Chapter 1

The airport was a chaos, filled with strange faces hustling and bustling with their luggages to reach their destinations while some were running with tearful eyes to the welcoming arms of their loved ones. Announcements reverberated over the PA system, while some travelers hurried through the terminals. Rows of seats filled with anxious passengers waiting for their flights. The scents of coffee and jet fuel filled the air. Outside, planes taxied on the tarmac under a clear blue sky, a complete opposite to the pain in my heavy heart.

“Are you sure about this, Madison?” Nancy, my foster sister held my hands and asked me for the umpteenth time, her voice trembled and her eyelashes damp with tears.

I patted her back comfortingly trying hard to fight back my own tears. “Nancy, darling, I've made my decision and there's no turning back. I really have to do this for Addison,” I whispered, the weight of my decision pressing heavily on my chest.

Despite knowing my life and career is at stake. I'm still not going to change the decision I've suddenly made.

“Okay! Okay! But promise me you will call me if you need any help. And please, return back to us safely.” Nancy said, picking a wet tissue from her bag to wipe her tears.

“I promise, I will return back home safely and be safe too” I pulled her into a tight hug feeling the weight of our parting.

“Take care of yourself Nancy.” I whispered as the final boarding call reverberated through the bustling airport. I stood motionless with my heart shattered, watching her as she grabbed her suitcase disappearing into the jet bridge.

She was returning back to Paris without me. We came to New York to meet Addison Smith, my twin sister after being separated for fifteen years.

We used to be inseparable until we lost our parents in a fatal accident which claimed their lives, leaving us in the hands of different foster care.

Luckily, I was adopted by the Spark family, Nancy's parents, who treated me as their own daughter. But despite their love, I still felt an emptiness in my heart without Addison.

My foster parents and sister were of great help in searching for her over the years, and just a few months ago, we learned she was adopted by the Smith family in New York.

I and Nancy looked up her name on social media and we finally found it. Strangely, I've been following all her social media accounts without knowing she was Addison. Her posts on her pages were always about her designs which made me attracted to her initially. She was indeed a great designer. She had this talent right from childhood and I learnt from her. Everything I know about jewelry designs was learnt from her during childhood.

I sent her several messages and we cried for hours on video call after she got my messages. We finally reunited, we shared memories of our childhood. We spent a long time chatting on social media every single day. Those few months were my best months yet.

She was already engaged and planning to get married soon. She promised to visit me in Paris after her wedding. I couldn't wait, I really missed Addison and was so eager to see her so I decided to give her a surprise visit in New York after getting details of her residence.

My arrival was meant to be a surprise for her, but she gave me an unimaginable and unforgettable heartbreaking shock.

**** Few days ago ****

“I'll go with you Madison”, I heard Nancy's voice as she barged into my room with her suitcase.

I was still packing a few things in my suitcase. “Really? How about work?” I asked her.

“I've taken three consecutive days off work, so there's no problem” She whispered, helping me with my packing.

Soon, we were done packing and we immediately caught our flight. Not too long after, we arrived in New York City. We took a taxi and headed to Addisons residence. I checked a picture on my phone to be sure the building we were in matched the one she had once sent to me.

“Yeah! We got it Nancy!” I whispered excitedly.

We pulled our suitcase and dragged them gently into the only apartment in the building.

Strangely, we found the entrance door open. My heart sank with a bad feeling and I called her phone, the ring tone could be heard from inside her room so we walked in.

The room smelled musty and the only sound was the creaking rope.

“Addison!” I shouted as I slammed the door to her room shut after Nancy entered. The grin on my face, spreading ear to ear.

She was in an heartbreaking position. She was suspended in mid air with a rope choking her neck.

I blinked, trying not to believe what was going on. Everything around me paused.

"N-no" I whispered, my stiffened cry making me stutter. I watched as her feet dangled in the air. I couldn't comprehend what was going on.

My heart pounded as I rushed to untie her and placed her on the floor, trying to speak life into her.

I sniffled. "Add-i-son" She didn't even move. I yelled and cried but her soul turned a deaf ear.

“She's dead.”

Nancy said to me after observing her.

I would never be able to comprehend the fact that she was gone. “No, no, she can't be gone. She promised to never leave me!”

I brought my trembling hands to feel her now pale face, the same face that used to be bright. Her eyes were half opened, the light blue color now in a darker shade. I just couldn't take it anymore.

The same face that used to smile at me, was now pale. The same eyes, now dark and half closed!!!

I wiped my hand over her face to close her eyes, still in disbelief.

“How?”

“Why?”

“I thought she was just enjoying life?”

“Why did she take her own life with her own hands?What could have gone wrong?”

Those were the questions I asked myself hoping to get an answer.

I grabbed her phone and unlocked it. I wanted to call her fiance. But I halted when I noticed a note on the bed. I picked it and it was her handwriting that was inscribed on it.

Addison never told me about anything she was going through before we reunited. I thought she was living a luxurious and peaceful life just like myself, but I was wrong. She had kept all her struggles hidden from me, leaving behind only a diary that contained everything she had gone through ever since she was adopted by the Smith family and a note explaining her decision to end her own life. As I read her final words, a piercing pain swept through my heart.

“I’m sorry sister, I can't move on, please live the life I couldn't live.”

Determined to avenge my beloved sister's death, I decided to assume her identity to exact vengeance on those who had wronged her.