, she pushed aside as I heard her draw a shaky breath. “Valeria, I… I didn’t know that this was their plan from the beginning. If I had known, I would have… would have—” “You would have what?” I cut in, turning around to face her, my voice laced with sarcasm. “Risked the wrath of the man who holds your financial lifeline now—and the one who will in the future—to warn me?” I let out a dry laugh. “No, you wouldn’t have. And we both know that. You never had the guts. So spare me the empty sentiments. I have no use for them.” Her face paled, then flushed with shame. I saw it, but I felt nothing. What had she expected? Sympathy? Forgiveness? Did she think I’d tell her it was okay? That I didn’t blame her? The idea made me sneer inwardly. To say those words would be to spit in the face of my own conscience. She claimed ignorance of their plan. Maybe that was true. But would it have made a difference even if she’d known? I doubted it. She hadn’t known I was the intended bride all along, and yet, she was still eager to push me into Vanessa’s place the second the opportunity arose. So, really, the only thing that would’ve changed was the timeline. The outcome? Always the same. If anything, she was lucky. Lucky that I didn’t hate her as much as the others. “If that’s all,” I said coldly, turning my back to her, “I won’t see you out.” Apparently, that struck a nerve. “Valeria!” she snapped. I sighed with exasperation, and turned to face her again. “Yes? Is there something else?” I asked with mock confusion, watching in satisfaction as she faltered. My mother had always liked to assert her “authority” whenever she felt it slipping. It made her feel powerful—probably the only power she ever had, since no one had truly taken her seriously in either her maiden family or her current one. And because I’d always been the disobedient one, I often became the easiest target for her little displays of control. In the past, I humored her. I played along, if only out of respect. But now? Now she didn’t deserve even that. She must’ve seen it in my eyes, because her confidence visibly waned. I thought she’d finally leave. But I underestimated her. “You… didn’t mean it when you said you were cutting ties with us earlier, did you?” she asked softly. I paused, letting her words hang. Then I looked at her, my eyes hardening into a cold sneer that made her flinch. “Why?” I asked. “Did it sound like I was joking?” She began to stammer. “No… I mean…” But somehow, she pulled herself together and met my gaze again. “We’re your family, Valeria. That’s a fact you can’t change. Your father and siblings may have gone about it the wrong way—but everything they did, it was for your own good.” She gestured at me then, her eyes narrowing in disapproval. “I mean, just look at you. Where do you look like a proper, well-bred young lady? Wearing torn jeans and that… that shirt with a skull on it.” “You spend all your time with those people who have no direction in life. Instead of being obedient like your sister, doing what you’re supposed to do, you—” I clenched my fists at my sides, hidden behind me. Her words shouldn’t get to me anymore—but they still did. She kept going. “We sent you to music classes to cultivate you, not so you could waste your time in a band with no future!” For a moment, the room seemed to blur around me as pain twisted in my chest. But I swallowed it down and regained my calm. “So,” I said, my voice quiet. “you agree with them after all.” I watched her freeze. “What you’re really saying is—since I hang around ‘messy’ friends and don’t look like someone any respectable man would want, I should be grateful that my father and siblings ‘cared’ enough to find one for me. Even if he has a few… minor flaws?” I let the word linger. Flaws. In her world, a man’s worth was measured in how many zeroes were in his bank account—and how willing he was to fund her indulgences. So what if he was older than my father? So what if he had a violent streak? So what if he might one day kill me? To her, those were just details. Just “flaws.” The bitterness rose again, threatening to choke me. But I didn’t let it show. I wouldn’t give her—or any of them—the satisfaction of knowing how deeply they’d wounded and broke me. My voice was quiet, with a detached calm that didn’t match the storm inside: “You shouldn’t have come here… Mom.” Those three letters tasted almost foreign on my tongue. “This might be the last time I call you that. It was wrong of me for trying to believe that you weren’t like the rest of them.” “You are the same. Maybe even worse than any of them.” I didn’t care how my words hurt her. I didn’t want to. “There’s probably not much time left before my groom arrives. So I apologize for not being able to entertain you any longer.” With that, I turned around and resumed packing, hands moving faster than before—because I couldn’t stay in this house another minute longer than necessary. Behind me, I heard nothing. Then, after a long pause, soft footsteps. She was leaving. Only when I was sure she was gone did my hands slow again. And in the silence that followed, I realized they were shaking.
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