Chapter 3: The Sister’s Shadow Returns

He once told me honestly that Maddie was his sister’s daughter. After a plane crash, her whole family was lost at sea. He’d told me the story in a quiet voice, eyes shining with unshed tears.

He held that tiny baby and swore she’d be his only daughter. Forever.

He showed me photos—Maddie swaddled in blue, Carter’s arms trembling as he held her. He promised to protect her, always.

He promised me, solemn as a judge, that aside from this, he’d never let me suffer even the smallest slight.

He meant it, in his own way. He wanted to shield me from the world, even if he didn’t know how.

That day, we strolled by the river. The evening breeze was intoxicating, even the sound of the wind felt gentle.

The river glimmered under the setting sun, cicadas humming in the grass. I remember thinking, maybe this could be enough.

I shared some of my past: my cruel, petty stepmother; my cold, ruthless father; and my cunning, manipulative stepsister Autumn. The words spilled out, raw and unfiltered.

His eyes filled with shock and pity as he hugged me tight. He held me like I might break, whispering that I deserved better.

"Lillian, you’ll have a home of your own." He said it like a promise, like a prayer.

Not long after, he proposed and gave me a grand wedding. He handed me a box of diamond rings, awkward and earnest.

The proposal was clumsy, but sweet. I laughed, and for a moment, it felt real.

Just like he promised. Anything but a child.

He spoiled me with gifts, with security, with a life that looked perfect from the outside. But there was always a wall between us.

I’m someone who returns kindness for kindness. It’s the one lesson my mother drilled into me.

He gave me respect. I gave it back.

I kept his secrets, defended him at parties, made sure his shirts were always pressed. I played the part he needed.

I told him, "Carter, I’m not sure I can be a good mom. Honestly, all I have are lessons and pain." I meant it.

I said it softly, afraid of how he’d react. But he just nodded, understanding in his eyes.

"But please believe me, at least I won’t let those unbearable things happen to Maddie again." Not on my watch.

I meant it. Whatever else happened, I wouldn’t let history repeat itself. Not on my watch.

For six years, Carter was a good partner in marriage. It wasn’t love, but it was something.

Trusting and relying on him was the easiest thing. He never let me down, not really.

I’d even considered entrusting my painful childhood and lonely, drifting life to him. There were nights I almost told him everything.

Sometimes, that would have made life a little easier. But I was never good at easy.

But looking back, I was glad Autumn and her mom cast such a long shadow.

In a twisted way, they’d saved me from settling. From accepting less than I deserved.

And in the end, Carter just wasn’t that important. He was a chapter, not the whole story.

Late at night, my mom came to my room to talk. She knocked softly, then slipped inside, sitting on the edge of my bed.

"We’re about to get divorced," I told her, meeting her eyes, my emotions steady and calm. No drama. No tears.

She covered her mouth in shock. She didn’t see it coming.

Her eyes filled with tears, her hand trembling. I reached over, squeezed her fingers.

"I once thought Carter and I could go a little further." But that was just a dream.

There was a time I imagined growing old together. But dreams fade.

Marriage was never sacred to me. It was a contract, not a covenant.

Carter would never know. If any other woman had replaced me—anyone but Autumn—I could have stayed. As long as he didn’t bring up divorce.

I would have stayed, kept up the charade, if only to avoid the mess. But not with Autumn.

But it just had to be Autumn. Of all people.

Of all the people in the world, it had to be her. That was a line I couldn’t cross.

I’d seen this play before. I knew how it ended. This time, I was writing my own ending.

When my mom heard Autumn’s name, she fell silent, too. The air in the room grew heavy.

After a long while, she asked, "Are you sure?" Her voice was barely a whisper, full of worry and regret.

I nodded. No doubt.

There was no hesitation. I’d never been more certain of anything in my life. How could I not be sure?

Every sign pointed to this moment. The writing had been on the wall for months.

The always-proper Carter had brought Autumn into his personal circle, letting others call her ‘little sister-in-law’ without ever clarifying.

He let the gossip swirl, never correcting anyone. It was a betrayal by omission, and it stung.

Half a month ago, he even bought Autumn a Mercedes SUV, while my own car was a Range Rover. Message received.

The message was clear: she was part of the family now, whether I liked it or not.

He was clearly putting Autumn on equal footing with me. It was subtle, but unmistakable.

Even my stepdaughter Maddie threw a tantrum, demanding money so she could buy every one of her third-grade classmates an iPhone. Entitled, much?

She stomped her foot, face red with anger. The entitlement in her voice was staggering.

she glared at me and shouted, "Lillian, you wicked witch! I don’t want you to be my mom! I want Aunt Autumn." Ouch.

The words hit like a slap. I kept my face calm, but inside, something cracked.

"If you don’t please me, I’ll side with Aunt Autumn." Of course she would.

She crossed her arms, daring me to challenge her. I just sighed, too tired to fight.

I calmly recounted these words to my mom, and she finally broke down, hugging me and sobbing, "What did I do to deserve this?" She blamed herself.

Her shoulders shook with grief. I held her, letting her cry it out. There were no answers, only pain.

"Cheryl abused you when you were little, and now her daughter is here to ruin your family." The cycle repeats.

Her voice was thick with regret. The cycle was repeating, and she blamed herself.

But she still couldn’t quite believe it, muttering as she looked at me, "Carter isn’t like that. I told him all about you—he’s so thoughtful and steady—" She wanted to believe.