Eveline knew she was selfish.

Everyone would always tell her she had a heart of gold.But they didn't know her heart wasn't made of gold but it was tainted with the sins her naivety and ignorance had committed.

But even if they didn't, she knew. She knew all the things she was responsible for.

She had let her twin sister burden all the nightmares alone so that her perfect fairytale wouldn't be tainted.

But all things would eventually come to an end no matter how much she tried to protect them. Her fairytale had also come to an end.

She had seen how her brothers bullied little Aylin. But she had never once spoken up for her. Afraid, they would shun her too, just like they did to Aylin. So she watched as her twin suffered alone.

Even as a child, she knew what they were doing to Aylin wasn't right. She wanted to protest but never had the courage to.

At first, she was annoyed at her twin who would copy her every step. Aylin would dress how she dressed, eat what she liked, talked like she did. But slowly she understood. All she wanted was to be loved just like they love her.

She had seen the jealousy in Aylin's eyes. She was jealous of her. But why?Aylin had everything she desired.

Aylin was brave and courageous. She stood up for people she loved. Something she desperately wanted to do but never could.

She had once asked Diego why he hated Aylin so much. She would never forget the furious expression that crossed his face as he had answered, "She killed mom. She deserves all the hate in the world."

It wasn't his response that terrified her. Rather it was the words he had silently added after that, "I wish I could kill her one day."

She had noticed the killing intent glinting in his matte orbs that day. And no matter how much she tried, she would never be able to see her big brother in the same light again.

Her father would also say Aylin had killed mom. But Stephen and Ezra would always say otherwise. She didn't know who to believe.But as she grew up, she knew whose words to believe.

And so did Diego.

But regret always came late. Aylin had already gone out of their reach.

Eveline watched the same brother who had once prayed he could kill her now breaking down over the same her.

Her brother stopped smiling. He had become only a shell of his previous self.

Soon after, Diego joined the army. The number of times she had seen her big brother in the last seven years could be counted in one hand.

Noah was drowning in a sea of guilt of his own. Eveline knew her favorite brother was blaming himself for Aylin's departure. But he was wrong. If anyone were to be blamed, it was solely Eveline's fault.

If she would have opted to stand up for her or speak the truth even once, her sister would still be with her. They were stuck in the same web of lies they had meticulously built.

But what was the point in crying over spilt milk?

She would often find Noah, sitting alone in the early mornings as he seemed to be lost in thoughts.

She would silently sit beside him, accompanying him in his grief.

He would ask her the same question almost every morning,"Do you think she's alright?"

And everytime Eveline would give him the same answer, "She is fine."

And they both knew she was lying.But none of them said it out loud. For if they truly accepted it they wouldn't be able to handle the grief.

Somewhere along the line, Ezra changed too. He became unbelievably attentive towards all his siblings. To the point it almost became annoying. Even Stephen became a victim to Ezra's new found mother instincts.

Stephen was surprisingly calm about everything. Eveline knew if anyone had the power to bring back Aylin, it was her eldest brother.

He was the only one who could go against their father and walk out victorious. But he did nothing.

Even after Kai begged him to help Aylin, night after night, he did absolutely nothing. Eveline never understood why.

Eveline never was close to her fourth brother, Kai. But after watching the raw pain he had gone through for the past nine years, she began to understand him a little better. She knew Kai loved Aylin more than life itself.

Which is why she didn't understand why he was acting hostile towards her ever since she arrived. Shouldn't he be happy Aylin was back? Then why was he pushing her away?

She didn't want to meddle in between them. But wasn't this exact attitude what brought everyone to this point?

Which is why Eveline decided to interfere between them even if she didn't have the right to.

The night Aylin had cut her hair, she went storming into Kai's room.

Kai was reading a book, like he always did. Eveline didn't understand if the guy liked books so much, why did he choose to major in arts instead of literature?

"What do you want?" His tone told her he was already in a bad mood. It wouldn't be wise to piss him off further.

But ignoring all the warning bells, Eveline strode towards him and snatched the book from his hand, closing it with a bang.

"The fuck?" Kai growled, sitting up straight.

Good, now she had his attention.

"Why are being so mean to Aylin?" She went straight to the point. She wanted to be done with this conversation before Kai truly lost his temper.

"None of your concern." Kai responded coldly.

"Do you know she cut her hair because she thought you dislike her long hair?" She left out the part where she was going to scar her face. She made a promise and she didn't want to break Aylin's trust.

Kai didn't look as shocked as she expected him to be. It was almost like he had guessed that much himself. "Stop poking your nose where it doesn't belong."

"I won't stop. She is my sister and I won't let you hurt her." she said, determined.

Kai coldly laughed at her claim,"Says the one who's responsible for half her miseries."

"W-what do you mean?" She stuttered, her resolve breaking.

"You think I don't know what really happened that day?"His eyes held a promise to expose all the lies they had been spewing for years.

"How long are you going to protect those fools you call brothers?" He asked already knowing the answer.

Eveline would never stop protecting them.

"You are my brother, too." She told him.

His eyes softened at her words, "Eve, just go back to ignoring her pain like you always did. You are good at it." Kai taunted. But she wouldn't go down that path. Never again.

But there was nothing she could do. She was stuck in the intricate web of lies she had designed herself.

The day Aylin had returned, she was ecstatic. But she couldn't approach her because she had noticed. Her eyes which were filled with nothing but hatred for them.

Eveline didn't know how to break her walls to get close to her. But that didn't mean she would not try.

Eveline wanted to know everything about Aylin. But Aylin was a closed book and she didn't dare to intrude more than she had the right to.

Baby steps, she told herself.

Slowly she would win her sister back. She won't let go a second time, she vowed.

... ... ...

"So do you guys like her?" Eveline asked her friends during lunch. She wondered why Aylin was called to the principal's office. She was sure it wasn't for something bad. At least, she hoped so.

"She seemed cold." Emma commented, looking up from her lunch.

"She's really sweet once you get to know her." She didn't even know if it was true. But she wanted her friends to like Aylin.

"Didn't she try to kill you once?" Ethan asked.

"No, she didn't." She didn't know where he heard such baseless rumors but it was absolute bullshit. The Aylin she knew would never hurt anyone, much less try to kill her.

"I heard it, too. Your dad told my parents." Bryce chided in. "I heard she was sent to a mental hospital for treatment."

"Don't believe in rumors," her voice became firm.

"Rumors don't appear out of thin air." Ethan shrugged casually.

"Also, do you remember Eve's seventh birthday party. Didn't she steal your gifts and then accuse your brother for it?" Bryce recalled.

Bryce and Ethan were her childhood friends. But Eveline hadn't expected them to remember that incident.

"It was a misunderstanding," Eveline clenched her fists, raising her voice to get her point across.

"It didn't seem like it." Ethan shot back.

"I'm telling you she did none of those things!" Eveline didn't understand why her friends were being so prejudiced against Aylin. It was not fair.

"Eve, I think it's best if you don't bring her to eat lunch with us from the next time," Emma told her.

"If I hear one more bad word about Aylin, I will forget you guys were ever my friends." Eveline stood up and didn't turn back once.

She loved her friends to bits, which is why she prayed with all her heart for them to like Aylin. But if she had to choose between her friends and Aylin, she would choose Aylin in a heartbeat.

Never again, would she choose anyone over her.

... ... ...

It was the last class of the day. Aylin hadn't returned from the principal's office yet.

She hadn't talked to her friends again after lunch. Neither did she intend to talk with them again. She refused to bring any more negativity in Aylin's already messed up life. Even if it meant she would have to give up her friends.

Her mind went back to what Bryce said. Her seventh birthday would forever be imprinted in her mind.

Eveline saw Aylin sitting in the garden swing alone. She looked sad, she thought.

"Why are you sad? It's our birthday." Eveline asked, sitting beside her in the swing.

"No one wished me,"tears filled Aylin's eyes.

"What about Kai?" Eve asked her wanting to know.

"He doesn't talk to me anymore." Aylin pouted.

She wanted to ask her why but thought better of it and didn't intrude. Instead she pulled her in a hug, "Happy Birthday Lili!"

Aylin's tears were replaced with a toothy grin, "Happy Birthday Eve!"

Why couldn't she always smile like that? Eveline thought with a frown.

"It's so pretty." Eveline looked down her neck to see Aylin pointing to the pendant she was wearing.

"Dad gave it to me as a birthday gift. He said it belonged to mother." Eveline enthusiastically told her. But she soon stopped seeing the sad expression on Aylin's face. She realized Aylin might have not received any gifts either.

"I'm sure you will get lots of gifts in our birthday party tonight." Eveline extended her hands to emphasize the huge amount of gifts she would receive.

"Really?"

"Yes, you can't come to a party without bringing gifts." She giggled at the excitement in her twin's eyes.

After talking to her, Eve couldn't wait for the birthday party which would be held later in the evening. It was the first time her dad was allowing Aylin to celebrate her birthday. She would be so happy getting all the gifts from the guests.

But things didn't turn out the way Eve had hoped.

The party that day had started without any problems. Aylin was shy and didn't know how to make friends. So Eve excitedly dragged her everywhere she went, introducing Aylin to all her friends.

She smiled contently when she saw the happiness in her little sister's face.

But the happiness was short lived.

"Look at her smiling so freely.What right does she have to celebrate after taking away Mom from us?"

Eve saw Diego looking at Aylin, a wicked smile on his face. She immediately knew something was wrong.

And she was proved right.

Just as she and Aylin were about to blow the candles, Diego shouted, "Eve, where's mom's pendant that dad gifted you?"

Eve looked down and was shocked to see the heart shaped pendant missing from her neck.

"Did you lose it?" Her dad's angry voice sounded. Eve knew the pendant meant a lot to her dad. He had repeatedly told her to take good care of it and not lose it.

"No--"

Before she could continue she was interrupted by Diego, "I think I saw Lili holding it."

"Did you take it, Lili?" Dad's angry stare turned to Aylin.

"No-I didn't," Aylin's voice trembled.

"Maybe I forgot it in my room," Eve lied. She knew she had wore it to the party.

"Dad, we should check Lili's pockets. I am sure I saw it in her hand." Diego proposed.

"Diego, stop it. We can discuss who took the pendant once the guest leaves." Stephen coldly stated.

But Dad ignored him. Despite Aylin's protests Dad checked her pockets and much to everyone's shock the pendant was found there.

"She must have been jealous you gave that to Eve so she stole it," Diego shared his theory.

"Did you steal it, Lili?" Dad asked, barely containing his anger.

"I-I don't k-know how it got here." Aylin stuttered.

But Eve knew exactly what was happening. Diego had planned it to ruin Aylin's day. He must have taken the pendant when she wasn't looking and later put it in Aylin's dress pocket.

"Eve, I-I didn't steal it. I swear." Aylin's eyes became tearful for the second time today.

Eve knew she didn't steal it. But she couldn't throw her big brother under the bus either. Eve looked at Diego to find a satisfied smirk in his face as he saw the scene play out.

Was that what he wanted? To humiliate their youngest sister infront of everyone?

Aylin, who had noticed the satisfied smirk in Diego's face also understood.

She pointed at Diego and yelled with tears, "Big brother put it here. He did it. I am sure."

"Now you are even lying, huh." Diego snickered.

"Dad, I didn't take it. Believe me." Aylin pleaded.

He didn't believe her.

And the next second, the sound of a slap resounded around the room and she saw as Aylin fell on the ground.

"I'm ashamed I raised a thief and liar like you." Dad spitted out, slapping Aylin.

Before any of them could say anything, Aylin sat up in the floor on her own. Tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with betrayal.

"I will never forgive you."Aylin met the heated gaze of Diego with her own.Her words held a promise so resolute,Diego flinched back.

The next moment she sprinted out of the room. Eve gave one last look to Diego before following the running Aylin. His eyes were wide open with shock. He probably didn't expect things to turn so serious. But it wouldn't change the fact that it did.

Eve found Aylin in the terrace. She was sitting with her knees folded in the swing usually occupied by Kai.

Eve carefully approached the crying Aylin. But Aylin immediately moved back.

"Go away! You're the same as him! You knew everything but you still didn't say anything!" Aylin screamed at her. "I hate you! I hate all of you!"

She tried to touch her but her hand was pushed away by Kai, who had just arrived in the terrace.

At the sight of Kai,Aylin jumped in his arms and started crying in his shoulders,"Why couldn't it be me who died that day?I never asked to be born in this hell."

"Don't say that, little bunny." Kai wiped her tears. He wanted to curse but couldn't bring himself to do that infront of his little sister.

"Didn't she ask you to go away?" Kai turned to look at Eve coldly.He had heard their conversation. It baffled him how she was ready to throw Aylin under the bus to save her shit of a brother.

Eve didn't stay there any longer. She turned around to leave the terrace only to stumble upon Diego who was standing at the entrance, his eyes fixed on Kai and Aylin.

Good,see with your own eyes what the consequences are for your actions,she thought bitterly before leaving him there.

Her hands unconsciously fidgeted with the pendant in her neck as she recalled her seventh birthday.

Was that the point from where everything started to go downhill?

She wondered if whether she had spoken the truth that day, would her family still be happy and intact?

Or maybe it wouldn't make much of a difference. Because Aylin never was happy with them.

But she was determined to change it this time. And she would do just that, even if she had to burn the entire world along the way.