His Bride Was My Sister, Everyone Betrayed Me Chapter 09

His Bride Was My Sister, Everyone Betrayed Me Chapter 09

I turned to Soren.

“So no, Soren. I don’t blame you.”

“But I don’t want to see you anymore.”

“Let me keep the memory of you the way you were on the day Mom died.”

His pupils shrank. His face went grey.

I looked away and turned to Odette.

Twenty years of friendship.

She’d meant as much to me as Soren.

I said, “I know I wasn’t always there for you. Work got in the way.”

“But that doesn’t excuse what you did.”

“I don’t blame you. But I don’t forgive you either.”

Her eyes filled with tears.

She opened her mouth. Only three words came out

“I’m sorry.”

I turned away.

“If you’re really sorry–take Leith with you.”

“From now on, I’m done with the past. I’m living for myself.”

I walked forward, leaving their voices behind.

That night, the three of them argued for hours.

I never knew what they said.

But by morning, all three were gone.

From what I heard later, they’d all gone back to Florida–but their lives had changed completely.

The old group fell apart. No one stayed close.

Leith left the city entirely

He built a small cabin in the woods and cut himself off from everyone.

No women around him. No one at all.

His divorce from Lyra went through quickly.

She’d faked the pregnancy. The court ruled in his favor.

She got nothing–the prenup held.

She went back to the Hales–but there was nothing left.

Her family’s company was already falling apart.

They’d pushed Lyra toward Leith to save themselves.

Now Leith’s family was crushing them instead.

The Hales went bankrupt.

Lyra’s parents sold her off to an older man for money.

Her mother took the cash and ran.

My father tried to find Soren.

But he didn’t know Soren had sold his shares before leaving the country.

The money he’d made from that sale was transferred to me through a lawyer.

Soren disappeared.

Odette went back to her hometown.

She married a quiet man and lived a simple life.

No more friends. No more parties. Just work and home.

She said it was the most peaceful she’d ever felt.

My life was different now.

Kind people surrounded me.

Aldric was more than a boss–I could see it in the way he looked at me.

Not as a friend. Not as an employee.

As someone he cared for.

I closed the chat where old friends asked about the past.

I didn’t want to know anymore.

I was looking at a survey.

[Modern Women’s Views on Love and Marriage.]

My eyes stopped at the last question:

[What kind of wedding do you want?]

I could almost feel the person behind the question, waiting for my answer.

I glanced back.

Aldric kept walking past my desk, trying to look casual, sneaking looks at my screen.

I watched him pretend not to care. But he clearly did.

And it made my chest warm.

Once, I was the one planning surprises for others.

Now I was the one being treated with care.

I smiled and typed:

“As long as it’s real–anything will do.”