Chapter 3

The golden sun filtered through the floor to ceiling windows of the room.

Dianna stirred, her lashes fluttering as she adjusted to the light, the luxury silk sheets felt too foreign against her skin and the faint scent of lavender only reminder her of Daphne.

This wasn't her bed.

This wasn't her life.

She blinked awake fully and turned to find the space beside her empty. The spot where Alex had last d the night before which was cold.

Quietly she sat up, her finger gripping the edge of the sheet.

Then, she heard his voice.

It was muffled, coming from the hallway just outside the room.

The door had been left slightly ajar, allowing her to catch fragments of the conversation.

"I don't know, Marcus.... something's off," Alex said his tone was soft, concerned. "She's been distant. Ever since the wedding."

Diana's heart froze.

He was talking about her – or rather Daphne.

"She used to light up everyroom, but now she barely speaks. She flinches when I touch her," he continued. "I don't know if I've done something wrong....or if she's just not in love with me anymore."

Dianna pressed a hand to her mouth, stiffing the gasp rising in her throat.

This couldn't be happening, he was already beginning to see the cracks. She had to fix this, if he found out the truth, that she wasn't Daphne. But her twin sister everything would come down. Her family's reputation would be ruined, and her sister's chances of survival night be lost forever.

No.

She had to become Daphne.

She had to make Alex believe it.

Even if it meant giving up who she was entirely.

Just as she slipped back beneath the bed sheets, feigning sleep, the door creaked open. She fluttered, her eyes open, pretending to have just wake up.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Alex said warmly stepping in.

He was shirtless, wearing only gray lounge pants. His hair was still damp from a shower, and his face lit up when she saw her.

"Good morning," she replied with a yawn, putting on a soft smile.

He walked over to her side of the bed and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I made you breakfast," he said proudly. "Your favourite."

Dianna's smile stiffened, but she nodded.

"That's...Sweet of you."

"I figured it the least I can do. You've been tense lately, and I want to make it up to you," he said, his tone full of sincerity.

Dianna's stomach twisted. The guilt was unbearable.

He placed a tray in her lap, scrambled eggs with mushrooms, cheese toast, and a tall glass of citrus smoothie it smelled rich and warm...but it also smelled wrong.

Dianna's heart skipped.

Mushrooms.

She was allergic.

Even the slightest amount trigger her body into chaos. Her throat would swell, her chest would tighten. But she couldn't refuse– not without raiding suspicious.

Alex day beside her on the bed, watching her eagerly.

"Try it. I remember you used to say this was your comfort food after a rough week," he said with a nostalgic smile.

Dianna picked up the fork, her hand trembling.

This isn't worth your life, her instincts screamed.

But she pushed the thought aside. She couldn't let Alex grow more suspicious. Not after that she'd overheard.

With a brave smile, she took a bite.

The texture of the mushroom made her gag inwardly, but she chewed, smile and swallowed. Alex bleamed. "Is it okay?"

She nodded, forcing a delighted hum. "Perfect."

He leaned in to kiss her cheek, "glad to hear that."

Dianna's throat burned as she took another bite.

Then another, and another all to please Alex.

She couldn't stop now even though her system already screamed in protest.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hours later , Dianna was in the bathroom gripping the edge of the marble sink, separate beading her forehead. Her chest was tightening and her breaths came out in shallow gasp.

She stumbled out of the bathroom and collapsed near the door.

"Alex!" she choked.

In seconds he was at her side, "Daphne?" He shouted.

"I....I can't breathe....." she wheezed.

Panic shot through Alex's face. "Hold on – I'm taking you to the hospital right now!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everything became blur after that.

The sirens, the nurse, the white lights.

She faded in and out among consciousness as they rushed her into emergency care.

When she finally awike, her throat sore from the oxygen tubes, Alex was by her side holding her hand.

His eyes were red, his jaw tight.

"Daphne," he whispered, leaning closer. "God I thought I was going to loose you."

She blinked up at him, her vision still foggy. "I'm...okay," she answered.

She tried to speak, but her throat closed.

"Don't talk," he said gently, "the doctor said it was an allergic reaction. Why didn't you tell me?"

Dianna shook her head slowly. "You didn't need know, I never wanted to disturb you."

"I should have. I should have asked." He looked down at her hand, voice cracking. "I thought maybe....maybe the food would help bring back your spark."

A fresh wave of guilt washed over her.

She wanted to reach out to comfort him, to tell him he wasn't to blame, but how could she. When everything between them was a lie.

The door opened and her parent walked in, faces masked in worry.

"Daphne!" Her mother cried, rushing to her side.

Her father followed closely. "We came as soon as we heard."

Alex stood. "I'll give you a moment," he said, kissing her hand before leaving the room.

The moment the door clicked shut, her mother's worried expression vanished.

"What were you thinking?" " She hissed

"I..."

"You almost died, Dianna!" Her father snapped. "Do you want to ruin everything? You think if you die, this charade will keep working."

"I had no choice," she whispered. "He made the food thinking I was Daphne. I don't want to raise any other suspicion."

"You're selfish," her father spat. "You cat even pretend right. Daphne would never have been careless."

Her eyes welled with tears, "I'm not Daphne."

"You supposed to be," her mother said sharply. "We gave you one assignment, keep Alex convinced. Don't mess this up again."

Their words cut deeper than any wound.

As they turned to leave, her chest ached not from the allergy, but from the pain of being scolded for nearly dying.

She stared at the ceiling once more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When Alex returned, he sat beside her again brushing her hair softly.

"You scared me," he said.

"I'm sorry,"she murmured.

He smiled weakly. "I can't lose you Daphne. You mean everything to me."

Her heart shattered.

For a moment, she forget to breathe.

How lucky Daphne was she thought bitterly. Even I. Her absence she. Was still adored. Still worshipped. Still wanted.

Dianna but her lip, holding back the tears.

"I'm fine now," she whispered.

Alex leaned down, pressing his forehead to hers.

"I'm going to make everything perfect for us, okay? Whatever's wrong, we'll fix it together."

She nodded but inside her heart envy coiled in her like a snake.

Daphne had everything, even in her disappearance, she was still the sun in Alex's sky.

And Dianna?

She was just a shadow pretending to be light.