Vivian
I couldn’t believe it. Jack’s mother was here, in this orphanage, potentially about to change my life forever. Why did she want to adopt? I hoped Jack and his sister were alright. Did he even remember me after all these years? What if he had forgotten all about me? And if his mother took me in, would I ever be able to face him again? I couldn’t think straight, as a million questions spun in my mind. I had always dreamed of leaving this place, of finding a new family, but I never imagined it would be his family. It felt like life was playing some cruel joke on me. Suddenly, the blaring sound of a car horn snapped me out of my thoughts. "We're here.” Mrs. Anderson announced. My breath caught in my throat as we drove into the Andersons’ compound. The house itself was more like a mansion, It was the kind of place I had only ever seen in movies, and now, somehow, it was supposed to be my new home. As the car finally came to a stop in front of the grand entrance, Mrs. Anderson turned to me with a warm smile. “Welcome home, Vivian,” she said softly. Home? The word felt foreign, almost unreal. I couldn’t bring myself to respond, still too overwhelmed by everything that was happening. “This is Vivian. She’s my daughter now, and I want you all to treat her with the same care and respect you show me.” Mrs. Anderson said, turning to the group of maids who had emerged from the house. “Welcome, Miss Vivian,” they chorused bowing their heads in unison. I blinked, completely taken aback. I wasn’t used to this kind of treatment, and the sight of it left me feeling awkward and unsure of how to respond. “Than..thank you,” I responded, tapping my fingers together nervously. “Let’s go inside, Vivian,” Mrs. Anderson said, gently guiding me towards the entrance. ******** “This will be your room,” Mrs. Anderson said softly, pushing open a door at the end of the hallway. I stared in awe, barely able to comprehend that this beautiful space was meant for me. It was stunning. The bed, the rug, the windows, the cushions….everything was so breathtaking. But as I took a few more steps inside, something felt off. It seemed like someone was already staying in the room. There was a book that was laid open on the desk, a pair of slippers rested beside the bed, and the closet door was slightly ajar, revealing clothes hanging neatly inside. I hesitated, glancing at Mrs. Anderson. “ Is this me and Li…..” I caught myself just in time. I had almost asked if this was me and Lily’s room, but I quickly remembered that Mrs. Anderson didn’t know I was familiar with her children. “I mean, is this just my room or am I sharing it with someone?” “My son will be back soon. I’d love for you to meet him.” Mrs. Anderson said, ignoring my question. Just as the words left her mouth, we both heard the sound of the front door opening downstairs. Her face lit up, and she turned back to me. “Oh, he’s already here. Perfect timing.” “Jack, come up here! There’s someone I want you to meet,” she called out. The moment Mrs. Anderson called out to Jack, my heart began to race. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and anxiety gripped me so tightly that it felt like I could hardly breathe. Would he recognize me? Did he even remember me after all these years? My palms grew really sweaty, and I quickly wiped them on my dress, hoping Mrs. Anderson wouldn’t notice how nervous I was. The sound of his footsteps on the stairs made my heart leap. Each step echoed louder in my ears, building the tension until I felt like I was about to explode. My eyes were glued to the hallway, waiting for him to appear. And then, there he was, walking down the hallway towards us. My breath caught in my throat. He was even more handsome than I remembered….taller, looking mature. His hair was neatly brushed back, just like it had always been when we were kids. I smiled at him as he approached, hoping he would recognize me, but his expression remained cold. “Jack, meet Lily,” Mrs Anderson said. “She’s going to be your new sister.” I blinked in shock, trying to process what Mrs. Anderson had just said. Wait, what? My name is definitely not Lily. A cold shiver ran down my spine as I glanced up at her.“Um…Mrs. Anderson,” my voice trembling slightly, “My name is…..” She cut me off with a sharp look. “I’m not done talking, young lady. And you'll call me Mama from now on…That’s what Lily used to call me” What the hell is happening here? I just stood there dumbfounded, unable to process what she just said. “Oh, so now you have the nerve to call a complete stranger Lily?” Jack sneered. “You think you can just replace my sister like that?” His words hit me like a punch to the gut. The hate in his voice took me by surprise, and I flinched, taking a small step back. “Lily is gone. She's dead,” he shouted, his voice breaking with anger. “And no one…..especially not her,” he pointed at me, “is going to take her place.” “Take her back,” Jack demanded, his eyes blazing with fury. “Take her back to wherever you brought her from. I don’t want her here.” Mrs. Anderson’s expression hardened as she stepped toward Jack. “That’s enough, Jack. She isn’t going anywhere, and you need to accept that.” He clenched his jaw but didn’t say another word. Instead, he turned away from us, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. I stood there, frozen, the tension in the room making it hard for me to breathe. Mrs. Anderson turned back to me, her tone softening. “Come with me, darling,” she said, guiding me back into the hallway. My legs felt like they were made of lead as I followed her into the room she had shown me earlier. Once we got inside, she closed the door behind us. “This room belonged to my late daughter, Lily,” Mrs. Anderson began. “Everything in here was hers…..the clothes, the furniture, I mean everything. But from now on, it’s all yours.” I looked around the room, my heart sinking as I tried to comprehend what she was saying. “You mustn’t get rid of anything,” she continued, her eyes boring into mine. “You will wear what Lily wore, eat what Lily ate, and you will bear Lily’s name.” A cold dread washed over me as her words sank in, twisting my stomach into knots. “You’re here to replace Lily, and you mustn’t do otherwise.” A shiver ran down my spine as her words echoed in my head. What the hell is happening here? No, I can’t do this. I thought this was going to be my final destination, my escape, but I was wrong…..terribly wrong. I can’t be caught up in this madness. First, Jack didn’t recognize me. Not only that, but he had a completely different personality. And now, his mother wants me to become her dead daughter, taking up her identity. Is she insane? “Do you understand?” Mrs. Anderson asked, with a firm tone. “No,” I blurted out. “I don’t understand, and I can’t do this. I’m not Lily, and I’m not going to pretend to be. I’m going back to the orphanage.” Mrs. Anderson threw her head back and started laughing, she laughed so hard that tears started to fall from her eyes. “Oh, you poor, naive girl,” she said, her laughter subsiding as a wicked smile curled up on her lips. “You don’t understand anything, do you?” “What do you mean?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. “You think you were adopted?” she sneered, stepping closer. “You think you have a choice in this? No, Vivian, you were bought…paid for, from that matron who sold you to me like you were nothing more than a commodity.” I staggered back, the horror of her words hitting me like a ton of bricks. “Bought?” I echoed, my voice trembling with fear “Yes,” she replied, placing her hands on her hips, a look of satisfaction spreading across her face. “You belong to me now. There’s no orphanage to go back to, no one to save you. You’re mine, and you will be Lily. You’ll do everything she did, live exactly as she lived, and you will not defy me.” My legs felt numb as the weight of her words sank in. I was bought. Not adopted. I had been sold to this woman, forced into a life that wasn’t mine, and now, I was expected to take on the identity of a dead girl. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to make sense of it all. Am I dreaming? Is this some kind of nightmare? Oh please wake up. Mrs. Anderson’s voice cut through my thoughts, snapping me back to the present. “You should try to settle in, Vivian,” she said, turning to leave. “There’s going to be a family ritual tonight and it’s going to be a long night, so you’d better prepare yourself.”VIVIAN I sat on the edge of the bed, sobbing uncontrollably, my tears soaking the pillow I clutched tightly against my chest. My face was swollen, my eyes red and puffy from hours of crying. I felt so utterly helpless, trapped in a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from. I really wish I could. I couldn’t think straight as Mrs. Anderson words kept echoing in my mind- I was bought. Not adopted. Forced to live as Lily.I just wanted to disappear, to fade away and escape this madness.A knock on the door startled me from my thoughts, but I didn’t move. I couldn't face anyone right now, but the knock came again, more louder this time.Taking a shaky breath, I wiped my teary face with trembling hands and then forced myself to stand and walk to the door. My legs felt like they could give out at any moment, but I managed to reach the door and opened it to find a maid standing there, holding a neatly folded dress.“It’s time for the ritual,” she said softly. “ Put this on.”Numbly, I took
JACKA soft knock on the door interrupted the thoughts raging in my mind as I lay shirtless on my bed.I didn’t respond, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave me alone, but no the person didn't, as the knocking persisted.“Mr. Jack?” came a voice from the other side of the door. It was Mary, one of the younger maids. “Your mother asked me to call you. It’s time for dinner.”I stared at the door, my fists clenching in frustration. Dinner. The thought of sitting at that table, pretending everything was normal while that girl……Vivian…….sat there as if she belonged, made my stomach turn. I didn’t want to go. I didn’t want to face them. Not now. Not ever. But I knew I had no choice. In this house, family dinners were non-negotiable. It was a tradition my mother held on to fiercely, especially after Lily… after she was gone.With a resigned sigh, I pushed myself off the bed, put on my shirt and walked out. I opened the door to find Mary standing there. “ I'm coming,” I sa
JACK “The decision is final. You both need to start preparing. The new session begins next week.” my father snapped back.Before I could respond, my mother’s attention shifted back to Vivian. “Did you think I’d forgotten? You must eat the lamb. Keep practicing so you can get used to it.”Vivian looked like she was on the verge of tears, her hands trembling as she stared at the plate in front of her. Something snapped inside me. I couldn’t watch this anymore.“Leave her alone!” I yelled, my voice echoing through the room. I could feel the heat of anger rising in my chest.But my mother wasn’t having it. “Shut up, Jack,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing dangerously. “This is for her own good.”I tried to stay put, to control my anger but then I couldn’t anymore, and before I knew what I was doing, I stood up so fast that my chair scraped against the floor with a loud screech. I marched over to Vivian’s side and without a second thought, I grabbed her hand, pulling her up from the table.
VIVIAN I stood in front of the sleek black limousine, my heart heavy as I watched the maids load our luggage into the trunk.Just days ago, Jack had been rushed to the hospital, battling that awful illness, Asteron Syndrome. And now, here we were, packing up for college as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t been on the verge of death not too long ago.They said he’d have to take medication every single day, and that I needed to keep getting injections to immunize myself… but I still didn’t understand why. It all felt like I was trapped in some twisted dream.The entrance door opened and Mrs Anderson stepped out. “Lily, darling, I hope you’re fully prepared?”I nodded, forcing a smile. “Yes, I’m ready.”"Good," she said, putting on a smile as she approached. "I've transferred $50,000 into your new account for your upkeep. That should cover all your expenses for this month. Enjoy college, darling.”I froze, barely managing to keep my expression in check. Did she just say $50,
VIVIAN Two weeks had passed since I arrived at college, and I was beginning to enjoy my new life. The campus was alive with energy, and for the first time, I felt like I had space to breathe, to explore, and to be myself…or rather, to be Lily. I glanced at the clock. It was already time for Jack’s checkup. I had to head over to his room, make sure everything was in order, and then we’d be off to the hospital for his scheduled visit.Pulling off my top, I reached for a fresh one when the door suddenly swung open without a knock. Startled, I looked up to see Jack standing in the doorway, his eyes widening as he stared at my bare chest. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, “What the hell, Jack?!” I screamed, “Get out!”But Jack didn’t move. Instead, he leaned casually against the doorframe, with a nonchalant look on his face. “Why haven’t you come to run my checkup yet? I’ve been waiting.” his voice was annoyingly calm like he hadn’t just barged in on me half-naked. My cheeks f
JACK I slammed the door shut behind me, frustration and confusion bubbling inside. I could barely stand being in that room, watching that smug doctor flirt with Vivian. What kind of doctor was he, anyway?He wasn’t doing his job..he was asking her out for coffee. How unprofessional could you get?I tossed my jacket onto the chair, running a hand through my hair, still fuming. "Isn't his job to focus on the patient?" I muttered under my breath. "Not to flirt with my… sister?"I paused, the word feeling foreign in my mouth. Sister. I’d never really thought of Vivian like that before. I mean, technically, she was, but I never acted like it. Never really cared to. So why did I say it back there? What was I even thinking?Shaking my head, I tried to brush it off. I pulled my shirt over my head, tossing it aside. My arms felt heavy, the effects of the injection already making me sluggish and weak. Damn it. I hated this feeling.I lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, my mind
Vivian I sat in the backseat of the car, staring out the window as the familiar gates of the Anderson estate came into view. Mrs. Anderson had insisted that I come back home for a proper checkup at the family hospital after the nosebleed incident.My mind was still racing with the incident from last night……the kiss with Jack, the shock of waking up to blood all over my pillow. The more I thought about it, the more something felt… off.The car slowed to a stop, and the driver opened the door for me. As soon as I stepped outside, I took a deep breath. Just get through this, I told myself. A quick checkup at the family hospital, and I’d. be back to my life, to be back to college.“Lily, darling!”The sound of Mrs. Anderson’s voice froze me in place. Lily.She had called me Lily. Again.“Come inside, sweetheart. You must be exhausted. Let’s get you settled before we head to the hospital.”I swallowed hard and made my way up the steps, the knot in my chest tightening with every step I
VIVIAN The doctor hesitated, his eyes shifting to Mrs. Anderson, then back to me.“You have Asteron Syndrome.”“What?”The words hit me like a freight train. Asteron Syndrome? The same illness Jack had been fighting for years? The same illness that took Lily’s life?My chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe."No," I whispered, shaking my head. "That can't be true..."But the look on the doctor’s face told me otherwise.“You’ve shown early symptoms,” he continued. “The nosebleeds, dizziness… it all lines up.”I felt the room spin, my body growing weak like the air had been sucked out of me.Asteron Syndrome?It didn’t make sense. It was genetic. Hereditary. I wasn’t related to Jack or Lily.How could this be happening to me?I turned slowly, my eyes locking onto Mrs. Anderson. Her face was as pale as mine, her lips slightly parted in shock.“How?” I asked, barely audible. “How do I have this? You said it was hereditary, right? It runs in the family. So why... why do I have it?”My voice