Shattered Vows

Chapter 2: The Golden Child

The night after the engagement party felt like a dream—one of those twisted, surreal nightmares that linger long after you wake. Sophie lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, replaying the events of the evening over and over. Each time, it was like watching her life disintegrate in slow motion. Her fiancé, her sister, their betrayal. But as her mind churned through the pain and disbelief, a thought began to creep into her consciousness—this isn't the first time Jessica has taken something from me.

With a sigh, Sophie rolled onto her side, curling into herself as memories from her childhood began to flood back, each one like a needle pricking her already wounded heart.

Growing up, Jessica had always been the golden child. It was a title that didn't need to be spoken aloud because everyone in the family knew it. Jessica was the pretty one, the talented one, the one who always seemed to shine in any situation. Sophie was the quieter, more reserved sister—the one who was good, but never quite good enough.

Sophie's earliest memory of feeling overshadowed was at her sixth birthday party. It was a warm summer afternoon, and their mother, Diane, had gone all out. There were colorful balloons, a big cake, and all of Sophie's friends from school were there, laughing and playing in the backyard. Sophie remembered standing in front of the cake, smiling as everyone sang "Happy Birthday." But just as she was about to blow out the candles, Jessica had rushed up beside her, her pretty blonde curls bouncing as she leaned over and blew out the candles first.

The laughter that followed echoed in Sophie's mind. Everyone thought it was adorable—Jessica being her usual, bubbly self, always at the center of attention. Diane had smiled warmly, ruffling Jessica's hair, while Sophie stood there, her smile faltering, as the spotlight shifted once again to her sister.

It's just a small thing, Sophie had told herself that day. It doesn't matter.

But it did matter. Because it kept happening.

Sophie's thoughts drifted to high school, where Jessica had been the popular, charismatic cheerleader. She had been the girl everyone wanted to be friends with, the one who was invited to all the parties, the one who always seemed to have a line of boys waiting to ask her out. Sophie, on the other hand, had been the quiet one, the studious one. She had a small circle of close friends, but she was never the center of attention like Jessica.

It wasn't that Sophie resented her sister for being popular. No, what stung was the way their mother treated them so differently. Diane had always been Jessica's biggest fan, proudly attending every cheerleading competition, showering her with praise, and hanging every trophy and ribbon in their home for all to see. Sophie's accomplishments—a perfect score on a science test, or a well-written essay—were acknowledged, but they never seemed to matter as much. There were no trophies for Sophie, no displays of pride. She was always in the background, while Jessica basked in the glow of their mother's affection.

Sophie could still hear Diane's voice from those years, the subtle favoritism woven into her words. "Jessica, darling, you look beautiful," or "Jessica, I'm so proud of you!" There had always been a sense of adoration in her tone when she spoke to or about Jessica, a warmth that seemed to vanish when it came to Sophie.

Even as adults, the dynamic hadn't changed. Jessica had grown into a stunning woman, with a magnetic personality that drew people to her. She moved through life with ease, as if the world owed her something. And perhaps it did—Jessica had always acted like she was entitled to the best of everything. Sophie, meanwhile, had worked hard for every achievement, every ounce of recognition, only to be overshadowed by her sister's effortless charm.

But this—this—was different. Sophie could handle being second best in their mother's eyes. She could deal with always being the quiet one, the overlooked one. But to have her sister steal the man she was going to marry? That was a betrayal Sophie couldn't forgive.

The memories continued to swirl as Sophie thought about how their mother would react when she learned about the affair. A bitter laugh escaped her lips. Diane had always turned a blind eye to Jessica's flaws, always quick to defend her, no matter what. When they were younger, if Jessica got in trouble at school, Diane would smooth things over, making excuses for her behavior. Meanwhile, if Sophie ever slipped up, there were no excuses—just disappointment.

Sophie's heart ached at the thought of how her mother might react to this latest betrayal. Would she side with Jessica again? Would she somehow find a way to blame Sophie for not being enough to keep Mark's attention?

Of course she would. It was almost a certainty. Diane had always made it clear that Jessica was her favorite, whether she realized it or not. Sophie had spent her entire life trying to win her mother's approval, trying to be good enough to stand beside her sister. But no matter what Sophie did, it was never enough.

The thought of Diane defending Jessica made Sophie's chest tighten with anger. She had spent so long bottling up her feelings, burying the resentment, the frustration, the jealousy, all in the name of family harmony. But now, as the weight of her sister's betrayal pressed down on her, Sophie couldn't help but feel like all those years of silent suffering had led to this moment.

Jessica always gets what she wants.

Sophie's entire life had been shaped by that unspoken truth. And now, Jessica had taken the one thing that mattered most to her—Mark.

As Sophie stared into the darkness of her room, the pain of her childhood and the fresh sting of betrayal merged into one overwhelming sensation. Her whole life, she had played second fiddle to her sister. She had smiled and accepted it, telling herself that it didn't matter, that Jessica's constant need for attention and validation didn't affect her.

But it did.

And now, Sophie couldn't shake the feeling that this was just another thing Jessica had felt entitled to—another part of Sophie's life that her sister had taken, simply because she could. It was as if Jessica had always known that she would win in the end, that no matter what Sophie did, she would always come out on top.

But this time, Sophie wasn't going to let it slide. This time, she wouldn't let Jessica steal her life without a fight.

She had been the quiet, dutiful sister for too long. She had watched Jessica take and take, but this time, Sophie was going to take something back.