The Twin Face That Haunts Me Chapter 15

The Twin Face That Haunts Me Chapter 15

The awkward moment faded fast, swallowed by the venue’s buzzing chatter. I slipped away

unnoticed and retreated to the restroom again.

My reflection stared back, pale, my lipstick smudged all over my mouth. I fumbled a tube of lipstick

out of my clutch to reapply it, my hands trembling uncontrollably.

Mid-touch-up, I caught sight of Thomas in the mirror. He stood in the doorway, not stepping

inside, his stare fixed firmly on my face through the glass.

We held eye contact for what felt like an eternity before he broke the silence, his voice soft and shaky, as if forcing every word out with visible effort.

“It’s you. Why… why didn’t you ever come find me?”

All those years back in the village, waiting endlessly for my parents to collect me, crushed by hopelessness and heartbreak-I’d only told everyone my last name was Carter. The villagers called

me Carl, and Thomas had too.

My hand froze around the lipstick tube, and I steadied myself, meeting his eyes to see glistening tears welling there.

I’d spent countless nights imagining this moment: I thought I’d crumble into sobs, overcome by years of hurt and unfairness. Now that it was actually here, none of that emotion surfaced.

I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. “What would I have gone to you for? To watch you dote on my sister and cheer the two of you on?”

Thomas rushed to deny it immediately. “That’s not it at all. Florence, I mistook her for you. I was an idiot. But Selena’s stories lined up perfectly with our past, and you two share the exact same face. I truly had no idea-please, I’m so sorry…”

I shook my head, pausing to gather my thoughts, then spoke every word slowly, deliberately, all the things I’d been turning over in my head endlessly over the past week.

“Thomas, did you never once doubt that it was her, not me? Was her act really that flawless? Or was she just beautiful enough to make you brush every inconsistency aside?”

Thomas went rigid, rushing to form a rebuttal. “I never-”

I cut him off, ignoring his denial, and sighed heavily. “Ever since I found out your fiancée was you, I’ve turned this over in my head nonstop. Selena said the two of you have been seeing each other for two whole months. Two months, and you never picked up on a single thing that felt off?”

“I finally realized the truth, though. Deep down, you were satisfied with Selena, weren’t you? So

even when little things didn’t add up, you refused to question it.”

“Thomas, you have to know-no one’s ever truly chosen me, not since the day I was born. Funny

how history repeats itself. This time, you didn’t choose me either.”

I finished speaking with a thin smile, and hot tears spilled over at last. I stepped around his

stunned, frozen figure and hurried out of the restroom.

I didn’t go back to find Dad. Instead, I pushed open the stairwell door, wandered down a few flights

of steps, and huddled down in the corner landing.

It would be a lie to say I wasn’t hurting.

I knew Selena was brilliant, charismatic, effortlessly likable-of course everyone would gravitate toward her. But after all these years, wasn’t there anyone who’d stand firmly on my side, just for once? Was I truly that unlovable?

I rubbed my stinging nose, reaching into my bag for tissues, when a lazy, drawling voice echoed

down the stairs.

“Well now, let me see who’s hiding up here crying their little heart out. You’re a total tear-streaked mess, but don’t worry-I’m absolutely obsessed with sad little kittens.”

I blinked in shock, wiping my wet cheeks as I looked up.

Richard stood on the step above me, hands stuffed deep in his suit pockets, head tilted to watch me with a bright grin, his tailored blazer slung over one forearm. He looked like he’d snuck away from the gala early, and he was watching me with unmasked amusement.

I pressed my lips together, shooting him an irritable glance. “Quit bothering me, you flashy

peacock.”

Richard laughed even louder.