Don’t Be Depressed! I’m Coming Home to Save You

The indie actress Id followed for three years, so obscure she barely had a fandom, finally called it quits.
As one of her few die-hard fans, I got a private message from her, Ava Jane.
I found my family. I know things are going to get better now.
I sent her my best wishes, then booked a flight to Europe to nurse my own melancholy.
Thats when the call came. I wasnt who I thought I was. I was the switched-at-birth daughter, the imposter in a life that was never meant for me.
My mothers voice was a soothing balm over the phone. Darling, you will always be our most precious baby.
My brother called from overseas. Youre the only sister Ill ever have. No one is taking anything from you.
My friends kept me updated with a running commentary via a live feed from back home. The real heiress, they said, was being brutally ostracized by our elite circle, a social pariah in her own home.
Then, at four in the morning, another private message buzzed on my phone.
[Even though we've never met, you might be the only friend I have left in this world. I'm so tired. Why does it still hurt so much, even after finding my family? Goodbye. I wish you all the best.]
The words jolted me awake.

1
My eyes shot open. I ripped off my sleep mask and sat bolt upright in bed.
Something was terribly, terribly wrong with her tone. My hands trembled as I typed, my fingers flying across the keyboard in a panic.
[Honey, no, please don't! What's wrong? Don't do anything stupid!!!!]
She must have been shocked to get an instant reply at four in the morning. The silence stretched for a full thirty seconds.
Finally, a message from Ava appeared.
[Why are you still awake?]
A wave of relief washed over meshe was still responding. But it was followed by a fresh surge of fear.
[Im overseas, theres a bit of a time difference.]
[Never mind that. What happened? Can you talk to me? You said it yourself, were friends.]
This time, the silence was longer. So long that I couldn't sit still. I jumped out of bed, my bare feet cold on the floor, and dialed my brother, not caring that it was the middle of the night back home.
Leos voice was thick with sleep. "Summer? Why are you calling so late? Is something wrong?"
My own voice was grim. "Leo, I need you to find someone for me. Drop everything."
Before I could tell him about Ava, my phone buzzed with a new message.
[Its okay now. I was in a dark place for a minute. Don't worry.]
The crushing weight on my chest lifted. I realized I was drenched in a cold sweat.
Leo was still on the line, demanding answers. "It's nothing, Leo. Go back to sleep."
He chuckled softly. "You're the only one who could get away with waking me up at this hour. I know you're not feeling great about all this. That's why you've been away so long. But its okay, Summer. Youll always be my only sister, you know that?"
"I know," I murmured. After more than twenty years together, my family knew me better than anyone. My extended vacation was, in part, a way of avoiding the inevitable.
Two months ago, Id left on a whim to clear my head. The moment I was gone, the bomb dropped: I was the wrong daughter. The real one had been found. My family swore they wouldnt send me away, that we would always be a family, but our social circle was a vipers nest of gossip. The rumor was that Id fled the country to escape the scandal. Annoyed, I decided to stay and personally oversee our company's European branch for a while.
After reassuring Leo Id be home soon, I hurried back to my chat with Ava.
[Don't be sad, sweetie. I don't know what happened, but I'm always on your side. Always.]
Her reply came quickly this time.
[I was just thinking if I died, it would cause a lot of trouble for other people. This is the first time in my life I've had my own room. I cherish it. I don't want to die here.]
Her words painted a vivid, heartbreaking picture. I punched my pillow in frustration. Who the hell were these people shed found? How could anyone have someone as wonderful as Ava and not treat her like a treasure?
Sleep was impossible now. Worried sick, I sat cross-legged on my bed and chatted with her for hours.
I knew Avas story. An orphan, raised in a group home. She was discovered by a scout because of her stunning looks, but without connections and unwilling to play the industrys dirty games, she never got past bit parts. Id stumbled upon her work by chance and fallen for her talent. I was one of her handful of fans, and just when I thought she might finally get her big break, she quit.
She told me shed found her family, but it seemed they didn't want her. Her simple, typed words on the screen made my heart ache.
[I guess if a stranger suddenly showed up and wanted to join my family, Id have a hard time accepting it too. I get it.]
We talked for a long time. I made sure she had calmed down and that the suicidal thoughts had passed before I let myself relax.
[Honey, I'm coming home in a few days. Will you wait for me? I've never even met you in person. If your family isn't good to you, it doesn't matter. When I get back, I'll be your friend and your family. You just have to wait for me.]
She took a long time to reply.
[Okay.]
A smile touched my lips. I opened the airline app to book a flight, only to stare at the screen in disbelief.
A historic blizzard was forecast for the next two weeks. All flights home were grounded.

2
The next day, I checked the flight schedules again, my hope dwindling. It was confirmed: I wasn't getting home for at least two weeks.
Resigned, I called my mother. Her voice was laced with a theatrical pout.
"Darling, are you sure you're not just making excuses?"
"Mom, I'm serious," I said, exasperated. "Have your assistant check the flight statuses if you don't believe me. I'm literally snowed in."
She sighed, then launched into a flurry of motherly advice about staying warm and safe during the blizzard. Listening to her, a warmth spread through my chest. I had been avoiding their calls, because well, because of everything. But right now, it felt like nothing had changed.
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed through the phone, making me jump. I heard my mother's voice, sharp and urgent.
"I told you not to touch anything in this house! That was Summer's!"
The reply was faint, a tiny voice apologizing over and over.
"Mom? What was that?" I asked.
A few seconds passed before she came back on the line, her tone smooth again. "Oh, sorry, sweetheart. Mommy was just careless and knocked over your old model. Don't you worry, I'll have Leo buy you the newest edition, okay?"
I frowned. Id heard the other voice. The one who knocked it over was her.
I was silent for a moment, grateful we were on the phone so she couldn't see the expression on my face. "Oh, that old thing?" I said, forcing a light tone. "I built that ages ago. I don't even like it anymore. It's no big deal."
She didn't reply right away. For some reason, I didn't hang up. Like a thief, I listened in, trying to piece together the scene at home from the muffled sounds on the other end. I heard my mother's voice again, no longer the gentle tone she used with me, but cold and severe. Then, I heard quiet, suppressed sobs.
I sighed. I wasn't the only one having a hard time.
A moment later, my mother's voice returned. "Darling, are you still there?"
I hesitated. "Mom she's your biological daughter. Maybe you should be a little"
It was the first time in two months I had acknowledged her existence directly. I could feel my mother freeze on the other end of the line. Then came a choked sob.
"Why did she have to show up now? Why did she have to ruin our family? Couldn't we have just let the mistake be?"
I fell silent, torn between relief at my family's unwavering love for me and a deep, gnawing shame. None of this was the real heiress's fault.
After we hung up, I wiped a tear from my eye and went back to messaging Ava.
[Sweetie TAT the blizzard is insane, all flights are cancelled. I'm stuck here for a while.]
[I'm so bored. Everyone here speaks a different language. Can you chat with me more? I need a friend.]
I had to give her a reason to feel needed, to anchor her fragile emotional state.
A moment later, she replied.
[A blizzard? Oh no! You have to be careful and stay safe.]
It was followed by a small, worried-face emoji.
We chatted for a bit, and then she went quiet. Just as I was starting to worry, a new message came through.
[Summer, am I just redundant?]
I jabbed at the keyboard, my fingers hitting the screen harder than necessary.
[Of course not!!! You're the absolute best!!!]
[But today, my mother said she wished I had never come back. That I disrupted their happy family.]
A surge of anger shot through me. I typed furiously.
[Then leave. You don't need a family like that. I have money. You go back to acting, and I'll be your investor. I'll make you a star!]
[You know, the first time I saw you on screen, I knew you were a brilliant, gifted actress.]
Her reply was quick.
[That's so sweet of you. I've thought about leaving, I really have. But I pissed off Mr. Thorne, the head of Celestial Entertainment. He's a friend of my family. He hates me. I don't think I can go back to acting TAT]
[Maybe I should just get a normal job]
Celestial Entertainment. The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it. Maybe they had a partnership with our family's company? I'd look into it when I got home.

3
For the next few days, I threw myself into work at the branch office, messaging Ava in every spare moment. Her mood seemed to be improving, but from the little details she let slip, I knew her situation at home was still terrible. Her family was clearly wealthy and provided for her financiallya step up from her former life of barely scraping bybut emotionally, she was starving.
All I could do was pray for the snow to stop. For over twenty years, I, Summer Sterling, had been a force to be reckoned with in our circleand not just because I was a Sterling. I was a legend in the venture capital world. Protecting one girl should have been easy. I cursed myself for being just a fangirl, for being happy shed found her family without ever considering what kind of family they might be.
I had just wrapped up a meeting when my phone rang. The smug, infuriating voice of Julian Thorne filled my ear.
"Summer Sterling. Been gone a long time. Trying to ditch our engagement?"
I rolled my eyes. "Julian, have you been living under a rock? Haven't you heard? I'm the wrong one. Your engagement is with the Sterling heiress. You've got the wrong number."
He chuckled. "You told your brother you didn't care, but I can tell you're dying inside. Come on, she's some country bumpkin. She can't hold a candle to you. Besides, I already took care of her for you. She won't dare show her face around you now."
I frowned. "Don't do anything stupid, Julian. She's still a Sterling, by blood. What did you do to her? She hasn't done anything wrong."
"Relax," he said. "The Sterlings are paying to keep her in style. Isn't that enough? Now stop talking about switching fiances and get your ass back here."
We chatted for a few more minutes. Right before hanging up, I remembered something. "Hey, didn't you say you invested in an entertainment company? Let me play with it when I get back."
"Why?" he asked, suddenly suspicious. "Thinking of sponsoring some boy toy? Not on my watch."
"Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm going to make a star. Just you wait, my girl is going to take the world by storm."
"What's your company called again?" I asked.
Before Julian could answer, the line went dead. I glanced at my phone. The screen was black. Dead battery. Again.
Back at my apartment, a message from Ava was waiting.
[Summer, are you busy? I was wondering if I could ask you for some advice. Even though we haven't met, I just feel like you must be such a graceful and beautiful person. The kind my mother would like.]
I replied immediately. It turned out she wanted advice on table manners.
[My family's social circle invited me to a party. Maybe maybe this means they're ready to accept me.]
Ava sent me pictures of a few dresses.
[Which one should I wear?]
I looked at the photos and frowned. From her descriptions, her family had money. A party in their circle wouldn't be a simple dinner. These dresses were all wrong.
I typed carefully. [Honey, would you be comfortable giving me an address? Let me order a dress for you.]
I already had a chat window open with the regional manager for Chanel, ready to request a piece from their latest couture collection for her.
Ava replied quickly.
[Oh no, that's too much trouble! I want to be your friend, not take advantage of you. I know these aren't right. I'll just ask my mother if I can borrow one. She'll probably make fun of me, but I can just pretend I don't hear her. Cat-making-a-fist.jpg]
The emoji made me laugh out loud. She was such a sweetheart. As soon as I got back, I was taking her away from all of this.
At the same time, my phone started buzzing incessantly. It was my group chat, "The Heiress Club," lighting up with messages. Chloe Vance, one of the inner circle, tagged me.
[@Summer Sterling, don't say I never do anything for you. Don't go to bed too early tonight. We've got a surprise for you.]

4
That evening, I was lying in bed with a face mask on, scrolling through videos. Outside, snow fell in thick, silent sheets. I kept refreshing my phone, but there was no new message from Ava. I wondered how her party was going.
My right eyelid twitched.
Suddenly, my phone pinged. A video from Julian. And a voice message.
I played the audio. It was his smug, triumphant voice. "Summer, wake up! You've got to see this. This country girl is hilarious. I'm dying over here."
Before I could open the video, a new message from Ava popped up at the top of my screen.
[Can I call you?]
My heart sank. I ripped off the face mask and dialed her number, completely forgetting about Julian.
The call connected. After a moment of silence, I heard Ava's choked, suppressed sobs.
"I should have known," she whispered. "They just wanted to make a fool of me. But I still went"
Her heartbroken cries tore at me. My phone kept buzzingthe "Heiress Club" group chat was going wild. Annoyed, I silenced the notifications without even looking at them.
I listened as Ava poured out her story. The invitation was a setup. The other heiresses pretended to welcome her, but it was a trap. They plied her with alcohol, and she, not wanting to seem difficult, drank until she was dizzy. Then, as planned, they tripped her up, making her stumble and spill her drink, a spectacle of clumsiness. The friendly faces turned cruel. They took pictures, their laughter echoing around her as she begged them to stop.
And then came the worst part.
"I saw him," Ava sobbed. "My my brother. I wanted to ask him to take me home, or just to help me, but but he just looked at me like I was trash. He said I was embarrassing, that I didn't belong and should stop trying so hard."
"When I got home, my mother looked at me with the same disgust. She said I reeked of alcohol and was filthy. The dress was torn, and she just told the maid to throw it away."
"Why?" she cried. "What did I do wrong?"
My heart shattered for her. I remembered how excited she had been, asking me about etiquette. She had gone to that party full of hope. Why would they do this to her?
I soothed her over the phone until, exhausted from crying, she finally drifted off to sleep.
I couldn't hold it in any longer. I sent a message to Leo.
"Leo, I need a background check on someone."
If they were all going to hurt her, then I would be the one to protect her.
Before he could reply, a notification flashed on my screen.
[Dear Ms. Sterling, booking is now available for flight CM761]
I shot up in bed. The snow had stopped.
I was going home.
The plane landed, but my phone had died from low battery. Thankfully, Id arranged for a driver.
As I settled into the back of the extended Maybach, the driver spoke respectfully. "Miss Sterling, the Vance family is hosting a gala this evening. Your mother, Mr. Leo, and Mr. Thorne are all in attendance."
I rubbed my temples. "Take me there."
I arrived at the Vance estate and headed inside. Before I could even find Chloe, I saw a familiar figure across the room. I blinked, rubbing my eyes, but there was no mistake. It was Ava Jane, the girl Id idolized for three years.
The world was so small. The family she was trying to join was right here, in my city.
I started towards her, but Chloes mocking voice cut through the air. "You've got some nerve showing your face here again. Wasn't last time bad enough for you?"
I frowned. So Chloe was the one who had been bullying her?
Without a second thought, I walked over and stepped in front of Ava, shielding her.
Chloe stared at me. "Summer? What the hell are you doing? Are you protecting her? Have you lost your mind?"
Ava looked up, her eyes wide. I squeezed her hand and gave her a small, reassuring smile.
Then I looked up and saw my mother, my brother, and Julian all walking towards us.
Leo smiled warmly at me. "Summer, you didn't answer my messages. Why did you suddenly ask me to run a check on that girl?"
Before I could answer, Leo's expression shifted. His gaze moved past me, to the person I was protecting. His face turned to ice.
"Why are you with Summer?" he said, his voice cold. "Didn't I tell you to stop reaching for things that don't belong to you? Summer is my only sister."
I froze, my mind going blank. My mouth opened, but no sound came out.
"What did you say?" I finally managed to whisper. "Who is she?"

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