Chapter 1
In the third year after the shipwreck, stranded on Blackridge Isle, I found a helicopter hovering above a brown bear’s den.
The bear looked at the stone spear in my hand and let out a mocking laugh. Then it pulled off its
headpiece.
It was my brother-Evander Vance.
“Three years ago,” he said coldly, “you couldn’t stand losing to Delphine, could you?”
His gaze sharpened.
“So you went that far. Tried to have someone assault her just to ruin her.”
“Cassian was the one who suggested this. Drop you on the island for a few years. Let Delphine
vent.”
I froze.
Behind me, the “second personality” born from endless isolation stepped forward and ruffled my
hair.
“I’m not some hallucination your mind made up,” he said softly. “I’m Cassian Rourke, your
husband.”
“You brought this on yourself. You shouldn’t have gone against Delphine.”
For three years on this island, I had lived like an animal.
And now I realized it had all been a lie. A prison built just for me.
My body trembled.
The helicopter door opened. My parents stepped out, hand in hand, smiling like nothing was wrong.
“The movie you starred in, Modern Robinson, is already a global hit,” my mother said warmly.
“We promised you we’d make it up to you with a Best Actress win.”
“After you accept it, we’ll send you back. The sequel’s already in pre-production. Delphine still
wants that Best Director award.”
Cassian lifted a hand, and a group of photographers rushed forward, cameras flashing like
weapons.
He smiled, eyes bright with excitement.
“Aurelia, those 1,096 tally marks you carved into the rock wall? They became the film’s opening
shot. It’s stunning.”
“The internet’s gone wild. Fans are begging for high-res stills.”
Evander turned to the crew, his tone gentle but cruel.
“Make sure you get the shelter I destroyed. Close shots.”
My chest tightened so hard it hurt to breathe.
Just moments ago, that “bear” had smashed my shelter for the twenty-sixth time.
I had chased after it like a madwoman, carrying three years of loneliness and despair, ready to die
with it.
And now I knew.
It had been my own brother all along.
“Evander… why?” My voice shook. “Why did you keep destroying my shelter?”
He looked at me, expression calm, almost justified.
“You lived under Delphine’s identity for twenty-six years. This is nothing.”
He paused, lips curling slightly.
“Oh, and that ‘wild man’ you’ve been terrified of for three years?”
“The footprints that destroyed your first year’s grain field? That was Delphine.”
My mind went blank.
I remembered the field-flattened, crushed, ruined.
I wanted to cry, but I didn’t dare make a sound. I just clamped my hand over my mouth.
Chapter 1
11.11%
Back then, fear swallowed me whole.
Every rustle, every gust of wind made my heart race.
I endured three months of terror before I dared to sleep again.
My mother suddenly stepped forward and shoved a bouquet into my arms.
“You probably didn’t know this,” she said lightly. “When Delphine stepped into your field, those stalks cut her legs pretty badly.”
“So I had an idea. I swapped all your seeds with cooked ones.”
“But never mind that. Congratulations, Aurelia. You’re about to win Best Actress.”
I stared at her gentle smile.
It felt like falling into ice.
In my second year, I dug up new land with my bare hands, planting seeds again with hope.
I watched over that field every day, waiting for sprouts.
Nothing ever grew.
I told myself it was bad soil.
In the third year, I moved back to the original spot.
I weeded, fertilized, rationed every drop of fresh water to keep it alive…still nothing.
My father chuckled and patted my shoulder, cutting through my memories.
“Oh, and that creek you used to fish in? We stocked it with piranhas.”
“This was a punishment. We couldn’t let you live too comfortably.”
The bouquet slipped from my hands and hit the ground,
Tears poured out uncontrollably.
“Why?” I screamed. “Why would you do this to me?”
“Wasn’t I your daughter for twenty-six years? Your sister? The person you grew up with? The one
you said you’d spend your life with?”
Chapter 1
11.11%
“I didn’t do any of the things you accused me of! Why won’t you believe me?”
My mother’s expression turned cold.
“When you said you wanted to leave, I bought you a ticket to go abroad.”
“But then you turned around and hired someone to take nude photos of Delphine. You tried to ruin
her reputation-”
“I didn’t!” I shouted.
She was about to continue, but Evander cut her off.
“Mom. Enough.”
“We agreed. Aurelia’s had her three years. We move on like nothing happened.”
“Even Delphine’s forgiven her. And besides…”
He glanced at me, indifferent.
“She still needs Aurelia if she wants that Best Director award.”
