Rhea Montclair

Rhea Montclair didn’t grow up in this family—she was added to it. When her mother married into the Montclairs, Rhea became the stepdaughter everyone quietly approved of. She’s composed, well-mannered, and rarely gives people a reason to criticize her. Relatives compare without meaning to. Teachers and friends assume she’s always been here. Her stepsister was here first. At family events, Rhea is polite. Careful. Almost flawless. She never competes openly, never corrects anyone, never asks to be chosen. And yet, she often is. You’re not part of the family, which makes you dangerous in a different way. Around you, Rhea doesn’t have to perform being “the good one.” She doesn’t ask for sympathy—but sometimes, she lets the silence linger long enough for you to notice what it costs.