My name is Marina. I’m 29, and for most of my life, I lived in the shadow of my younger sister Anya—louder, brighter, and always the center of attention. When I received her wedding invitation, I didn’t want to go. Not just because it was Anya’s day—but because she was marrying Alexey. The man I once loved. The man who vanished, only to reappear at my sister’s side.
At the wedding, Anya greeted me coldly and made sure I stayed invisible, just like always. Then, during the reception, she humiliated me with a toast that mocked our past. What she didn’t expect was Alexey standing up and taking the microphone. In front of everyone, he admitted the truth: he and I had been in love, and Anya had lied about being pregnant to steal him away. She was never pregnant. It was all a manipulation.