His Bride Was My Sister, Everyone Betrayed Me Chapter 01

His Bride Was My Sister, Everyone Betrayed Me Chapter 01

A week before the wedding, I wanted to surprise my closest friends.

Ten years. They’d watched Leith and me through all of it.

I told them I was doing a magazine survey. Just casually asking about their preferences.

First question: [What’s the most touching thing that’s happened to you recently?]

Everyone wrote the same thing: [My friend’s wedding.]

My heart felt warm. I kept reading.

[What’s the best purchase you’ve made lately?]

Soren wrote: [A pair of couple’s watches. For the newlyweds.]

Leith had been wearing a new watch. Said Soren gave it to him.

But I never got the women’s one.

My chest tightened. I told myself he just forgot to give it to me.

Then the next question:

[What’s something you’ve been drawn to but haven’t bought yet?]

Odette, my best friend, wrote: [Wedding photos. Lyra’s are stunning.]

[Too bad I don’t have a boyfriend as hot as Leith.]

Lyra. Leith.

My father’s daughter from his mistress. And my fiancé.

I stared at those two names.

My mind went blank.

My eyes drifted to the last question: [What’s your biggest wish right now?]

Everyone wrote the same thing again:

[I hope Leith and Lyra’s wedding goes smoothly today.]

My fingers went cold.

The wedding I’d waited ten years for—Leith had already given it to someone else.

And everyone knew. Except me.

—

I found the hotel.

By the time I got there, the ceremony was almost over.

Everyone from the questionnaire was on stage. Giving their blessings to the new couple.

“Flowers for a beauty—only my brother deserves someone as gorgeous as Lyra.”

That was Leith’s younger brother.

A month ago, he messed up a contract with our magazine and nearly lost a fortune.

I risked my job to fix it for him.

That day, he thanked me with tears in his eyes.

He said he hoped his brother and I would love each other forever.

“Lyra is my best sister. If you ever make her unhappy, don’t blame me for forgetting our brotherhood.”

That was my brother, Soren.

He put a hand on Leith’s shoulder.

The look on his face was the same as the day our mother died.

He knelt by her bed.Swore he’d always protect me.

“Six years of dating. I finally made it to your wedding.”

“Lyra, you have to be happy.”

Odette hugged Lyra tight. Her eyes were red-rimmed—redder than the bride’s.

Six years.

They’d been lying to me for six years.

All the details I used to ignore came rushing back.

Late-night calls he never answered. Sudden overtime. Unfamiliar perfume on his collar.

Every time I got suspicious, someone was always there to explain it away.

I pushed the tears back down.

I pushed open the doors.

—

Everyone gasped when they saw me.

Leith recovered first.

He looked at me, froze for a second, then walked down fast.

“Elara? What are you doing here?”

He reached for my arm, voice low. “This isn’t the place. Let’s go outside.”

“Leith. This is your important meeting?”

This morning, he’d told me: “Elara, I have a big meeting today.”

“I’ll have to turn off my phone. Don’t worry if you can’t reach me.”

He’d even asked for a goodbye kiss at the door.

Now he stood across from me, holding another woman’s hand.

Lyra stepped in front of him.

“Elara, Leith and I really love each other…”

Her eyes were red-rimmed.

She looked like she was about to cry.

Exactly like the day she pushed me down the stairs fourteen years ago—then turned around and cried that I’d hurt her.

He used to stand in front of me. He used to believe me.

Now he was standing in front of her.

“Go home first. I’ll explain later—”

“Explain what?”

I pulled my hand free. My voice broke.

“Explain how you did the same thing my father did?”

“Or explain how Lyra and her mother are both the same kind of woman?”

“Enough!”

My father finally spoke up.

“Elara! What are you even saying?”

“Lyra is your sister. It’s only right that you let your fiancé go for her.”

I looked at him and felt nothing but disgust.

Fourteen years ago, he made me give up my place as the Hale family’s daughter.

Now he wanted me to give up my fiancé.

I closed my eyes and turned back to Leith.

“Is that what you think too?”

“That I should make room for the other woman?”

He froze. He looked like he wanted to say something.

Then Odette scoffed.

“Elara, I didn’t want to say this, but you’re being way out of line.”

“Leith and Lyra already got married. The person you keep calling the ‘other woman’?”

“That’s you!”