1

After my brother-in-law died in a tragic car accident, my twin sister lost her mind. In her grief and confusion, she mistook my boyfriend for her late husband.

My boyfriend, Simon, a leading trauma specialist, explained that she was experiencing a severe case of post-traumatic emotional transference. To help her heal as quickly as possible, he agreed to play the role of her fiancé. I, on the other hand, was pushed into the shadows, forced to become his secret, hidden girlfriend.

At family dinners, no matter how intimate they behaved, I had to look away and pretend it didn't hurt.

My parents constantly reassured me: "Simon is the best trauma therapist in the state. He's only doing this for her professional treatment. Don't let your mind wander, Phoebe."

My older brother, Owen, would pull me away again and again. "The experts say that during these sessions, the fewer family members around, the better."

Until the day I went to Simon's clinic to drop off some files.

I happened to catch sight of my sister's psychological evaluation report on the desk: Patient's mental state and memory have fully recovered. No further treatment required. The date on the document was from three months ago.

Clutching the paper with trembling hands, I turned to ask Simon about it, only to hear Hailey's voice coming from inside his office.

"Is it really fair for us to treat Phoebe this way?"

My hand froze on the doorknob. Then came Simon's casual, indifferent reply:

"Even her parents are helping us hide it. She'll never find out."

"Besides, she is too dependent on me. I won't bring up a breakup. Keeping her around is my way of compensating her."

So the treatment was nothing but a grand lie, a collective excuse cooked up by my own family to keep me quiet and compliant. If that was the case, this shadow of a relationship, which would never see the light of day, was no longer worth waiting for.

I walked back to the reception desk and handed the files to Sarah, the receptionist. Just as I turned to leave, the office door clicked open.

Hailey emerged, her arm looped through Simon's. Simon looked down at her and murmured something incredibly tender. Hailey giggled, blushing as she stood on her tiptoes to press a soft kiss against his cheek.

I froze in the hallway. Simon had never allowed me to show any affection at his clinic. Even before Hailey's accident, PDA was strictly forbidden.

I had argued with him about it once, but he had dismissed my feelings entirely.

"I'm a specialist, Phoebe, not a clerk. My patients are dealing with severe trauma and are constantly on the verge of collapsing. If they see me fooling around with my girlfriend in the office, they will question my professionalism."

Fearing I would jeopardize his career, I had never brought it up again.

When Simon noticed me, his expression hardened for a fraction of a second before quickly returning to a neutral mask.

"Phoebe? What are you doing here?"

I remained silent. Sensing the tension, Sarah quickly intervened to clear the air. "Phoebe was just dropping off some paperwork, Doctor."

Simon nodded curtly. He guided Hailey past me, without offering me so much as a second glance.

At the curb, a car was already waiting. Simon slipped his coat over Hailey's shoulders, opened the door, and carefully shielded her head as she climbed into the passenger seat.

"It's chilly outside. I ordered you some warm ginger tea, make sure to drink it when you get home."

Hailey nodded obediently, her face flushed as she cast a cautious, fleeting glance in my direction.

"Is Phoebe in a bad mood?" she whispered.

Simon didn't bother turning back to look at me. "Don't worry about her. She's just being difficult."

He leaned closer to whisper something in her ear. From my angle, they looked as though they were locked in a deep kiss.

Just last week, I had been shivering with a 104-degree fever. When I called him, he had snapped at me over the phone.

"Hailey is having a panic attack, I can't leave her. You're an adult, Phoebe, go to the hospital yourself. Stop causing drama when I'm trying to work."

He couldn't care less about my burning fever, yet he knew Hailey's cycle down to the exact day.

As the car pulled away, Hailey waved through the window. "Bye, Simon!"

Simon stood on the pavement, watching the car until it disappeared from view. When he finally turned around and saw me still standing there, his brow furrowed with irritation.

"Why are you still standing here? Don't you have work today?"

"Simon," I said, my voice quiet. "I need to ask you something."

He brushed past me, heading straight toward two waiting patients.

"I'm not as free as you are. We'll talk later, I have patients to see."

I had heard that exact phrase more times than I could count.

"Oh, by the way," he added, pausing at the door. "I'll be taking Hailey to Key West for the next few days for a meditation retreat."

I stared at him, stunned.

We had been together for five years, and we had never taken a single vacation. On our last anniversary, I had booked flights and a hotel, hoping to rekindle the romance between us. But he had looked at me with a cold, disgusted expression.

"Your sister is suffering, and all you can think about is having fun?" he had sneered. "You love to boast so much, there's no way you wouldn't post about it on social media. If Hailey sees it and relapses, can you take responsibility for that?"

I wanted to tell him that I had never been one to boast. I only wanted to hold my boyfriend's hand in public, to feel like a normal couple. But even that had become a luxury.

I looked at Simon, a tiny, foolish shred of hope still lingering in my chest.

"I've never been to Key West. I want to come with you guys."

He looked at me, his gaze freezing cold.

"Why would you come and mess things up? Do you want to trigger your sister? I am going there to work, Phoebe, not for a vacation."

With that, he ushered his patients into his office, leaving me alone in the lobby under the curious stares of the reception staff.

I walked over to Sarah and asked to see the itinerary for the trip.

On the list of travelers, my parents' and Owen's names were clearly written.

Everyone was going except me.

Tears finally spilled over, washing away the very last of my hope.

After leaving the clinic, I called an old college classmate. "Lauren, is that international project of yours still looking for people?"

When I arrived at my parents' house, my mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner. Seeing me walk in, she gestured for me to come over.

"Taste this, Phoebe."

I took a small sip of the broth and forced a smile. "It's perfect, Mom."

My mother immediately took the spoon back and covered the pot. "Good. Don't drink any more of it, I made this specifically for your sister."

I looked around the kitchen. The counters were covered in premium supplements and gourmet ingredients, but none of them were for me. My only welcome was a half-empty glass of cold water on the dining table.

My mother kept bustling around, murmuring to herself. "Hailey is doing so much better lately, all thanks to Simon. He's taking her on a trip to clear her mind. He really is such a responsible man."

I didn't say a word. His sense of responsibility was reserved entirely for Hailey.

Owen came downstairs, and seeing the printed itinerary in my hand, he snatched it away.

"How did you get this?"

I looked at him calmly. "How long were you planning on keeping this from me? Were you going to tell me right before you boarded the flight tomorrow?"

Owen looked slightly uncomfortable. "It's Hailey's first long trip. She needs the whole family there to feel safe."

"Am I not part of this family?"

Hearing the noise, my father stepped out of his study, his face dark with disapproval.

"What kind of attitude is that? We are all family here. Your sister has suffered so much, it's only natural that we give her extra care. Can't you be a little more mature, Phoebe?"

I let out a bitter laugh. "Does my happiness not matter at all?"

My mother slammed her spoon down, the ceramic clattering sharply against the counter.

"You are healthy, you have a good job, and you have a boyfriend as devoted as Simon. What more do you want? Your sister's life is hanging by a thread, and her recovery depends entirely on Simon. Are you only going to be satisfied when she is driven to suicide?"

I opened my mouth, but I found I didn't even have the strength to argue anymore.

That evening, Hailey posted a photo on her social media, tagging a high-end restaurant. She was surrounded by gifts, with our parents and Simon crowding around her, making her look like a beloved princess.

Her caption read: "Another birthday, and you're still by my side. When you're with the one you love, every day is a holiday."

No one seemed to remember that Hailey and I were twins. Today was my birthday, too.

When Simon and I first started dating, he would plan elaborate dates for every special occasion. But since I was forced into the shadows, I hadn't celebrated a single birthday.

Simon always told me: "Your sister needs to feel like she is uniquely cherished right now. If you celebrate with her, her happiness will be diminished, and it will hinder her recovery."

I had believed that lie for years.

Under her post, the comments were filled with warmth.

My mother wrote: "Your happiness is my greatest joy, Hailey!"

My father added: "We are so lucky to have Simon. The perfect son-in-law!"

Staring at the words perfect son-in-law, I bit my lip until I tasted copper, tears streaming down my face.

I wanted to ask them why Hailey was still playing sick when she had already recovered. I wanted to ask Simon if his professional act had become his reality. I wanted to ask what my five years of silent misery had meant to them.

But I already knew the answers.

I wiped my tears and checked my phone. Lauren's reply had come through.

"Phoebe, I am so glad you're on board. There's a mandatory training session before we head out."

I looked at the flight ticket she had booked for me.

The training session was in Key West.

Outside the entrance of a luxury hotel in Key West, Simon had just opened the car door for Hailey when he spotted me standing in the lobby.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, marching over. "We didn't invite you. Are you really so desperate that you followed us?"

I ignored his hostility, dragging my suitcase toward the reception desk. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm here for a work conference."

Simon let out a mocking laugh.

"What kind of work could you possibly have here? If you wanted to follow us, just admit it."

By then, my parents and Owen had gotten out of the car. Seeing me, their faces instantly fell.

"Didn't we tell you not to come? Do you have to ruin every family gathering?"

"Book a flight back immediately. Don't stay here and trigger your sister."

I pulled out my corporate badge and showed it to them. "My training is on a completely different floor, and my room is nowhere near yours. I have no intention of crossing paths with any of you."

I grabbed my luggage and turned to walk away.

Suddenly, Hailey, who had been standing quietly in the background, swayed on her feet. She clutched her head, her face turning pale.

"Simon, you promised me it would just be us," she whimpered. "Seeing her makes me feel so unsafe. My head hurts so bad!"

Before Simon could even speak, she spun around and ran frantically toward the beach.

Owen and Simon immediately chased after her.

Out on the jagged rocks of the shoreline, Hailey's fragile figure stood against the crashing waves. One more step, and she would fall into the ocean.

My mother rushed up to me, raising her hand and delivering a stinging slap across my right cheek.

"Are you happy now, Phoebe? Do you really want to see your sister dead?"

Holding my burning cheek, I watched the dramatic scene unfold on the rocks. I felt a cold amusement.

"Stop acting, Hailey," I called out, my voice carrying over the wind. "The ocean breeze is freezing. If you catch a cold, Simon will be worried sick."

Hailey's eyes widened in sudden panic. She stumbled, her foot slipping on the wet stone. Before she could fall, Simon lunged forward, catching her in his arms and pulling her back to safety.

Hailey clung to him, trembling and weeping against his chest.

"Simon, it's my fault... I'm so sorry..."

Simon held her close, stroking her hair with gentle, soothing motions. "It's not your fault, Hailey. You aren't the one who needs to apologize."

He turned to glare at me, his eyes stripped of any warmth.

"Phoebe, how many times do I have to tell you that she is fragile? You knew about the accident, and yet you deliberately tried to trigger her. She is your twin sister!"

"Are you really so consumed by jealousy that you've lost your humanity?"

My mother was shaking with rage. "How did I raise such a heartless, ungrateful child?"

Simon lifted Hailey into his arms. As he brushed past me, he left me with one final command. "If you have any decency left, stay away from Hailey."

They walked away, a tight-knit family shielding their precious daughter, none of them offering a single look back at me.

The ocean wind stung against my bruised cheek, but the pain was nothing compared to the quiet ache in my heart.

I wiped my face, unlocked my phone, and typed out a message.

"Simon, let's break up."

Simon didn't read it.

He had always insisted on keeping our relationship completely hidden, which meant my notifications were muted so Hailey would never catch a glimpse of my name on his screen.

My messages were always left unanswered; sometimes for a day, sometimes for weeks. Even when he did reply, it was never more than a few words.

Only Hailey's messages were pinned to the top of his chat. Only her texts received instant replies.

Even during the rare moments we spent alone, if Hailey messaged him claiming she was having a panic attack, he would abandon me on a freezing street corner, driving off to rescue her.

When my afternoon training session ended, I walked down to the hotel restaurant and saw Simon. He was sitting with my parents, all of them hovering attentively over Hailey.

Seeing me approach, Simon immediately stood up, stepping protectively in front of Hailey.

I looked at him, finding the display utterly pathetic.

"Is she really so delicate that a single glance from me will drive her to jump into the ocean?"

Simon's expression darkened, and he hissed under his breath.

"Phoebe! You're crossing the line! What is wrong with you lately? You used to be so compliant."

"Can't you just show some grace to your sister? Hasn't she suffered enough?"

I smiled.

"I've shown her grace for five years."

"But what you're asking is for me to remain your secret, hidden shadow of a girlfriend forever, just in case she never gets better."

"Enough!" Simon interrupted sharply, grabbing my wrist and dragging me toward Hailey.

"Apologize to your sister right now!"

My mother chimed in, her voice shrill. "Your sister is in this state, and you still want to pick fights?"

"Apologize to her and we'll let this go."

My father joined in, his face set in a stern, cold mask. "This is entirely your fault, Phoebe. You know how fragile she is, yet you keep tearing open her wounds. Is saying sorry really that hard for you?"

I looked at them. Though they were standing right in front of me, it felt as though an impassable chasm had opened up between us.

The other hotel guests were starting to stare.

I looked directly into Hailey's eyes, catching the faint glint of triumph hidden in her gaze.

"Stop playing the victim," I said, my voice clear and deliberate. "I saw your medical file at the reception desk. You recovered months ago."

The smugness on Hailey's face shattered instantly, replaced by sheer panic. Simon went entirely still, staring at me in shock.

Before he could demand an explanation, Hailey suddenly clutched her stomach and let out a sharp cry.

"Simon! I'm scared! I'm scared she's going to hurt the baby!"

A cold shock ran through me. "She's pregnant?"

Simon's expression crumbled into guilt. He avoided my gaze, his voice dropping to a defensive whisper.

"She begged me to stay with her that night... I only did it because of her psychological state..."

Before he could finish his pathetic excuse, Hailey burst into tears and ran out of the restaurant.

The hesitation on Simon's face vanished, replaced by sudden fury.

"A storm is rolling in, and the shoreline is dangerous! If anything happens to her, it's on you!"

"We will deal with this later. Right now, you are going to go out there and find her, or we are finished!"

Even now, he thought threatening me with a breakup was the ultimate punishment, believing I could never survive without him.

He pushed me out of the warm lobby and into the pouring rain. The storm had rolled in, turning the shoreline pitch black.

The heavy rain soaked me to the bone, but I had finally stopped waiting for a warmth that would never come.

I walked away from the hotel, threw my SIM card into the black ocean, and booked a flight to London.