*Chapter 1: The Perfect Birthday* _
The Carter house smelled like vanilla cake and something else underneath it. Tension.
Jane Carter stood in front of her bedroom mirror and smoothed down her cream blouse.
The day after was supposed to be her happiest day. Her fiance Ethan Brooks bringing dinner.
Her best friend Bella Hayes coming with cake. Even her grandmother Grandma Rose, had spent the morning braiding Jane's hair.
But the house didn’t feel like hers anymore.
Not since her mom died when Jane was 11.
Not since her dad, Thomas Carter, married Victoria 6 months later.
A knock.
“Jane? Your decent?” Victoria’s voice. Sweet, like syrup.
“Come in,” Jane said.
Victoria stepped in with Chloe right behind her. Chloe, 17, in a dress that cost more than Jane’s monthly bus pass.
“Happy birthday in advance, sweetie,” Victoria said, holding out a flat gift box wrapped in gold. “We picked this out together.”
Jane opened it. A dress. Red. Backless. Tight.
“It’s... beautiful,” Jane said carefully. “Thank you.”
Chloe smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Ethan is going to love you in that.”
Downstairs, the dining table was set with yellow plates Jane had used since she was 10. Thomas was on his phone in the corner, laughing at something that wasn’t funny.
“Group photo!” Victoria clapped.
They all squeezed in. Thomas, Victoria, Chloe, Jane, and Grandma Rose in the middle with her cane. The camera flashed.
Later, Jane escaped to the backyard with Bella.
“You look like you’re attending a funeral,” Bella said, handing her a cupcake with “19” in glitter.
“I’m getting married in 3 months,” Jane whispered. “To Ethan. He’s good. He’s kind. But Bella... I’m scared.”
“Of marriage?”
“Of _them_.” Jane nodded toward the house. “Victoria asks me about Ethan’s company every week. Chloe copies my hair, my classes, even the way I talk. It’s like they’re waiting for me to mess up.”
Bella frowned. “Your dad loves you, Jane.”
“Does he?” Jane pulled the locket Grandma Rose gave her out from under her shirt. Inside: a photo of her mom. “Grandma said something weird this morning. ‘Not everyone who claps for you wants you to win.’”
Before Bella could answer, Victoria’s voice called from the door. “Jane! Dinner!”
That night, dinner was loud. Toasts. Photos. Ethan arrived with white lilies and a shy smile.
Thomas raised his glass. “To my daughter. My pride.”
Everyone drank.
Jane took one sip of the fruit punch Victoria made. It tasted sweet, then bitter. She set it down.
By 10pm her head felt heavy. The chandelier was too bright.
“I’m going to lie down,” she mumbled.
“Let Chloe take you to the guest room,” Victoria said quickly. “You look tired, dear.”
Jane didn’t argue. The stairs felt wrong under her feet.
Chloe’s hand on her arm was cold. “This way, birthday girl,” she whispered.
The last thing Jane saw before the hallway blurred was Grandma Rose watching from her chair. Her eyes were not happy. They were afraid.