Chapter 1

Harper's POV

My head felt like it was about to explode, but I still had to move these chairs. Today was my sister Madison's engagement party, and while everyone fussed over her, I was the free labor.

"Harper! Move it! Guests arrive at two!"

Mom's shrill voice cut through the backyard air. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and kept working through the pounding headache.

Madison sat under the patio umbrella in her silk robe, leisurely sipping coffee. She glanced up as I walked by, frowning.

"God, Harper, you look AWFUL. This is MY big day - don't ruin it."

"I just have a headache—"

"Then take something for it." Mom appeared, looking me up and down with obvious disgust. "Harper, you look terrible. Don't scare the guests. Just stay in the kitchen - keep out of sight."

"Mom, I could help greet people too."

"You? Seriously?" Her tone was pure disbelief. "Look at yourself. Do you even look like you belong in this family? Madison, what do you think?"

Madison didn't even bother looking up. "Just put her in the kitchen, Mom. Some people aren't cut out for this kind of thing."

Ryan came downstairs then, hair messy but still handsome.

Mom's face completely transformed. "My precious boy! How was the party last night? You need to be on your A-game for your sister today!"

"Of course, Mom. Brad's bringing his dad's business partners - all big shots."

"Wonderful! Madison really landed herself a winner!"

I quietly started cleaning up the backyard debris, being extra careful with every movement.

At two o'clock sharp, guests began arriving.

The backyard instantly transformed into an upper-class social event. Women glided around in designer dresses, men stood in crisp suits, champagne glasses clinked. Madison had changed into a pink cocktail dress and absolutely glowed among the crowd.

"Madison looks STUNNING!"

"That dress is gorgeous!"

"Brad is one lucky man!"

I stood in my plain blue dress in the corner, feeling like a complete outsider.

It had always been this way. Madison and Ryan were beautiful - I was plain. They were brilliant and accomplished - I was ordinary. But I'd always believed that if I tried hard enough, if I was good enough, Mom and Dad would love me the way they loved them.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" Dad suddenly stood, raising his champagne glass. "Let me introduce our children!"

I held my breath, waiting for my moment.

"This is our eldest daughter, Madison!" Dad's voice swelled with pride. "Harvard Business School graduate, now engaged to Brad. We couldn't be more proud!"

Thunderous applause. Madison waved gracefully.

"And our son Ryan!" Dad continued beaming. "Ohio State's top student - a future business leader!"

More enthusiastic clapping. Ryan nodded confidently.

Then Dad's eyes found me, his tone instantly becoming flat and perfunctory. "Oh, and our youngest daughter, Harper."

That was it. No embellishments, no praise, no mention of everything I'd done to make today perfect.

The scattered applause felt like pity. My face burned, my chest tight like something was crushing my lungs.

"Family photo time!" the photographer called out.

Everyone gathered in the garden center as guests crowded around to watch.

"Madison in the middle, Bob and Carol on either side, Ryan here." The photographer directed traffic. "Harper, you go in the back - way over there. Don't block Madison."

I mechanically moved to the back corner, practically pushed out of frame. Standing there, watching the perfect family of four in the viewfinder, I suddenly realized I would never be the focus of this picture.

After the photos, as the party continued, our neighbor Mrs. Patterson suddenly joked:

"Seriously though, Carol, is Harper actually yours? I mean, she looks NOTHING like the rest of you..."

The air went dead silent. Everyone stared at me with curious, questioning eyes.

My face went crimson, heart hammering. I looked desperately at Mom and Dad, hoping they'd defend me.

Dad laughed awkwardly. "Ha! Genetics are weird, you know. Sometimes kids resemble distant relatives."

Mom chimed in with a laugh. "Right, maybe she takes after someone way back in the family tree."

Their response hit me like ice water. They didn't say "Of course she's our daughter" - they made excuses for how I looked.

Madison smirked behind her hand. Ryan pretended not to hear. Not ONE person defended me.

I felt like I was on trial with everyone pointing and judging. The humiliation burned through my entire body.

"I... I should check the kitchen," I mumbled, fleeing the scene.

I rushed into the kitchen and leaned against the wall, gasping. Tears finally welled up in my eyes.

By five o'clock, the party was winding down.

I was washing dishes in the kitchen, fingers wrinkled from the water. Voices drifted in from the living room - I wasn't trying to eavesdrop, but what I heard next shattered my last bit of hope.

"Bob, Carol, you're so blessed. Your first two kids are just exceptional." Mrs. Patterson's voice.

"Oh yes, Madison and Ryan make us SO proud," Mom's voice was pure satisfaction. "They've never given us a moment's trouble."

"What about Harper?"

A pause.

"The third kid... well, let's just say she was an unexpected gift." Dad's voice sounded tired. "Honestly, we only planned on two children. Harper was a... surprise."

"She's not a bad kid," Mom added, "but as you can see, she's just not as... gifted as the first two."

"Sometimes I think she's just here to test our patience." Dad sighed. "But someone has to do the housework, right?"

They all laughed.

The plate slipped from my hands, shattering in the sink with a sharp crash.

A whole day of hope and effort crumbled in that moment.

I slowly slid to the floor as tears finally spilled over.