I Thought She Was a Replacement

Chapter 6 I'm Just His Sister

Savannah's attention immediately shifted to the gift box in his hands. Her eyes lit up.

"Is that for me?"

Anthony nodded and opened the box.

The moment the necklace caught the light, the room erupted in excited gasps.

"Oh my God! That's the pink diamond necklace! Mr. Hester is spoiling you!"

"Isn't that the one someone bought at auction for eight figures for his girlfriend? Was that you?"

A girl giggled. "Well, who else could it be? Of course it was Mr. Hester!"

"I'm so jealous."

Under the lights, the pink diamond necklace shimmered like a tiny piece of sunset. Liliana stared at it. Her vision suddenly blurred.

She quickly grabbed a drink from the table and swallowed it in one gulp.

But the strange taste burned down her throat. Her head began to spin slightly.

Meanwhile, Savannah had already slipped her arm through Anthony's again.

"Anthony," she said playfully, her voice sweet.

"So for the five years I was abroad... You really stayed faithful to me? You're the best."

She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek in front of everyone.

Anthony didn't stop her. The room erupted into teasing whistles and cheers.

Liliana sat alone in a seat in the corner. A single tear slipped quietly down her cheek.

She had promised herself she would cut Anthony out of her life. But somehow, seeing this still hurt so much she could barely breathe.

Savannah suddenly turned toward her again. A faint trace of provocation flickered in her smile.

"So tell me, Anthony. What exactly is your relationship with Lyla?"

Liliana's heart sank. She looked at Anthony.

He lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Liliana drank another glass and another. Tears blurred her vision again. Finally, she answered for him.

"I'm just his sister."

Savannah's suppressed smile widened instantly.

"Oh! So you're his sister!"

She happily linked arms with Liliana. "Then I'll call you my sister from now on too!"

She glanced between Anthony and Liliana.

"Anthony and I grew up together. When I left to study abroad, he cried so hard. He kept texting me the whole time..."

She sighed dramatically. "I was just so busy with school back then. I didn't spend enough time with him and ended up hurting him! But now that I'm back... I'm going to make it up to him!"

Liliana stood frozen.

So that was the truth.

Five years ago, Anthony had been devastated, completely broken.

And it had all been because Savannah left.

Love and indifference really were that obvious. She really should leave.

Liliana slipped quietly into a seat in the corner. At Savannah's signal, a waiter arrived carrying a tray full of beer.

Savannah walked straight over to her. "Lyla, do you drink? Why don't we have one together?"

She placed a glass into Liliana's hand.

Liliana hadn't even answered yet. The glass was already in her hand.

She froze.

When Liliana didn't respond, Savannah's tone changed slightly. "What's wrong? Are you refusing to drink with me?"

Then she turned to Anthony with a pout. "Anthony... Does she not like me? She won't even have a drink with me..."

Liliana lowered her eyes. Memories surged through her mind.

Five years ago, Anthony had gotten drunk after a bad day.

Liliana had tried to stop him.

Instead, he shoved a glass toward her and said stubbornly, "You want me to listen to you? Fine. Drink all of this, and I'll listen to whatever you say."

Liliana picked up the glass without hesitation and finished it.

That night, she discovered she was severely allergic to alcohol.

Her body broke out in painful hives. Anthony had rushed her to the hospital himself.

He stayed by her bedside all night.

When she woke up, his eyes were bloodshot. He had punched the hospital wall until his knuckles bled, his voice hoarse as he swore to her.

"I'm sorry, Lyla. I didn't know you were allergic. I promise you, I will never, ever make you drink again. We're done with alcohol!"

*****

Liliana looked up, locking eyes with Anthony, waiting for him to intervene and protect her.

But he simply looked back at her in silence. He didn't say a word.

Liliana's chest tightened. She smiled bitterly.

'I should have known. What was I even expecting?'

She raised the glass Savannah had given her, tilted her head back, and downed the liquor.

Whatever cheap alcohol was in the glass burned its way down to her stomach.

Savannah clapped her hands with a laugh. "Wow! Impressive!"

Within minutes, the alcohol began reacting with Liliana's body. Red hives spread across her skin.

But she kept drinking, one glass after another, as if the physical pain could drown out the pain in her chest.

Maybe if her body hurt enough, her heart would finally stop aching.

Seeing her break out in hives, panic finally shattered Anthony's calm facade. He shot up from his seat, roaring.

"Enough! Stop drinking!"

But by then, Liliana's head was spinning. Her body swayed. And then she collapsed sideways.

In the final moment before her vision went dark, she thought she saw Anthony rushing toward her.

His brows were tightly furrowed. Panic filled his eyes.

For a brief second, it felt like five years ago again, when he had still cared about her.

His fingers brushed the fabric of her shirt, but he was a second too late.

A loud crash echoed through the room. Liliana fell hard to the floor.