Chapter 12 Her face stayed calm , too calm . " I was just being fair , Fresca . That's all . " That calmness made me want to claw her face . I spat at her , " That's why you're like this ! Because you don't have a mother . Shame on you , Claire . She left you , abandoned you . You're nothing but neglected . " I wanted her to cry . I wanted her to break . But she only smiled . Smiled . Like she pitied me . And that smile burned into me like fire . From then on , I hated her with everything I had . College wasn't any different . She didn't even try , yet people gravitated to her like moths to flame . I had this crush on a rich upperclassman ... handsome , smart , the kind of guy who could've pulled me out of the dirt . I thought maybe this was my chance . But no . His eyes only followed Claire . One afternoon , he strolled up to her and said , " Claire , would you like to study with me ? Maybe over coffee ? " I stood there , invisible . My nails dug crescents into my palm . Claire , in her clueless sweetness , smiled at me . " This is my cousin , Fresca . You two should meet . " He barely looked my way , gave me a polite nod , then turned right back to her . Like I didn't exist . I went home and tore her notebooks apart , page by page , until the floor was littered with her perfect handwriting . I even hid her project , thinking maybe finally I'd get the upper hand . But of course , Claire still managed to turn it in on time . She got an A. Me ? I got caught for vandalizing . The shame nearly choked me , but what killed me more was how she always walked away clean . No dirt stuck to her . I was the one left looking bitter , ugly , desperate . years I was So I left . Packed up and went to live with my father overseas . Divorce had made him lonely , and at least there I didn't have Claire breathing down my neck . For free of her shadow . I thought maybe I could build a life without her in it . Until she showed up again . I came back , older , sharper , hungrier . I wasn't going to lose this time . I wanted wealth . A way out of poverty . I found a businessman who liked to flirt , thought maybe he'd be 8:58 Thu , Oct 16 my ticket . I played the part - smiled , laughed , leaned in close . But then I overheard him talking to a friend . " She's pretty ," he said , " but Claire has class . Fresca ... she's too desperate . " My ears rang . My face went hot . Too desperate ? Not long after , Claire was suddenly engaged to Beckley . Beckley . The CEO . The same man I had a crush on back in college . She didn't even fight for him , didn't even bleed for him . Yet he picked her . Always her . I stared at the news of their engagement and felt my blood boil . She stole the life that should've been mine . That day , I made my vow . I was going to destroy her , piece by piece . Take Beckley , take the wealth , take the admiration . Take everything . And fate handed me the perfect opening . Claire got sick - aplasticanemia , fragile and weak . I was the match donor . I played the good cousin , the savior , slipping closer into their lives while she wasted away . And now look at me . I won . Beckley is mine . Claire is gone . Finally , I took what should've been mine all along . Finally . That night I was in front of the mirror again , spinning slowly , admiring the way the silk clung to me . Designer bags on the bed , shoes lined like soldiers , and me taking picture after picture . Smile , tilt , smirk . I was glowing , and why shouldn't I ? The front door slammed and Beckley stumbled in , jacket half hanging , smelling like whiskey and bad choices . His shoes scraped against the marble before he collapsed onto the couch like he couldn't even make it to the bedroom . I hurried over , soft voice , like a good little wife . " Baby , you okay ? You're shaking . Tell me what happened . " He buried his face into the cushion and mumbled , voice broken , drunk . " Claire .... Claire ... I miss you , baby . Come home . Don't go . Don't leave me . " froze ut My smile place , then cracked . My nails dug into my palm until they hurt . That bitch ! He still worshipped her . Still prayed to her ghost while lying in my house . My bed . My arms . It made me sick I bit my tongue , forcing myself to look gentle , inside I was screaming . This cannot stand . Tomorrow I will fix this . Tomorrow I will show him the world agrees with me . I woke before him , washed my face with ice water , and pressed makeup until my eye 2/4 41.15 8:58 Thu , Oct 16 画 inside I was screaming . This cannot stand . Tomorrow I will fix this . Tomorrow I will show him the world agrees with me . I woke before him , washed my face with ice water , and pressed makeup until my eye looked swollen , a bruise painted across my cheek with perfect precision . I dressed in silk but posed broken , fragile . One click , two clicks , a photo posted with the right caption : " Attacked again . Online hate is unbearable . " Within minutes , the internet was on fire . When Beckley woke , the first thing he saw was me curled on the couch with my phone trembling in my hands . He rushed over , voice rough with fear . " What happened ? Who did this to you ? " I sniffled , pressing the screen against his chest . The headline glared : Mark this mistress . This face . The woman who tore someoe's marriage apart . " They say I ruined your marriage , " I whispered , my voice cracking like I rehearsed . " They say I should've been the one dead , not Claire . Can you believe that , Beckley ? Maybe ... maybe they're right . Maybe I should've died instead of her . " He grabbed my face , eyes blazing . " Don't you ever say that . Claire was a liar . A cheater . She- " I cut him off , my voice shaking , soft , baiting . " But she's the woman you deeply loved . If not for my bone marrow , you never would've even looked at me . You agreed to be my boyfriend for one month , and next week ... next week that deal is over . You'll leave me that day , won't you ? " His arms crushed me against him . His breath was hot , desperate in my ear . " Who said I will leave you ? Never . From now on you're my wife . I'll marry you soon . I swear . " I blinked up at him with fake innocence , lips trembling like I couldn't believe my luck . I smiled into his chest , eyes shining with happy tears . But inside ? Inside I was laughing . The very next day , he called his family and his men into the grand hall . His voice thundered . " Fresca is carrying my heir . No one touches her . No one questions her . She is under full protection . " He ordered private doctors , doubled the guards , even had builders draw plans for at nursery wing in the villa . His parents sat stiff , quiet whispers exchanged . I heard them . " We liked Claire more . She had grace . " But Beckley silenced them with a single glare . " Claire is gone . Fresca is my future ." And just like that , I stood taller . Every visitor who came saw me holding my belly , my voice soft , fragile . They would whienor " Sho'e the strong woman whn cavar Rarklov'e lanary " I'd emila chulu enakinn Chapter 12 Oct 16 Döne Ratomy'done marrow , you never would've even looked at me . You agreed to be my boyfriend for one month , and next week ... next week that deal is over . You'll leave me that day , won't you ? " His arms crushed me against him . His breath was hot , desperate in my ear . " Who said I will leave you ? Never . From now on you're my wife . I'll marry you soon . I swear . " I blinked up at him with fake innocence , lips trembling like I couldn't believe my luck . I smiled into his chest , eyes shining with happy tears . But inside ? Inside I was laughing . The very next day , he called his family and his men into the grand hall . His voice thundered . " Fresca is carrying my heir . No one touches her . No one questions her . She is under full protection . " He ordered private doctors , doubled the guards , even had builders draw plans for a nursery wing in the villa . His parents sat stiff , quiet whispers exchanged . I heard them . " We liked Claire more . She had grace . " But Beckley silenced them with a single glare . " Claire is gone . Fresca is my future . " And just like that , I stood taller . Every visitor who came saw me holding my belly , my voice soft , fragile . They would whisper , " She's the strong woman who saved Beckley's legacy . " I'd smile shyly , soaking in their pity , their admiration . The perfect image . But nights were harder . Even when he held me close , Beckley's body jolted awake with sweat . He whispered her name in the dark . " Claire ... " Bullshit ! 8:58 Thu , Oct 16 CLAIRE'S POV