Chapter 2

That steak dinner tasted like ash in my mouth.

I fought desperately to suppress my inner fear and nausea, pretending to chat with her as if nothing was wrong.

I couldn't alert her to my suspicions.

If she wasn't Eleanor, then Eleanor's situation must be extremely dangerous, perhaps even...

I didn't dare to imagine.

We finished dinner and got home; it was already nine in the evening.

Pushing open the door, the living room was filled with warm light.

My adoptive father, Robert Davis, sat on the sofa watching the news, and my adoptive mother, Sarah Davis, was in the kitchen cutting fruit.

Twenty years ago, they adopted Eleanor and me together from the orphanage.

They had no children of their own, and over the years, they treated us like their own, supported our education, bought us pretty clothes, and gave us a complete home.

In my heart, they were my real parents.

"Hey, we're home." I changed my shoes, trying to make my voice sound normal.

"You're back? Was the steak good? You smell like it, go wash up quickly." Sarah Davis came out with a fruit platter, smiling kindly.

The "Eleanor" naturally walked over, linked her arm through Sarah Davis's, and cooed, "I'm stuffed! Lily just had to order so much steak."

"You silly girl, you're about to wear a wedding dress, yet you still can't control yourself," Sarah Davis said, dotingly tapping her forehead.

Robert Davis also put down the remote control, smiling as he looked at us.

The scene was so warm, so normal.

But I felt a chill run down my spine.

I took a deep breath and walked over to sit on the sofa.

"Something really strange happened," I began, feigning casualness. "Today at dinner, Ellie actually ate cashew cream, and she was totally fine."

The air in the living room seemed to freeze instantly.

Only the news anchor's voice echoed from the TV.

I stared intently at Robert and Sarah's faces, not missing a single subtle change in their expressions.

Sarah Davis's hand, cutting an apple, paused for a moment, the knife blade clinking against the glass plate.

Robert Davis's smile also stiffened for a second.

But soon, Sarah Davis regained her composure. She popped a piece of apple into "Eleanor's" mouth, then turned to me, smiling.

"Oh, that's what you're fussing about. Didn't your sister take those treatments a while back? That doctor I took her to see was amazing; he said he could cure allergies. Looks like it really worked."

Robert Davis nodded in agreement. "That's right, Lily, you're just making a big deal out of nothing. Your sister is getting married soon, it's good that her health is better."

My heart plummeted into a bottomless pit.

They were lying.

Eleanor had never gone to see any doctor!

Her allergy was caused by a genetic defect and was fundamentally incurable; top specialists at the hospital said so years ago, and Robert and Sarah were there!

Why were they helping this imposter cover up the lie?

Could it be...

A chilling thought exploded in my mind, making my scalp tingle.

Could Robert and Sarah also know she isn't Eleanor?

And worse, what if they're in on it?!

Suddenly, this home I'd lived in for twenty years felt utterly strange and terrifying.

The air around me felt like thick, viscous swamp water, choking me.

"Maybe I'm overthinking it. I'll just go wash up."

I abruptly stood up, lowered my head, and quickly walked to my bedroom.

I closed the door and locked it.

Leaning against the door, my legs gave out, and I slid straight to the floor.

Cold sweat drenched my back.

I was completely alone.

In this house, everyone but me was a monster.

Where was the real Eleanor?

Had she already...

No, she couldn't be! Eleanor is so smart; if she sensed danger, she would definitely leave me a clue!

I had to calm down.

I couldn't panic; Eleanor was waiting for me to save her.