One Heart, Which Brother?

ie's loud knock against the thi

our birthday!" she sho

Not because I didn't love birthdays but because turning eighteen meant stepping closer to... life.

r the DeLewunco family, had been for almost twenty years. And me? Well, I'd always just been her daughter. The girl who wasn't allowed to clean, or really do muc

ut I wasn't exact

th Daphnie. We were born on the same day, raised under the same roof just opposite ends of

bed, I'm breaking in!" Daphnie's v

led back, scram

ide. Blonde curls bouncing, her pajamas way too fan

lacing one on my head. "Eighteen. Offici

lf. I haven't eve

"You can fix it after breakfast

y eyes. "Pla

d. "Our co

h did a f

, you're telling Reuben how you feel. And I'm te

e, Daphnie. He probably still thinks I'm the we

rable. Second, you've grown

he wasn't exactly... approachable. Sharp jawline, darker eyes, always dressed like he'd walked out of some luxury ad.

nd impossible to ignore. He treated me and Daphnie like equals. Like we mattered. He laughed

had the house in chaos, Kendrick still managed to pop his hea

offering it to Daphnie. "You'

she replied proudl

hen turned to

er I always got when he looked at me

ou've got two hours before t

," I'd p

ng, florists running in and out. The DeLewunco family didn't do simple. Their kind of wealth wasn't just money i

ig, gilded world... th

ate afternoon. Daphnie looked li

of energy and unspoken plans. She was bold, outspoken, and unafraid to chase what she wanted, especially when it came to love. Daphne had a natural confidence, the kind that drew people in without effort. S

eam silk, subtle but beautiful. I felt like

d with us, made us laugh so hard we cried. He even

en never

, but I knew it did. He was her big brother t

asked as he handed

e too tightly. "Y

side me, quiet for a moment.

k who. I di

iting for h

all smile. "You

strings of fairy lights blinked like stars. Music played low in the

ing. "Tonight. After everything winds

. "You're

is our year, Liana. Eig

people I'd always loved, and the boy I couldn't

she wa

t reall