ARIA'S POV
"Your daughter is completely useless, Richard. I don't know why you keep her around."
I freeze with my fork halfway to my mouth. My stepmother, Patricia, doesn't even look at me when she says it. She's cutting her steak like she's discussing the weather, not talking about me like I'm a stray dog they forgot to kick out.
My father—my own father—doesn't defend me. He just nods and takes another sip of his wine.
I've lived in this house for twenty-two years, but I've never belonged here. Not since Dad married Patricia when I was seven and she brought Maya into our lives. Maya, the perfect daughter. Maya, who always knows the right thing to say. Maya, who my father actually loves.
"At least Maya understands business," Dad says, finally speaking. He smiles at my step-sister sitting across from me. "She's been meeting with potential investors all week. She actually cares about saving Chen Enterprises."
Maya gives him a sweet smile, the kind that makes me want to throw up. "I just want to help, Daddy Richard. Family is everything."
I grip my fork tighter. I've tried to help the family business for years. I created a whole new website design last month that could save us thousands. Dad deleted my email without reading it.
"Aria just takes up space," Patricia continues, stabbing a piece of asparagus. "She can't even find a husband. Twenty-two and completely alone. It's embarrassing."
My chest burns, but I keep my face blank. I've learned not to react. Reacting only makes it worse.
"Actually," Maya says, and something in her voice makes me look up. She's watching me with glittering eyes, like a cat that caught a mouse. "I think Aria could be useful for once."
The whole table goes quiet. Dad actually looks interested.
"There's a business party tomorrow night at the Grand Regency Hotel," Maya continues. "Very important people will be there. Investors, CEOs, the kind of connections that could save our company."
"And you want to bring Aria?" Patricia sounds like Maya just suggested bringing a cockroach.
"Why not?" Maya's smile gets wider. "She could... I don't know, serve drinks? Network? Even Aria can't mess up just talking to people."
It's an insult wrapped in an opportunity, and everyone at the table knows it. But Dad is leaning forward now, actually paying attention to me for the first time in months.
"Could you do that, Aria?" he asks. "Could you actually be helpful for once?"
Something cracks inside my chest. My own father, asking if I'm capable of having a conversation. But I swallow the hurt because this is my chance. Finally. A chance to prove I'm not useless. A chance to save the business that's been in our family for three generations.
"Yes," I say quietly. "I can help."
"Don't embarrass us," Patricia warns. "These are important people. Dress properly. Act properly. For once in your life, don't be a disappointment."
Maya reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. Her fingers are cold. "Don't worry, Aria. I'll help you. We're sisters, after all. I'll make sure you have everything you need."
There's something weird about the way she says it, but I ignore the feeling. This is good news. Maya is finally being nice to me. Dad actually acknowledged my existence. Maybe things are changing.
"What time should I be ready?" I ask.
"I'll pick you up at seven," Maya says. "We'll go together. It'll be fun."
Fun. I haven't had fun in years. Haven't had friends in years. Haven't had anything except this empty house and a family that wishes I didn't exist.
That night, I lie in bed staring at my ceiling. Tomorrow could change everything. If I can help Dad's business, maybe he'll finally see me. Maybe he'll remember that I'm his daughter too, not just Maya.
My phone buzzes with a text from Maya: "Wear something nice tomorrow. First impressions matter. This is your chance to finally matter, sis."
I read it three times. Your chance to finally matter.
I've wanted to matter my whole life.
The next evening, I'm ready an hour early. I borrowed a black dress from the back of Maya's closet—she has so many she won't notice. It's a bit tight, but it's better than anything I own. I even tried putting on makeup, though I'm terrible at it.
When Maya picks me up, she looks perfect as always. Red dress, perfect hair, confident smile. She hands me a champagne glass as soon as I get in her car.
"Pre-party celebration," she says. "To new beginnings."
The champagne tastes expensive. I drink it because I'm nervous and because Maya is being so kind. By the time we reach the hotel, I've finished the whole glass and I'm feeling warm and relaxed.
"Ready?" Maya asks as we walk into the Grand Regency.
The lobby is full of people in expensive suits and designer dresses. I recognize some faces from business magazines. These people are rich. Important. I'm so out of my league.
"I don't know if I can do this," I whisper.
Maya squeezes my arm. "You'll be fine. Just be yourself. Oh, and Aria?" She leans close, and her perfume is overwhelming. "Don't drink too much. You already had that champagne, remember?"
But I only had one glass. Why does the room feel like it's tilting?
"Maya, I feel strange—"
"You're just nervous." She guides me deeper into the party. "Stay here. I'll get you some water."
She disappears into the crowd. The lights are too bright. My skin feels too hot. The floor won't stay still under my feet.
I stumble toward a wall, trying to hold myself up. People are staring. A woman in a blue dress whispers something to her friend and they both laugh.
This is wrong. Something is very, very wrong.
I need to leave. Need to find Maya. Need to—
The room spins violently and I fall forward. Strong hands catch me before I hit the floor.
"Hey, are you okay?" A deep voice, concerned. Male.
I try to focus on his face but can't. Everything is blurry. "Help me," I manage to whisper. "Please. Something's wrong."
"I've got you," the voice says. "Let's get you somewhere safe."
As he lifts me into his arms, my last clear thought before everything goes dark is: Maya knew this would happen.
And then there's nothing but darkness and the terrifying realization that my own sister just destroyed me.