Chapter 1

On the morning of my wedding, the stylist mistook my identical twin brother for me.

Caleb didn’t correct her. He just slipped right into my tuxedo.

As I opened my mouth to tell him to change back, my fiancée, Chloe, shoved a groomsman suit into my hands with a light laugh:

"Come on, Ashton. You two look identical anyway. Let Caleb have his moment of fun. You can swap back into the tux right before taking the vows."

Mom and Dad pulled me aside too. "You’re the older brother, Ashton. You should always let your younger brother have his way."

A lump formed in my throat, choking out any words I had.

For years, whenever Caleb wanted something, I was forced to give it up.

When we were kids, my parents forced me to give him the sweetest tips of the strawberries, leaving me with the sour, leafy stems.

After I met Chloe, she expected the same thing. I even had to wear whatever gifts Caleb didn't want.

But I was only older than him by sixty seconds.

It was only right before walking down the aisle that I finally got my tuxedo back and stood as the groom.

Chloe recited her vows: "In sickness and in health, I promise to take care of you..."

Caleb suddenly shouted from the front row, "And me! Chloe, you have to promise to take care of me and Ashton!"

The crowd burst into laughter.

Instead of shutting it down, Chloe smiled warmly and went along with it. "Of course. I’ll take care of you too, Caleb. I’ll always spoil you!"

I was the only person in the room who couldn't force a smile.

Once Chloe finished, the officiant held the microphone up to my face:

"And do you, Ashton, take Chloe to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

A heavy silence hung between us. Finally, my voice dropped, cold and clear:

"I don't."

I'm done giving up everything for him.

The officiant froze, his smile faltering before he quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Well, folks! Looks like the groom is so overwhelmed with joy he’s lost his words! Let's try that one more time."

"Ashton, do you take Chloe to be your—"

Before he could finish, I cut him off, louder and harsher.

"I said, I don't!"

I stepped off the altar and walked straight toward the dressing room.

Chloe rushed after me, grabbing my wrist in the hallway.

"Ashton! What is wrong with you? Can't we talk this out like adults? Did you really have to humiliate me in front of everyone at our wedding?"

I turned around to face her.

"Oh, so you do realize this is a wedding?"

"Are wedding vows something you just rewrite on a whim? Are vows meant to be promised to someone else?"

Chloe frowned, looking at me as if I were overreacting.

"He's your twin brother, Ashton! It's not like he's a stranger. What's the big deal?"

"You're older. Just let it slide."

Let it slide. Give it up. Yield. Always those words.

Ever since we were children, if Caleb wanted it, I was expected to surrender it.

But why?

Just because I was born one minute earlier, did I have to spend the rest of my life swallowing my pride for him?

My eyes stung with hot tears.

I yanked my arm from Chloe's grip and marched into the dressing room.

Chloe sighed behind me, sounding tired and exasperated.

She didn't follow.

I knew where she was going. Back to my parents and Caleb to figure out how to "fix" me.

Just like my birthday party last week.

It was supposed to be my day. Yet my birthday gift was an outdated, cheap bracelet that Caleb had rejected. Later, when Caleb decided he fancied it after all, he took it right off my wrist.

I had nothing left.

But the second I dared to say "no," Chloe and my parents would tag-team me: He’s your younger brother, what’s wrong with letting him have it?

Twenty-seven years. I was utterly sick of hearing it.

I was done.

While I was peeling off the suit jacket and staring at myself in the vanity mirror, the dressing room door was kicked open.

Caleb leaned against the frame, complaining casually:

"Ashton, are you throwing another tantrum at Chloe?"

Without turning around, I stared at his reflection in the mirror.

"Knock before entering. Get out."

Caleb gave a mock chuckle and waved a dismissive hand.

"It’s just a door, Ashton. Why be so petty?"

"Mom and Dad never knock on your door at home, do they? They just barge right in."

"Why are you being so dramatic now? It's not like you're coming into my room."

So he knew.

No one in our family ever respected my boundaries. They barged into my space whenever they felt like it.

But when it came to Caleb, they knocked gently and waited for his permission.

"Get out!"

"This is my dressing room. I want to be alone."

Caleb curled his lip, completely brushing off my warning.

Instead, he pulled the door open even wider.

He whined loudly into the hallway:

"I tried talking to him, but he’s ignoring me! What else am I supposed to do?"

"Chloe, Mom, Dad... you talk to him!"