Part 1The Favorite Twin Stole My Admission Letter

My twin brother Ollie and I got into our sister’s alma mater. On move-in day, she drove him to campus and left me hauling my own heavy suitcases. I gripped my Finance acceptance letter tight, heart pounding with anticipation. My sister had always been my idol, and now I was finally catching up.

When I reached the dorms, she had already unpacked for Ollie. They sat together on a bench in the campus quad. She told him she had spoken to the dean and moved him into my spot in the Finance program. She promised to introduce him to her old professors and pave the way for his future. That look of pure, easy affection had never once been aimed at me.

Ollie smiled brightly and suggested I take his place in Vocal Performance instead. Years ago, I had thrown myself over my sister to shield her from a collapsing beam in a house fire. The damage left me reliant on a hearing aid for daily conversation. Studying music was impossible for me.

She reached out and ruffled his hair, agreeing without hesitation. At that moment, the straps of my backpack felt like they were crushing me. If my entire future was worth less than a casual joke from my brother, then I no longer wanted this family.

I pretended I hadn't seen them and walked straight to the Finance department's registration desk.

The academic advisor took my acceptance letter, scanned it, and handed it back. But when he typed my ID into the system, his brow furrowed.

"Your name isn't in this cohort."

"Let me check the general directory. Ah, here you are. You're registered in the Vocal Performance program. You need to head over to the Arts building to sign in."

I shook my head.

"I'm not an arts student. My medical records clearly state I have a severe hearing impairment. It's literally impossible for me to be admitted into Vocal Performance."

"Besides, my acceptance letter clearly says I am enrolled in the Finance department."

Growing up, I couldn't even count the number of times I had to give things up for Oliver.

When he decided he liked the floor-to-ceiling windows in my bedroom, my sister knocked down the wall to give him a massive master suite and moved me into the cramped maid's quarters.

When he wanted my limited-edition sneakers, my sister forced me to hand them over, even though I had worked double shifts all summer just to buy them.

She always used the same excuse.

"Felix, you used to be such a good, selfless kid. You literally saved my life in that fire. What happened to you? Why are you so bitter about sharing with your own brother?"

Jasmine was the person I looked up to most in the world. I didn't want her to look at me like I was a monster, so I swallowed the unfairness. Again and again.

But this time was different. To get into this university's Finance program, I studied from five in the morning until midnight for three straight years.

While Jasmine took Oliver on a luxury vacation to the Maldives this summer, I stayed home teaching myself advanced calculus.

I sacrificed too much for this.

This time, I refused to back down.

The advisor gave me a long, sympathetic look. "Give me a second. Let me call the admissions office."

Just as he picked up the phone, Jasmine and Oliver walked up.

Jasmine instantly assessed the standoff.

"Hi, I'm Felix's older sister. He's at the wrong desk."

"Oliver is the one in your Finance program. Just sign him in."

Jasmine clamped her hand around my wrist, dragging me backward. She lowered her voice to a harsh whisper.

"Come with me right now. Stop making a scene and embarrassing us. I'll explain everything later."

Embarrassing us.

I repeated those words in my head. That was exactly how she had viewed me for years.

Oliver got to attend high-society galas and corporate board meetings with her. I was told to stay home.

On our shared birthday, Oliver got a massive, lavish party with hundreds of wealthy guests. I sat alone in the dark living room until midnight, waiting for them to bring back a half-eaten slice of leftover cake.

"Felix, you can't hear well in crowded rooms anyway. You never catch what people are saying. It's better for you to just stay home."

I used to pretend I didn't see the disgust hiding in her eyes. I convinced myself she was just being protective.

But today, she finally shattered that pathetic little fantasy.

I forcefully yanked my wrist out of her grip.

"You and Oliver literally stole my university admission. Aren't you the ones who should be embarrassed?"

I took a few steps back, pulling out my phone to call the dean myself. I was going to fight for what was mine.

The line connected. My heart pounded against my ribs. My lips trembled as I opened my mouth to explain what was happening.

Suddenly, the entire world went violently silent.

A sharp, tearing pain ripped through my ear. Jasmine had snatched my hearing aid right out of my ear. A drop of fresh blood smeared across the plastic casing in her hand.

The seconds on the call timer ticked by, but I couldn't hear a single sound.

The person on the other end eventually hung up.

Jasmine furiously typed something on her phone and shoved the screen into my face.

[I bought that hearing aid with my money. You are coming with me right now, and I will give it back to you.]

[If you don't, I am confiscating it. You won't be attending any classes at all. You can go work a minimum-wage job until you can afford a new one yourself.]