Chapter 1

Rhea was the quiet one. Among her siblings, she was always the observer, the one who stayed in the background while the others lit up the room. Her older brother, Ryan, was the golden child—charming, athletic, and effortlessly popular. Her younger sister, Maya, was a force of nature, her bold personality and quick wit making her impossible to ignore.

And then there was Rhea. Not shy exactly, but soft-spoken. Thoughtful. The one who preferred a book to a party and could sit in silence without feeling the need to fill it.

Growing up, it had been easy to let her siblings take the spotlight, and honestly, she preferred it that way. But tonight, everything felt different. Athena, her best friend, had insisted she come to this party, dragging her out of her comfort zone with promises of a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“This is your moment, Rhea,” Athena had...