Chapter 1054

"What's the matter? Are you upset with me?" Heather asked.

Her sister's silence fueled Heather's anger. Hadn't yesterday's reprimand had any effect? Hannah was all she had; her life depended on Hannah's role as her cover. Yet, she’d defied Heather for some insignificant man. It was madness!

Hannah remained unresponsive, as if deaf to Heather's words. The silence only intensified Heather's fury. How could she trust Hannah to fulfill her duties if she couldn't even acknowledge her?

"Is this some kind of threat? Do you think I can't survive without you?" Heather confronted Hannah, her shadow looming over her sister. With a surge of rage, she grabbed Hannah's collar, dragging her from the room.

Hannah offered only token resistance before surrendering. She remained silent until a moan escaped her lips as Heather threw her onto the polished marble floor. Heather produced a floor mirror. "Look at yourself! How can you work for me if you don't look like me?"

"I've never looked like you, Heather," Hannah finally spoke, her voice barely a whisper.

Her reflection revealed a pallid face, lifeless eyes, and a gaunt figure. In contrast, Heather stood vibrant and confident.

Hannah thought, I'm nothing like Heather! She wondered why people mistook them for each other. Was her imitation too convincing? Were they simply too unobservant? Or were they just that similar in appearance? Does our resemblance really matter? We're fundamentally different!

She concluded she was not, and never wanted to be, Heather. She yearned to be simply Hannah Riggs, carefree and content. No, even more than that. It's exhausting being a Riggs, with that curse hanging over us. I just want to be Annie, simple and happy.

Her voice was barely audible, lost in the space between them. Heather frowned. "What did you say?"

Hannah, her gaze fixed on her reflection in the marble floor, felt the sting of the fall. Drawing unexpected strength, she looked up at Heather, her dry lips forming the words, "I said I never looked like you! I'm not you or your shadow! I'm myself—Hannah Riggs!"

A tremor ran through her body, yet a profound sense of relief washed over her. Years of buried feelings had finally erupted. It felt liberating to be herself, regardless of the consequences. She no longer cared about the price; she would not be Heather's shadow again. She would be herself.