“Everett’s not letting me win! Mom, Dad, get him. He has to carry me on his back and say sorry!”
“Sweetheart, your brother’s just being sentimental,” Mom cooed, tweaking her cheek. “He’s just sad that you will leave us. You’re getting married to Lucient after the New Year, remember?”
Erica pouted, her lips curving into that perfect, spoiled smile she always wore.
I shuffled closer to the glass, standing on tiptoe to get a better look. Mom’s face was soft, glowing with an affection she’d never shown me. I copied Erica’s pout, pressing my cold fingers against my cheeks, trying to mimic that same sweetness. But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t match her effortless charm.
“Even though you’re married, don’t forget to visit us, okay?” Dad’s voice had that fatherly warmth I’d longed for all my life. “You’ve been a handful since you were little, but we still love you. You’re our precious daughter. The one and only. Lucient wouldn’t dare mistreat you.”
Those words hit me like a punch to the chest.
My vision blurred as the tears spilled over. It wasn’t the first time I’d heard Dad sound like a real father, doting and kind—but only ever to Erica. Never to me.