Page 1 of Broken Pieces

Prologue

Violet

Three Years Ago

Istand on one foot then hop onto the other, as I try to give my feet a rest from the heels my mom made me wear today. It’s her wedding day so I could hardly say no.

Mom makes it difficult for anyone to say no to her. That’s why today is not only her wedding day, but also the day we move in with my new stepdadandI meet my two stepbrothers for the first time.

Well, that’s if you count awkwardly standing across from them at the church altar without having said one word to each other, as meeting them.

I can feel the weight of their stares as we wait for Mom’s grand entrance, but I’m too nervous to look their way.

As usual, she’s making today even more of an event by being late. At least this time it’s only been ten minutes. For her last wedding, she had everyone waiting almost an hour before she swanned in like she was right on time.

When I can’t handle the feeling of being watched any longer, I look up and make eye contact with the two boys that I’ve been avoiding all day.

Now that I'm getting a good look at them, the first thing that pops into my head is how cute they are.

I really should look away, focus my attention back on the church doors rather than on them, but it’s surprisingly difficult now that I’m trapped by their dark brown eyes.

They're both insanely tall. My heels give me a few extra inches, but it’s nothing to get me on the same level as them.

What’s their dad been feeding them?

According to Mom, they’re just a couple months older than me. I wouldn’t have guessed they were fifteen just by looking at them though.

Not only are they tall for their age, but they’re both hiding muscles under their fancy black suits.

Again,what have they been eating?And why does it give them muscles and me rolls?

Other than the oddly similar blonde hair that I realize I share with them, they’re basically the complete opposite to me. I’m sure Mom loves that we already look like a perfect family at surface level though.

We may not be the same, but they are.

Maddox and Max Ostaire are identical twins. Their looks make them stand out twice as much, thanks to there being double the amount of beauty on that side of the altar.

I hope Mom doesn’t make me change my last name. Cassidy sounds way less pretentious thanOstaire.

Suddenly feeling self conscious, I adjust the thin spaghetti straps that keep cutting into my shoulders. Mom bought my bridesmaid dress two sizes smaller than what I am, because she wanted me to lose weight forher special day.

Is it really so special when it’s your fifth go at it?

To her dismay, I didn’t lose the weight. Honestly, I didn’t even try, but I won't tell her that.

No matter how much she tells me I’d be so much prettier if I lost the baby fat, I kinda like the way I look. Most of the time anyway. Some days, self doubt creeps back in and her words get to me, but the majority of the time I’m able to drown her out. I've had plenty of practice at it.

I try to focus my eyes literally anywhere else, but when the boy on the right smiles at me, my stomach flips. He says something under his breath and his twin smirks.

Oh, jeez.

That smile is dangerous.

My stomach does a double back flip this time, as I look at the other brother.

I’m not sure who is who by name yet, but as I look closer I can already see the differences between them.

I wonder if anyone else sees them too?

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