My brother Rhys and my childhood friend Graham always wore two watches on their wrists.
One told the time.
The other monitored my cousin Tahlee’s heart rate.
After Tahlee’s parents died, she developed severe depression.
My parents felt sorry for her, so they adopted her and took her in.
Ever since then, everything that was supposed to be mine could be taken away with the same excuse.
My room.
My birthdays.
Even the things my parents had set aside for me.
“She can’t handle the stress.”
At my 18th birthday gala, Rhys had promised to personally pin the Fontaine family crest brooch on me.
Graham had also planned to confess his feelings for me after the ceremony.
But the moment I stepped onto the stage, both of their watches flashed red.
Tahlee’s heart rate had shot up to 182 bpm.
Through her tears, she said that even after living with the Fontaine family for ten years, she’d always felt like an outsider.
Rhys immediately took my brooch and pinned it to her chest.
Graham placed the heirloom necklace he’d prepared for me around her neck.
“It’s just a brooch. You’ll get another one someday.”
“Tahlee has nothing!”
“Would it kill you to let her have this one thing?”
They pushed the rightful heir off the stage in front of everyone.
Tahlee turned to me, her eyes brimming with tears.
“Sloane…”
“Did I just take something that was supposed to be yours?”
I reached out and straightened the brooch on her chest.
“No. You didn’t steal anything.”
“I gave it to you.”
They all thought I’d finally learned to go along with it.
But the truth was, I just didn’t want them anymore.
…
Because I’d already accepted my admission offer from Saint Martin School of Design, Paris.
Rhys finally relaxed and smiled.
He turned to Tahlee and gently patted her head.
“Come on. Stop crying.”
“Remember what the doctor said? You can’t get too worked up.”
Graham pulled out his phone and took a picture of her wearing the brooch.
In the photo, Tahlee wore the custom couture gown that should’ve been mine.
My heirloom family crest brooch was pinned to her chest, and the Calloway family’s heirloom necklace rested against her neck.
She looked every bit like the guest of honor.
Tahlee stared at the photo, and tears started falling again.
“I swear I wasn’t trying to steal Sloane’s place.”
“It’s just… Sloane has her mom and dad and Rhys, and she’s going to inherit the Fontaine family business.”
“And then I realized I have nothing.”
Mom hugged her right away.
“Who says you have nothing?”
“We’re your family!”
Dad looked at her with concern.
“We’ll deal with the chosen heir issue later.”
“You’re just wearing the brooch for tonight.”
“No one’s going to make a big deal out of it.”
Easy for him to say.
The Fontaine family’s shareholders and business partners were sitting right there in the audience.
And during the livestream, Rhys had publicly pinned the brooch symbolizing the chosen heir’s status onto Tahlee.
By tomorrow morning, everyone would know.
The Fontaine family’s chosen heir had changed.
Rhys frowned at me.
“Don’t give her that look!”
“Tahlee’s sick. You know that!”
Graham lowered his voice.
“Sloane, you already have more than enough.”
“She just wants to know what it feels like to be chosen. Just once.”
“What’s so wrong with letting her have that?”
I looked at them, feeling nothing but exhaustion.
From the age of six to eighteen, I’d spent twelve years giving in.
Apparently, twelve years still weren’t enough.
Mom probably realized how ugly the whole evening had become.
She came over and took my hand.
“Don’t worry about your ruined birthday gala.”
“I’ll throw you another one. I promise.”
“Remember that art studio on the top floor? The one you’ve always wanted?”
“I’ll have someone clear it out for you tomorrow.”
I looked at her and almost laughed.
That studio.
I’d begged for it from the time I was thirteen until I turned sixteen.
Then Tahlee said she was feeling down and needed a quiet private yoga studio.
That very day, Mom had someone tear down the starry-sky mural I’d spent so long painting.
I hadn’t even finished it.
Dad quickly tried to make things up to me, too.
“You’ve always loved the ocean, right?”
“I’ll give you the Starhaven Cove Villa.”
The Starhaven Cove Villa had belonged to me all along.
Grandpa had left it to me.
But last year, when Tahlee said she wanted to see the ocean, Dad transferred the property into her name without even asking me.
Rhys thought for a moment.
“Your favorite band’s performing next month.”
“I’ll get you the best seats.”
Last month, I’d asked him three times.
He said he didn’t have time to get tickets.
Then I saw Tahlee’s Instagram post.
That was how I found out he’d not only gotten tickets, but had also gone with her and stayed for the entire concert.
Finally, Graham spoke.
“I’ll have someone make you another necklace.”
Another necklace.
But he’d once told me that the Calloway family’s heirloom necklace would only ever be given to his future wife.
Now they were offering me, one by one, all the things I’d begged for and never received.
As if a few empty promises could erase everything that had happened tonight.
As if all I had to do was nod, and we’d move on.
“No thanks.”
I pulled my hand away.
“I don’t want any of it.”
Tahlee’s birthday was just three days after mine.
The moment she heard Mom wanted to throw me another birthday gala, she quickly linked arms with her.
“Phoebe, don’t waste your money!”
“Sloane’s decorations tonight were gorgeous.”
“Can I have my party here in three days too?”
“But I don’t want the same cake as Sloane.”
“I want a moon-shaped one.”
“And I don’t want the same dress either.”
“I want a white princess-style gown.”
Every time Tahlee made another request, Mom smiled and nodded.
Rhys called the fashion designer.
Dad summoned the event coordinator.
Graham picked up his tablet and started planning an entirely new schedule for her.
Just minutes ago, they’d all been promising to make up for my ruined gala.
Now they’d completely forgotten I was even there.
The event coordinator flipped through the schedule, looking troubled.
“Miss Mercer wants to make her entrance down the spiral staircase.”
“We’ll need someone to perform the entrance music live.”
“That original composition Miss Fontaine played tonight would be perfect.”
Mom immediately turned to me.
“Sloane, play it again for her that day.”
“Tahlee loves it.”
“Consider it your birthday gift to her.”
“I don’t want to play.”
Rhys shot me an angry look.
“Tahlee already feels bad enough about what happened tonight!”
“Why are you still throwing a fit?”
Graham looked at me too, as if I were the one being unreasonable.
“It’s only a few minutes.”
“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.”
Dad clapped his hands, putting an end to the discussion.
“Enough. Then it’s settled.”
Everyone simply assumed I’d eventually give in.
I looked down at the flight ticket I’d just booked on my phone.
Three days from now.
9:15 a.m.
Destination: Paris.
“Fine.”
I tapped the payment button.
“I’ll take care of it.”
After all, I’d already be gone by then.
Whoever ended up playing that song wouldn’t be my problem anymore.