Chapter 1
IT RAIN TO REIGN 🌧️👑
Chapter One: The Day Everything Changed
The sun was as bright as ever, but Mr. Adams' heart was dim.
Mrs. Emilia, his beloved wife, had passed away that morning. With the help of their neighbours, she had been taken to the hospital, but unfortunately, she didn't make it.
Mr. Adams sat alone in the parlour, tears filling his eyes.He was still trying to process what had happened.
Then he heard footsteps approaching.
Quickly, he wiped his face and forced a small smile.
His daughters were back from school.
The twins walked into the house together.
Ruth and June: Good afternoon, Daddy.
Mr. Adams: Yes, my little angels! How was school?
He opened his arms and hugged them both.
Ruth: Daddy, I scored ten marks in my test today!Mr. Adams smiled.
Mr. Adams: Ohhh, come here! Give me a hug, girls!
The twins hugged their father.
But suddenly, June looked around.
Something felt strange.
She hadn't heard her mother's voice since they returned.
June: Daddy... where is Mummy? I haven't heard her voice since we came back.
Tears immediately began falling from Mr. Adams' eyes.
He tried to wipe them away, but he couldn't.Ruth's smile disappeared.
Ruth: Daddy... what's wrong?
Mr. Adams pulled his daughters closer.
He looked at both of them, his heart breaking.
Mr. Adams: My babies... my little angels...
He struggled to speak.
June: Daddy, you're scaring me. Where is Mummy?
Mr. Adams closed his eyes.
A painful silence filled the room.
Finally, he whispered the words that would change their lives forever.
Mr. Adams: Your mother... is no longer with us.June froze.
Ruth stared at her father.
June: What do you mean?
Mr. Adams: Your mother passed away this morning.
Ruth's schoolbag slipped from her hand and fell to the floor.
Ruth: No...
Her voice trembled.
Ruth: No, Daddy! You said Mummy was sick! You said she would be fine!
June shook her head.
June: Daddy, you're lying...
Mr. Adams pulled them into his arms.
Mr. Adams: I'm sorry...And just like that, the two girls' world came crashing down.
Their mother was gone.
And neither Ruth nor June knew that this was only the beginning of the storm that would change their lives forever.
Years passed, but Mrs. Emilia's death felt like it had happened just yesterday to Mr. Adams.
No matter how much time went by, the pain never truly left him.
Instead of facing his grief, Mr. Adams buried himself in work.
Day after day, he became busier.
He left home early in the morning and returned late at night.first, Ruth and June understood.
But little by little, their father became distant.
The man who once hugged them every afternoon was hardly around anymore.
The man who listened to every little story about their day barely had time to ask how school went.
Slowly...
Mr. Adams changed.
Then one day, he remarried.
His new wife was Mrs. Ann, a kind and beautiful woman.
However, Ruth and June didn't approve of her.
To them, Mrs. Ann wasn't just their father's new wife.
She was the woman who had taken theplace of their mother.
And no matter how kind Mrs. Ann tried to be, Ruth and June weren't ready to accept her.
Especially Ruth.
She couldn't understand how her father could love another woman after their mother had died.
June felt the same way.
But Mrs. Ann wasn't pretending to be kind.
Her kindness was real.
She was gentle, patient, and caring.
She tried to make the housefeel warm again.
But behind that kindness...
Mrs. Ann had her own demons.
There were parts of her past she didn't want anyone to know.
Secrets.
Pain.
And a side of herself she had carefully hidden from everyone.
Especially from the twins.
Mrs. Ann quickly became attached to June.
June reminded her of herself in so many ways.
She was tall, chubby, beautiful, and extremely talkative.Whenever June was around, the house was never quiet.
Mrs. Ann loved listening to her stories.
She loved laughing with her.
She loved the way June could turn even the smallest event into a long conversation.
But Ruth was different.
Very different.
Ruth was quiet.
She was intelligent.
And she noticed things other people didn't.
Sometimes, Mrs. Ann would be smiling while secretly angry.
June wouldn't notice.
Mr. Adams wouldn't noticeBut Ruth...
Ruth always noticed.
She could see it in Mrs. Ann's eyes.
The slight change in her voice.
The way her smile suddenly became forced.
The way her fingers tightened whenever something irritated her.
Ruth saw everything.
And that made Mrs. Ann uncomfortable.
Mrs. Ann wanted the twins to trust her.
She wanted to slowly become someone they could depend on.
But deep down, she also knew that some of the things she did were part of a plan.plan to earn their trust.
She thought June would be easy.
And she was right.
But Ruth?
Ruth was a problem.
Because Ruth wasn't easily fooled.
Whenever Mrs. Ann smiled at her, Ruth simply stared back.
Whenever Mrs. Ann pretended everything was fine, Ruth could tell when it wasn't.
Mrs. Ann began to feel like Ruth was watching her.
Studying her.Waiting for her to make one wrong move.
And that terrified her.
Because Mrs. Ann had spent years hiding the person she truly was.
She couldn't let Ruth uncover her demons.
She couldn't let Ruth destroy the perfect image she had carefully built.
So Mrs. Ann made a decision.
If she wanted her plan to work...
She had to find a way to deal with Ruth.
At school, Ruth was known as one of the brightest students in her class.She was always at the top.
Her teachers admired her intelligence, and her classmates often came to her whenever they needed help with their schoolwork.
But Ruth never cared about being the best.
Not anymore.
Since the death of her mother, Ruth had quietly taken it upon herself to make sure her twin sister was happy.
June never knew how much her sister loved her.
She didn't know that whenever Ruth received her results, she would sometimes switch them with hers.
She didn't know that Ruth would spend hours reading her books, only to sit beside June and explain everythingshe had learned.
Ruth even gave June what she jokingly called "expo" just to make her sister smile after examinations.
She knew June wasn't as academically brilliant as she was.
But Ruth didn't care.
All she wanted was to see her sister smile.
And so, Ruth went from being the first student in her class...
To becoming the 26th.
At first, everyone was confused.
Especially Mr. Adams.The father who had once proudly praised Ruth's intelligence suddenly began comparing the twins.
Mr. Adams: June, why can't you be more like your sister?
Ruth would quietly lower her head.
Ruth: Yes, Daddy.
Then came the irony.
As Ruth continued to fall in the rankings, her father stopped comparing June to Ruth.
Instead, he began comparing Ruth to June.
Mr. Adams: Ruth, look at your sister. She is doing so well.
Ruth would simply smile.
Ruth: Yes, Daddy.Then came the irony.
As Ruth continued to fall in the rankings, her father stopped comparing June to Ruth.
Instead, he began comparing Ruth to June.
Mr. Adams: Ruth, look at your sister. She is doing so well.
Ruth would simply smile.
Ruth: Yes, Daddy.
Mrs. Ann soon joined in.
Mrs. Ann: June is becoming such a brilliant girl. Ruth, you should learn from your sister.
Every word felt like a knife.But Ruth never defended herself.
She couldn't.
Because if she told the truth...
June's happiness would disappear.
And Ruth couldn't bear to see that.
Meanwhile, June was enjoying a life Ruth had secretly created for her.
She received praises from her father.
She received attention from Mrs. Ann.
The boys at school noticed her.
Her friends admired her.
Everywhere she went, June was becoming the light.
And Ruth?Ruth was slowly disappearing into the darkness.
Nobody praised her anymore.
Nobody asked why the girl who was once so brilliant was suddenly struggling.
Nobody noticed that she was still intelligent.
Nobody knew the truth.
Not even June.
June had now moved into a senior class, while Ruth remained stuck in a junior class.
Not because Ruth was dumb.
Not because she couldn't understand her lessons.
She had simply chosen to stay behind.For June.
Ruth was willing to sacrifice her own future just to see her sister happy.
But June didn't care anymore.
At least she had finally passed her sister in class.
She was now the one receiving all the attention.
She was the light.
While Ruth was fading away.
All because of love.
One afternoon, Ruth sat quietly in her classroom, reading.
But even then,she wasn't reading for herself.
She was studying so she could continue helping her sweet little sister.
Suddenly, Peru rushed into the classroom.
Peru: Ruth!
Ruth looked up.
Ruth: Hmm?
Peru: Your sister fought with Leila!
Ruth immediately dropped her book.
Ruth: What?!
Peru: A teacher separated them. They're in the VP's office now.Ruth stood up.
Ruth: Why did they fight?
Peru looked around before lowering her voice.
Peru: I heard a rumour that Leila hugged Davis.
Ruth blinked.
Ruth: Who is Davis?
Peru's mouth fell open.
Peru: Oh my God, Ruth!
Ruth: What?!
Peru: You don't know?!
Ruth stared at her friend.Ruth: Know what?
Peru grabbed her shoulders.
Peru: Your twin sister is dating Davis!
Ruth froze.
Ruth: June... is dating who?
Peru: Davis!
Ruth's mind went blank.
Her sweet little sister?
The same June she had spent years protecting?
The same June she had sacrificed her own academic success for?Dating a boy?
Ruth suddenly remembered how June had been acting lately.
The smiles.
The secret conversations.
The way she sometimes disappeared after school.
The way she had started paying more attention to her appearance.
Ruth's eyes widened.
Was Peru telling the truth?
Or was this just another rumour?
For the first time, Ruth felt something she had never felt before.Not anger.
Not jealousy.
Something else.
Confusion.
She had sacrificed so much for June.
But somehow...
There were things about her own sister that Ruth didn't know.
And for the first time, Ruth wondered:
"Who is my sister becoming?"
After school, Ruth and June walked home together.
But something had changed.Whenever Ruth tried to start a conversation, June simply walked faster.
Ruth: June, wait!
June didn't stop.
Ruth: June!
Still nothing.
Ruth finally gave up.
When they got home, Ruth couldn't hold it in anymore.
She needed answers.
She turned to her sister.
Ruth: You are dating a boy?June looked at her lazily.
June: 🥱
Ruth's eyes narrowed.
Ruth: Talk to me, June. Are you hiding anything from me?
June suddenly stopped.
She turned around slowly.
June: Wait...
Ruth stared at her.
June: Watch how you talk to me.
Ruth's expression changed.
She wasn't expectingthat response.
Her eyes began to fill with tears.
Ruth: I'm your elder sister...
Her voice trembled.
Ruth: And I care a lot about you.
June laughed bitterly.
June: You are my elder sister...
She paused.
Then she looked Ruth directly in the eyes.
June: But why are you still in junior class?Ruth froze.
June: We...
She pointed between them.
June: Are...
Another pause.
June: NOT...
She took a step closer.
June: IN...
June: THE SAME...
June: CLASS!
Ruth's tears began to fall.June's voice became colder.
June: So don't pretend like you care about me.
Ruth's heart shattered.
Then came the final word.
June: Fool!
Silence.
Ruth stared at her sister.
The girl she had sacrificed everything for.
The girl she had protected.
The girl she had secretly helped succeed.
Her own sister had just called her a fool.Then a voice came from the bedroom.
Mrs. Ann: She's right.
Ruth turned around.
Mrs. Ann stepped out of the bedroom.
She had been listening to everything.
Ruth looked at her in disbelief.
Ruth: She just called me a fool...
Mrs. Ann crossed her arms.
Mrs. Ann: Aren't you a fool?
Ruth's face went blank.
Mrs. Ann: Why would your junior sister pass you in class?She looked Ruth up and down.
Mrs. Ann: Look at you. You think you're so smart.
Ruth stood there silently.
Her tears continued falling.
But Mrs. Ann didn't know something.
Something neither June nor anyone else knew.
Ruth had never lost her intelligence.
She had only given it away.
She had sacrificed her own future to build June's.
And now...The very people she had sacrificed for were the ones laughing at her.
Ruth slowly wiped her tears.
For the first time, something inside her began to change.
Perhaps...
It was time to stop living in June's shadow.
Perhaps it was time to let the truth come out.
Mrs. Ann stared at Ruth.
Her gentle expression disappeared.
For the first time, Ruth could see something different in her eyes.Something cold.
Something dangerous.
Mrs. Ann: I will show you that a tiger can't be stronger than a gun.
Ruth frowned.
Ruth: What do you mean?
Mrs. Ann stepped closer.
Mrs. Ann: Always stubborn... always quiet... always pretending.
Ruth suddenly smiled.
Not because she was happy.
But because she finally understoodMrs. Ann was trying to intimidate her.
Ruth: Ann...
Mrs. Ann's eyes widened slightly.
Ruth rarely called her by her name.
Ruth: You know exactly what you're doing.
Ruth's smile disappeared.
Ruth: And it won't work.
Mrs. Ann's face changed.
Ruth took a small step forward.
Ruth: I still remember your face from—
Suddenly—The front door opened.
Mr. Adams walked into the house.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
The moment June saw her father, she ran toward him.
June: Daddy!
Mr. Adams opened his arms and hugged her.
Ruth remained where she was.
Still.
Silent.
She didn't move toward him.
She already knew how her father felt
about her now.
She had watched his disappointment grow over the years.
She had seen the way his eyes changed whenever he looked at her school results.
Ruth had learned to stay away.
But June had no such fear.
She looked at her father and immediately began to complain.
June: Daddy!
Mr. Adams looked down at her.
Mr. Adams: What happened?
June pointed toward Ruth.June: Ruth is insulting Mum!
Ruth's eyes widened.
Ruth: What?!
Mr. Adams turned toward Ruth.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Mrs. Ann placed a hand over her chest.
Her expression suddenly changed.
She looked worried.
Frightened.
Almost innocent.
But Ruth knew better.
Mrs. Ann: Oh, please...Her voice trembled.
Mrs. Ann: Don't make this into a big issue.
Ruth stared at her.
She knew that expression.
She knew that voice.
Mrs. Ann was acting.
And Ruth knew exactly why.
Mrs. Ann wanted Mr. Adams to believe that Ruth was the problem.
That she was disrespectful.
That she was rebellious.That she was the ungrateful daughter who hated her stepmother.
Ruth looked at her father.
Mr. Adams' face was hard.
Mr. Adams: Ruth.
Ruth swallowed.
Mr. Adams: What did you say to Ann?
Ruth opened her mouth.
She could tell him everything.
She could reveal what Mrs. Ann had said.
She could tell him that his wife was planning something.
But then Ruth remembered the wordsshe had almost said.
I still remember your face from...
Something about Mrs. Ann's past.
Something Ruth had seen.
Something she wasn't supposed to know.
Ruth looked at Mrs. Ann.
Mrs. Ann was still wearing that worried expression.
But her eyes were different.
They were warning Ruth.
Don't say it.Ruth understood.
And for the first time...
She smiled.
A quiet, knowing smile.
Ruth: I didn't insult her, Daddy.
Mrs. Ann's eyes narrowed.
Ruth continued.
Ruth: But I think it's time we talked about what happened—
Mrs. Ann: Ruth!
The room fell silent.
Ruth's smile grew slightly.Because now she was certain.
She had found the demon behind Mrs. Ann's smile.
But what Ruth didn't know was that the storm had only just begun.
