Jessica and James were unloading the last bags from their brand-new car, a recent purchase they were thrilled about. Jessica gazed lovingly at their sleek new possession and, with a satisfied glance at her husband—who was lugging the bags like a pack mule—said:
— Isn’t it wonderful, Jimmy, that we finally have our own car and apartment? I was so tired of bouncing around rentals, you can’t even imagine!
James, looking at his wife with tenderness and adoration, replied:
— Yes, Jessie, now we can afford a few things. Mom left me a decent sum. We can finally live like normal people. I worked and worked, but the money was only ever enough for the bare essentials. Oh, if only John were alive, he’d share this joy with us! Why did he have to go out on that lake in that boat? What kind of fishing trip was that? I don’t get it—he could barely swim. He must’ve been drunk.
Tears welled up in James’s eyes. John was his identical twin, his closest confidant, but it had been over a year since his tragic death. At the mention of John, Jessica visibly flinched—she couldn’t stand when her husband brought up his brother.
— Sweetheart, can you stop dwelling on him? It makes me sad and gloomy. I loved Johnny too, you know. You two were so different! Fate decided this, and we can’t change it. We have to move on!
With that, they entered the building and climbed the stairs. James, eyes downcast and somber, led the way. Suddenly, he collided with someone hurrying down. When he looked up, both men froze. The bags tumbled down the steps, landing at the feet of Jessica, who was still oblivious. No one could have anticipated this turn of events.
Jessica met James during her first year at university when the kind-hearted guy covered her lunch in the cafeteria. She was short a few coins, and hunger gnawed at her. Raised by a single mother who drank too much, Jessica lived off a meager scholarship that vanished quickly. When she couldn’t even afford a bowl of soup, she was on the verge of tears.
— Come on, miss, are you buying or not? — grumbled the surly, heavyset cashier, her face as glossy as the pastries she sold.
Jessica rummaged frantically through her purse, knowing full well there was nothing left. She always hid her money from her mother, who rummaged through her things for drinking cash, but today, distracted by an upcoming exam, she’d forgotten to take precautions. It looked like she’d go hungry. Then, the guy behind her in line slapped some money on the counter and said:
— For the lady, and the same for me.
Minutes later, they were chatting cheerfully at a table, digging into a full meal. Seeing how ravenous she was—her soup disappeared in seconds—James decided to treat her to more.
— I never thought girls could be this hungry. I figured you all lived on yogurt, but you look ready to devour an entire cow! — he teased.
From then on, they saw each other nearly every day. James was smitten with Jessica and began “accidentally” running into her at the cafeteria, library, or elsewhere, too shy to be upfront. Jessica liked James too, but for a different reason: he had money. At first, she just wanted a proper meal, but her ambitions grew. To escape her dingy dorm and her mother’s bloated, drunken face, she suggested they start dating. James was young and inexperienced, not yet earning big money, but Jessica saw potential—especially since his wealthy mother was elderly. There was, however, a snag: James’s identical twin, John, another heir to their mother’s fortune. Unlike James, John was a wild card, the opposite of his responsible brother. Their mother often said she’d leave him nothing, as he’d squander it on frivolous pursuits.
Years passed in pleasant meetups. Jessica was nearing graduation, with her final exam looming. A new, exciting life awaited, especially since James had proposed the day before. His ailing mother was on her deathbed, meaning her wealth would soon be theirs. James adored Jessica and would fulfill her every whim—she just needed to play her cards right.
In a shabby room, long overdue for repairs, Jessica’s mother shuffled in. Already drunk by morning, she was in high spirits.
— So, little girl, you’ll pass your exam tomorrow and fly the coop, huh? — she cackled emptily.
Jessica was repulsed by her mother’s state, but soon, this would all be behind her.
— Mom, you know it upsets me to see you like this. You’re ruining your life!
Her mother waved her off and passed out in a drunken stupor. Sighing heavily, Jessica returned to her studies.
Soon, Jessica and James were married in a lavish ceremony, the grandest event of her life. James’s mother spared no expense, wanting her beloved son to remember the day forever, especially since her time was short. John attended, and the twins even tried to prank Jessica by swapping places. She saw through it, but without prior knowledge of John’s existence, their ruse might’ve worked. Jessica warily noted the brothers’ close bond, their inseparable connection. At the wedding, a sinister plan began forming in her greedy mind. John’s solitary life abroad played right into her hands—she just needed the perfect moment to act.
Days passed. Jessica finally escaped her hated dorm. James doted on her, working tirelessly to fund their happy future, but money was tight, forcing them to rent. His mother’s health deteriorated, and on her deathbed, she told James she was leaving everything to him, deeming John unreliable for his carefree lifestyle abroad. She resented his absence, unaware he called daily and loved her dearly.
Days after her passing, John flew in for the funeral. Despite his reputation as a partygoer, he adored his mother and would never have abandoned her. But she’d only wanted both sons by her side, misjudging John’s independence. Before returning abroad, James clasped his brother’s hand and, in Jessica’s presence, said:
— Don’t worry, John. Once I inherit, I’ll split everything with you. We’re brothers—everything’s ours equally.
— Don’t stress about it, man. Let it be as Mom wanted. I’m not after anything.
— No way, Johnny. It’s only fair!
— Fine, you stubborn mule. Have it your way!
With that, John grabbed his light suitcase and left.
As soon as he was gone, Jessica confronted James. Sweetly, she began:
— Jimmy, how much did your mom leave you?
— Enough to buy a nice place and live comfortably for the rest of our lives.
Jessica, who’d known poverty her whole life, felt her eyes gleam with greed, a dark spark flickering within.
— What’s this about giving half to John? Don’t you think you should respect your mother’s wishes? She chose you, not him.
James hugged her, explaining his love for his brother, his sense of fairness, and his inability to act otherwise. Jessica realized he’d share the inheritance the moment he got it. She couldn’t allow that—not after everything she’d done to secure this marriage.
Months later, with the pain of his mother’s death easing and James busy with inheritance paperwork, Jessica set her plan in motion. She arranged a candlelit romantic dinner, waiting for her husband to return from work. When he arrived, she steered the conversation to her goal. With a sad yet flirtatious tone, she said:
— Darling, we never even had a honeymoon. It was never the right time, but now we can finally get away! No objections—I’ve already bought the tickets. We leave in three days. Sorry for not telling you sooner; I wanted it to be a birthday surprise.
James couldn’t argue; she was right. They’d been buried in endless tasks. A week later, while James splashed in the sea, Jessica locked herself in their room, a sly smile on her face. She grabbed his phone and called John. When he answered, her fake cheer vanished, replaced by a mask of grief. Sobbing, she began:
— Hello, John, it’s awful! You know we’re on vacation. I was sunbathing and fell asleep. James was swimming. When I woke up, he was gone. Oh God, it’s all my fault! I dragged him on this trip!
Panicked, John pressed for details.
— My husband drowned. They searched for two days but couldn’t find his body. I can’t stay here. I’m heading home. I was too distraught to call sooner. I’m at the airport—don’t come, I’ll manage. I’ll let you know if I hear anything.
As John grieved, Jessica’s face twisted into a smug grin. She wiped James’s phone, deleting all contacts, then soaked it in water to ensure it was dead. Half her plan was complete; now she just needed James to return from the beach.
Using eye drops she’d bought, Jessica made her tears look real. When James, worried after not finding her on the beach, rushed to their room, he found her sobbing on the bed. Kneeling beside her, he demanded to know what happened. She launched into her lie:
— Oh, my love! — she wailed. — I forgot my sunscreen and came back here. Your phone rang, and I wish I hadn’t answered. It was John’s girlfriend. She told me something horrible. John went fishing, and they found the boat, but he’s gone! Jimmy, your brother drowned. What a tragedy! She barely found your number and said she’d call again if there’s news.
James grabbed his phone, but it was ruined.
— I dropped it in water by accident. I’m so sorry, but I gave her my number too, so don’t worry.
James was devastated, unable to fathom why John, who never fished, would’ve gone out on a boat. He wanted to search for him himself, but Jessica convinced him it was pointless, assuring him others were handling it.
The vacation was ruined. Back home, Jessica pushed to sell the inheritance quickly, fearing John could show up and ruin everything. Luckily, James didn’t know his social media passwords—his phone was destroyed, and Jessica had burned the notebook where they were written. She also told him she couldn’t live in a city full of memories of his mother and brother, convincing him to sell everything and move. Keeping up with John was taxing; he called daily for updates on James. Sedatives helped her cope for a year until John stopped calling, the inheritance was sold, and they moved to a new city with a hefty sum to start anew.
But fate had other plans. John, tired of life abroad, decided to return home with his girlfriend. Unable to face their hometown’s memories, he chose another city—coincidentally, the same one as James. Stranger still, they ended up in the same building. Perhaps twins share a bond that draws them together.
When the brothers saw each other, they nearly lost their minds with joy, embracing and sobbing on the staircase, recounting their stories. With each word from John, James grew darker. He turned to confront his deceitful wife, but Jessica had already fled, running as fast as she could.
Soon, she was back where she started: in a dorm beside her reckless mother. She’d had a bird in hand but chased a crane, losing everything. The brothers, recovering from the shock, split the inheritance and built happy lives with those who loved them for who they were.
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