Chapter 2

Jessica preened, encouraged by my apparent lack of disapproval.

"Yeah, he' s totally obsessed with me. And he' s got connections, you know? Not rich himself, but he knows people."

She winked, a conspiratorial gesture that made my stomach churn.

"Besides, it' s just fun. You should try it sometime, Sarah. Loosen up."

I remembered her words from the first timeline, how she' d use Jake for practice, for thrill, while meticulously crafting her innocent facade for wealthy prospects.

How she' d later discard him like trash once Ethan Prescott was in her sights.

And Jake, the fool, kept those photos. Those videos.

A crucial mistake on his part.

A gift for me, in this new life.

"Sounds like you have it all figured out," I said, my voice carefully neutral.

A flicker of surprise crossed her face. She' d expected a lecture.

"Well, yeah," she said, a little defensively. "I' m not going to end up like some boring suburban mom. I want the good life."

She glanced around my modest room with a hint of disdain.

"And I' m going to get it."

"I' m sure you will, Jessie," I said.

The old nickname slipped out, tasting like ash in my mouth.

She beamed, her vanity stroked.

"Exactly! And don' t worry about me. I' m careful."

Careful.

I knew about her "carefulness."

The home remedies for the infections she picked up.

The constant hiding of symptoms.

The fear of a doctor confirming what she already suspected.

Her "purity" was a lie, through and through.

"Good," I said, standing up. "I' m going to get ready for work."

My job at "Southern Charm Events," a reputable catering and event management company.

A job I was good at. A job that, in this timeline, I would use.

Jessica watched me, a calculating look in her eyes.

"Mother wants us to go to that charity thing tonight. The one for the Historical Society."

My stomach tightened.

Ethan Prescott.

Tonight was when Mother, Brenda, would officially launch her campaign to snag him for Jessica.

In the first timeline, Jessica had been all over him, laying on the charm thick.

Ethan, heir to the Prescott family fortune, was the ultimate prize in Mother' s eyes.

Old money, impeccable reputation.

He' d been polite, but I' d seen a flicker of interest in his eyes when he' d spoken to me briefly.

An interest Jessica quickly extinguished with her practiced sweetness and Mother' s relentless pushing.

Then, later, after Jessica had already sunk her claws into him, she' d flaunted him in my face.

Stolen him, just like she stole everything else she wanted.

"Right," I said, keeping my face impassive. "I remember."

"Try not to be too frumpy, okay?" Jessica said, already dismissing me. "Ethan Prescott will be there. He' s looking for a wife, Mother says. Someone with class."

Her implication was clear. She was the one with class. I was the frumpy, older sister.

"I' ll do my best," I said, the words dripping with an irony only I understood.

Downstairs, Mother was in the kitchen, sipping coffee and flipping through a glossy magazine.

Brenda. Her perfectly coiffed hair, her expensive (though likely consignment) clothes.

She ran a small boutique, "Brenda's Selects," catering to women who aspired to a certain Charleston lifestyle.

She looked up as I entered, her gaze critical.

"Sarah, you' re finally down. Jessica tells me you were actually pleasant this morning."

Her tone implied this was a rare occurrence.

"Morning, Mother," I said.

"Make sure you wear that blue dress tonight," she commanded. "The one that isn' t too... Sarah."

I bit back a retort. The blue dress was fine, but her criticism was a constant.

"And for heaven' s sake, try to smile. Ethan Prescott is a major catch. Jessica needs to make a good impression."

She didn' t even consider me. I was just a backdrop for Jessica' s ambitions.

"Of course, Mother," I said, my voice flat.

The old Sarah would have been hurt.

The new Sarah felt nothing but a cold resolve.

They were all playing their parts, just like before.

And I was playing mine.

But this time, I knew the ending. And I was going to rewrite it.