Rebirth: Love me Again

[EVE]

The line of questioning continued, with Sullivan and Sophia steering the conversation smoothly in Sophie's direction.

While her parents seemed determined to highlight her role, Sophie's unease was evident. She wasn't used to the spotlight in this way, and despite her attempts to smile, there was a tightness in her expression, and her answers were clipped and hesitant.

Interviews were an art of their own, a rhythm you learned to dance with over time.

Your journey continues on empire

I'd been through more than a few myself, and I knew that no amount of practice could quite prepare you for the real thing.

Sophie had probably rehearsed, but it was experience that truly taught you how to handle the unexpected questions, the quick pivots, the subtle pressure of the lights and cameras on you.

She was clearly trying, though. Each time she glanced my way, I met her with a taunting smile.

You always wanted this, right? Then take it—every bit, the good and the bad.

"Uhm . . . Are you and Eve close right now?"

Sinclair, finally losing patience, stepped in. "Is it really necessary to compare the two girls like this?" he asked.

"Uh . . . I'm sorry. It's in the question notes . . ."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The interviewer started to explain but froze under Sinclair's sharp gaze, her words trailing off immediately.

"I will be mindful from now on," the interviewer said, bowing at Sinclair.

The tension thickened in the silence that followed, and it felt as though everyone was holding their breath, waiting for the next move.

Sullivan's faint smile remained, while Sophie looked as though she wanted to say more but couldn't quite find the right words.

The questions flowed smoothly now, easing the tension, and I found myself letting out a quiet sigh of relief. I need this kind of atmosphere to ask Sullivan and Sophia about my adoption.

"When's your birthday again?" the interviewer asked, glancing my way with an easy smile.

I blinked, caught off guard, and for a moment, I had no idea what to say.

"M-my birthday?" I repeated, buying time as I scrambled for an answer.

I glanced at Sullivan and Sophia, hoping for a cue, but they merely raised their brows, looking almost pleased to see me flounder.

Shifting my gaze to Sophie, I caught her glaring at me—just for an instant—before she quickly masked it with a smile as the interviewer looked her way.

But how could I answer that?

The truth was, I didn't know. I couldn't say my birthday matched Sophie's, because I knew that it wasn't. That would be . . . ridiculous, embarrassing even.

In the thick silence, my mind spun. What was my real birthday? Had I ever known, or had I just been assigned an age and told to live it? For all I knew, I might not even be eighteen.

"Her birthday is a week from now," Sinclair announced. "The first of December, just like Sebastian here. She'll be nineteen then."

I blinked in surprise. "E-eh, really?"

Sinclair shot me a pointed look. "If you had bothered to read your adoption papers, or your new birth certificate, you would know your birthday is the first of December."

A nervous laugh escaped me. "So my birthday is the first of December, then?" I repeated.

While I still grappled with the ambiguity of my true origins, a sense of relief washed over me. At least I had an official birthday, one inscribed on paper. That would have to suffice for now.

A tension gripped the air behind me. When I turned, I caught sight of Victor and Cole muttering to each other as if they were lost in a trance.

"Your birthday . . . ," Cole murmured, his brow furrowed.

". . . is next week?" Victor echoed, eyes squinting in thought.

What's going on with them?

I shook my head, pushing their bewilderment aside.

As the last flash went off, I let out a sigh, relieved the photoshoot was finally over.

Sullivan, Sophia, and the Sophie were already preparing to leave.

I could feel tension clawing up from inside me. I'd always wanted answers, but I'd never dared to ask—not until now.

Swallowing my nerves, I took a deep breath and called out, "Excuse me, Sullivan."

Their movements halted, and instantly the atmosphere turned frigid. They turned to face me, their gazes sharp and venomous.

Sullivan's eyes narrowed, and Sophia's lips pressed into a tight line. Sophie only raised an eyebrow, her hands crossed.

"What do you want?" Sophie asked.

I ignored Sophie, and forced myself to meet Sullivan's gaze, swallowing my pride. "I . . . I wanted to ask about the orphanage where I was adopted."

For a moment, silence settled, thick and tense. Then Sullivan's lips curled into a mocking smirk.

"The orphanage?" he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're asking about that now?"

"Yes," I replied, steadying my voice. This was my chance to finally find my real parents. "I just thought—"

"Oh, you thought, did you?" he cut me off, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Let me make one thing clear. You may have some legal claim to our name, but that's where the connection ends."

He took a step closer, and his voice dropped to a harsh whisper. "The only reason you're here at all is as a stand-in. A prop. You're not family—don't flatter yourself, so why do I have to answer a question of yours?

"And as for the orphanage . . ." He smirked, relishing each word. "Why would I waste my time helping you dig up a past that means nothing to us?"

His words struck like a slap, each one laced with cold malice.

I felt my cheeks flush with anger, and I refused to look away. "Have you forgotten that I'm your sister now, legally?" I shot back with a mocking smile.

Sullivan scoffed, a harsh laugh escaping him as he looked at me as though I were a piece of dirt beneath his shoe.

"

Sister

?" he echoed, his eyes darkening with contempt. "You're nothing of the sort. You're just a convenient illusion we created. Nothing more. And as for the orphanage—why would you want to go digging? Are you eager to learn just how quickly your parents got rid of you?"