Chapter 1
Today was the day.
The day I finally left everything behind—my school, my city, my so‑called normal life. All of it. I was sitting in the airport, waiting for a plane that would take me across the country to begin something entirely new. Something terrifying. Something necessary.
I kept checking my phone every few seconds, even though I knew it was pointless. I hadn’t told them I was leaving. Reece, Kitty, Eric… none of them knew. They wouldn’t be calling or texting.
Only four people knew the truth—Aiden, Lily, Nancy, and Juliette. And the only reason anyone knew at all was because Juliette insisted I couldn’t disappear without telling someone.
The months after the explosion at the M.E. had not been kind. The world didn’t just shift—it cracked.
The only bright side was Nancy.
Somehow—miraculously—she woke up a few hours after the explosion. The doctors were baffled, stumbling over explanations that didn’t make sense, but it didn’t matter. She was awake. Alive. Healing.
I moved in with her almost immediately. She thought it was because I wanted to help her recover. And yes, that was part of it.
But deep down, I knew the real reason.
I couldn’t live with Lily anymore—not after learning she wasn’t my aunt at all, but my sister pretending to be someone else. Pretending to be family in a way I never asked for.
Nancy didn’t remember the attack, and that was a blessing. The last thing she needed was more trauma.
But I remembered everything.
Especially the conversation with Lily—no, Anastasia—that replayed in my mind endlessly.
I remembered walking into the apartment with shaking hands, hearing her boiling water in the kitchen. I remembered the weight in my chest, the sting in my throat. I remembered hoping—foolishly—that Juliette had been wrong.
Lily turned when she heard my voice, smiling at first, then frowning when she saw my expression.
“Is everything alright?” she asked, instantly concerned.
I sat down at the table, wrapping my hands around the warm cup she placed in front of me.
“Someone told me something ridiculous,” I began. My voice sounded like it belonged to someone else. “Something I’m sure isn’t true. But I need to hear it from you.”
She tried to reassure me with a gentle, naïve smile. “In every lie, there is usually a little truth.”
My stomach dropped.
“It’s that someone told me…” The words stumbled out all at once. “That you’re not my real aunt. That you’re pretending to be her. That you’re actually my older sister. But that’s ridiculous, right? Right?”
Her silence was answer enough.
“No,” I whispered, shaking my head. “No, no—this isn’t—please tell me it’s a joke.”
“Celia—” she began, her voice breaking. I hated that voice. I hated that tone. Because I already knew what it meant.
And suddenly tears were pouring down my face.
“You lied to me,” I said, choked and trembling. “My whole life.”
“I wanted to tell you,” she whispered desperately, reaching for my hands. “I just— I didn’t know when. I wanted to protect you.”
“Protect me?” I pulled away. “From what? From the truth?”
Her tears matched mine. “There are dangerous people out there—people who want to hurt you. I was trying to keep you safe.”
“Well, you failed,” I said harshly. “He already found me.”
Her eyes widened in fear. “Celia… when? What do you know?”
“Enough,” I said, stepping back.
She tried one last time. “Please don’t go. Celia—”
“What’s your real name?” I asked.
She hesitated. “Anastasia.”
I nodded. “I’m going to Aiden’s. Don’t try to stop me.”
And I left. I still hear her begging me to come back.
But I didn’t.
Aiden listened to everything. Held me while I cried. Told me he was there for me. And he was.
I moved in with Nancy shortly after, avoiding Anastasia as much as possible until the school year ended.
As for Reece, Kitty, and Eric… they weren’t innocent either. As it turned out, they had known about Thomas long before I did. About the danger he posed. About the lies surrounding him.
And when I found out, the betrayal hit just as hard.
I ignored them. Every look. Every attempt to talk. Every apology. I couldn’t face them without feeling that twisting pain in my chest.
Aiden shielded me from them. He always seemed to know when I needed space. Or when I needed someone to stand between me and the hurt.
He was the best friend I could have asked for.
“Plane 970 is now boarding. Plane 970 is now boarding,” a voice announced overhead.
I inhaled slowly, grabbed my small carry‑on, and stood.
“This is it,” I whispered to myself.
A new start. A new place. A new life. Hopefully one with fewer lies.
People began lining up, and I joined them. Someone bumped into me from behind.
“Oh—sorry!” a man said quickly.
“It’s fine,” I told him with a small smile.
He smiled back, relieved, and took a step forward—then paused, bending to pick something up.
“Looks like you dropped this.”
My bracelet.
The one my mother said would protect me.
“Oh—thank you. I didn’t notice.”
He nodded and handed it back.
Soon it was my turn to hand over my ticket, and the flight attendant directed me toward first class—courtesy of Juliette, who insisted on ensuring my safety.
First class was peaceful, almost cozy. Large seats, soft lighting, quiet hums of conversation. A welcome contrast to the chaos of the last months. A flight attendant handed me a drink and smiled warmly before showing me my seat.
A moment later, the seat beside mine was filled—the same man who’d bumped into me earlier.
He gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry again—seems like I’m just running into you today.”
I laughed softly. “You’re fine. Really.”
“There are still good people in the world,” I added quietly to myself.
He nodded. “I’d like to think so.”
And for the first time in months… I almost believed it too.
