He Mistook My Sister For Me On Meetup Day Chapter 04

He Mistook My Sister For Me On Meetup Day Chapter 04

The day of the exhibition, my mother laid out a black dress for me.

“Don’t wear red,” she said. “Today’s about Iris. I don’t want anyone getting confused.”

I stared at that dress-looked like something you’d wear to a funeral-and left it where it lay.

“I’m not going.”

My father’s face went dark.

“The account’s in your name. The gallery needs access to the original inbox at the end. If you don’t show up, what happens to the proposal?”

So that was it. They didn’t want me there to witness anything.

They just needed me to finish the job.

Iris came out of her room in the crimson slip dress from the airport.

She lowered her voice. “Just help me one last time.”

“After Evan proposes, I won’t bother you again.”

“One last time?”

I looked at her. “At the airport, you said half an hour.”

She looked away.

My mother seized my arm.

“If you cause a scene today, consider yourself dead to us.”

I let out a bitter laugh.

“You already acted like I was dead to you.”

At the gallery, the place was packed.

My letters hung on the walls.

[Stonehaven, I turned eighteen today.]

[Stonehaven, Mom told me again that I have everything, so I should be grateful and let others have what they

want.

[Stonehaven, if we ever meet, will you recognize me right away?]

And under every single letter, Iris Tate’s name.

People called her devoted, talented.

She stood beside Evan, soaking up every compliment.

A reporter asked, “What was the most memorable moment across all seven years?”

She smiled. “Every day was memorable.”

Evan looked at her.

That flicker of doubt in his eyes was deeper than before.

But he still held her hand.

When the host introduced me, all she said was, “This is Iris Tate’s sister. She helped compile the letters.”

From the crowd:

“That’s so sweet-the sister helped write the love letters.”

“She’s got such a way with words. Iris must have given her a lot of real emotion to work with.”

I stood backstage and said nothing.

Before the proposal, Evan came to me to link the account.

He dropped his voice. “Don’t make this hard for Tidecaller today.”

“After it’s over, I’ll get her to sit down with you.”

I asked, “Do you remember what else we agreed on for our first meeting-besides the dress?”

He froze.

“How do you know there was something else?”

“Didn’t Iris tell you?”

His expression flickered.

Behind me, my mother’s voice cut in.

“Evan, Iris is looking for you.”

He hesitated a few seconds, then turned and walked away.

On stage, the lights came up.

Evan stood in front of the letter wall-all eighty-four of them-and read my words out loud, line by line.

“Tidecaller, you told me you were most afraid of being left behind.”

“Starting today, you’ll never wait again.”

He dropped to one knee. Pulled out a ring.

Iris covered her mouth, tears streaming, nodding.

The applause hit-and my mother’s grip on my wrist turned iron.

“See? Evan loves her.”

“After today, you hand over the account and never bring this up again.”

Her nails dug in. I couldn’t feel it anymore.

They embraced-and the big screen flickered.

Staff rushed to check the wiring.

A few seconds later, it came back on.

But it wasn’t a photo of the proposal.

It was an email.

Sent seven years ago. Delivered today.

The title read: To Stonehaven, Seven Years Later.

The first line appeared, slow.

[Evan, this is Lena Tate.]

The applause died, piece by piece.

Then the second line.

[When we finally meet, you have to say my name right first.]

The smile vanished from Evan’s face.

Across the entire room, he turned his head, slowly.

And for the first time, he really looked at me.