Between her tears, and his lies

away. Marble floors gleamed beneath my feet, reflecting the crystal chandelier that hung like a jewel

stiff bow and a polite smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Miss Zara, welcome. Mr.

shed floors. Each step I took felt heavier than the last. There was no warm

golds. A large window overlooked a serene garden, and plush furniture filled with hi

s al

ai

of the king-sized bed, and allowed myself to feel it-this strange mix of awe

I scrambled for it, my heart inexplicably skipping a

nswered, my

t not unkind. "We'll discuss arrangements over br

that, the

o inquiry. Ju

c little thing-hope, maybe? I hated that I felt

utler again. "Miss Zara, the wedding planner and

he front of my dress.

-

tes, dress sketches-all elegant, all expensive. I gave my input, but truthfully, I couldn't muster much

s restless, and I knew there was only one place

ded a

ded c

just needed someone

-

t still looked like the home I remembered, but colder now, distant somehow. T

smile. "Is

roll, she disappea

ating. The walls seemed to echo with memor

h

lit up the s

ap. For a second, I couldn't move. I just stood ther

fury. "You threw your sister out over a man. What if she ha

n't said a word. I hadn't even

idn't

ed about my sid

little dignity I had left. But I stayed, like I always

ose ap

rse sh

ess, face crumpling just enough to

mother's side. "It's not her fault that she

caught in

love Mark, Zara. But he loves me. And I love him too. I even told

ould have

esigned to hurt

was playing my mom like a violin, tears flowing, vo

around her. "Oh, Rose. M

ited. "And you," she hissed, slapping

d be ashamed. You're her elder sister. It's your duty to pro

rom pain, but from the

one who go

ne who got

I was-being p

ping my head high even as my hea

out a new dress she bought, her tears already for

there, i

ant

lo

with disdain. "Go and change. Dinner

-

conversation with exaggerated stories of shopping, spa days, and luxurious dreams. My f

e doorb

instantly. "Tha

fr

ooing like a love-struck teenager. "Hi, baby.

ached. Laughter

ark wa

painfully. He loo

ance-it was the way he looked at her. A

, parading him in front of us with smug sati

even gla

ars not to fall. I'd cried enough. I

o loud, replaying memories, dissecting pain. The smiles. The giggles.

th

ared her

stood, still

e have somethi

dreading wh

g smile on her face. "And we've decided

orld

dn't b

h other like a couple out of a movie. Ma

uld've

supposed

yself there. Imagined him beside me. Imagined a

s, but I refused to let them fal

-the news about Dominic, about

as the

no f

ne s

e cho

nt, something in

nd calculated be

longer be

nger apologiz

thinking maybe, just maybe, they wo

I knew t

never

ever forgive

ter's wedding. I woul

ould cut

of t

efore

get my

girl they turned their

ust bidin

verything-I would ma