Arlene
"Arlene."
The sound of my name made me pause just as I was about to enter the building. I froze for a moment, instantly recognizing the voice, and turned slowly.
Lucas.
He approached me with the hesitant air of a man unsure whether to smile or grovel. His usual confidence had evaporated, leaving behind something pitiful—almost pleading.
"Lucas," I muttered, my voice cold and detached. A surge of revulsion swept through me. I wasn't angry that he'd moved on; it was who he had moved on with that made my stomach churn. Daisy—my sister. Of all people.
It only confirmed what I had refused to acknowledge before: Lucas had likely never loved me. He had been fulfilling a family obligation, going through the motions for appearances' sake.
His family's plan was obvious now—engaging him
