His Bride Was My Sister, Everyone Betrayed Me Chapter 02

His Bride Was My Sister, Everyone Betrayed Me Chapter 02

Odette faltered when she caught my expression—but she still turned on the projector.

Photos lit up the screen.

The one that caught my eye was a marriage license.

[Leith & Lyra.]

Their names side by side, no space between them. No room for a third.

I stared at the date. June 13th.

My birthday.

That day, I was alone at the office.

Not a single message came through.

That night, Leith brought me a small cake.

He said he’d been swamped with work and would make it up to me later.

He hadn’t been working.

He’d been applying for a marriage license.

And the cake he brought me—it was the exact same one on the screen.

The one that said “Happily ever after”.

Tears slid down my face.

The familiar lines of his face blurred into something I didn’t recognize anymore.

I dug my nails into my palm.

“So next week’s wedding—what was that? A consolation prize?”

Leith sighed.

He reached out and brushed the tears from my cheeks.

“Elara, I do love you. But Lyra’s been with me for six years without a name. That’s not fair to her.”

“The wedding next week will go on as planned.”

“Other than the license, Lyra has everything she has. You’ll get everything too.”

I stepped back like I’d been slapped. My ears rang.

“You’re asking me to be the other woman?”

My mother had withered away because of that title. I’d been afraid of marriage ever since.

Leith waited for me, year after year.

He promised he’d never let me end up like my mother.

Now he was nailing me to that same cross.

He must’ve remembered too.

His hand hung in the air, his face unreadable.

Soren walked over and sighed.

He reached out and smoothed my hair the way he used to when we were kids.

“Elara, the one who isn’t loved is the one who’s the other woman.”

“You and Lyra are both my sisters. We should all get along.”

“Lyra has already given way to you for six years. That’s generous enough.”

He actually called the mistress’s daughter his sister.

And there was pity in his voice.

But when my mother was dying, he dropped out of school and came home.

The first thing he did was cut ties with the Hale family.

He swore he’d never acknowledge the mistress’s daughter as his sister.

I held back my tears and stared at him.

“She’s your sister? Does Mom know?”

His whole body went stiff.

“Elara, there’s no need to be bitter about this. Mom got sick because she had you.”

“And I’m only looking out for you—Lyra is already pregnant.”

“Isn’t it better to accept the situation sooner?”

I turned slowly and looked at Leith.

“She’s pregnant?”

“Yes.”

He cleared his throat and took my hand.

“You’ve always wanted a child.”

“Lyra agreed that when the baby comes, she’ll give them to you. You should be grateful to her.”

His eyes were gentle—the same warmth he showed me on those nights when we talked about having children.

Back then, he said: “Elara, I only want children with you.”

Now he said: “The baby will be yours.”

The nausea hit like a wave.

I bent over and started vomiting.

Leith’s expression shifted. He moved to catch me.

Then Lyra’s eyes reddened.

“Sister, I’ve already given in so much. Do you really have to act like this?”

His hand pulled back. His face went cold.

“Elara, don’t be ungrateful.”

“Go home. The wedding will go on next week. Or else…”

Marrying Leith had been my mother’s dying wish.

Even now, he was using it against me.

The last thread snapped.

I stood up, tears still on my face.

“There’s no need for a wedding. I wish you both a long and happy life together.”

I walked out.

On my way out of the hotel, my phone lit up.

New York—the final confirmation for my transfer.

If I went, I’d become editor-in-chief.

I used to say no—for Leith.

This time, I confirmed.