At my graduation, while everyone was toasting my sister, I heard my father laugh: “Let’s see if she finds something she’s actually good at now.” I was still wearing my gown while the room applauded.

for €15,000 for your surgery.”

Clara froze.

“What surgery?”

Lucía felt the room disappear around her.

Clara opened the folder.

Inside were her medical records from that year.

There had been no operation.

No tumor.

No emergency.

Nothing.

And for the first time, both sisters understood something terrifying.

Their parents had not simply compared them for years.

They had learned how to use each sister against the other.

PART 3

For several seconds, Lucía said nothing.

She simply looked at Clara and waited for some explanation that could make