Chapter 4
1333 Words
The air at my parents' house was thick with the scent of expensive catering and my mother’s favorite lilies. Crystal glasses clinked, and soft jazz played in the background. It was supposed to be a night of celebration, a night to welcome Jade into our family.
But to me, it felt like a funeral.
I stood in the corner of the living room, gripping a glass of sparkling cider. My hand was steady, but inside, I was screaming. I watched Leo. He looked so handsome in his navy suit, his face glowing as he introduced Jade to our old aunts and family friends.
And Jade? She was a masterpiece. She wore a deep red dress that made her look like a queen. She laughed at the right times, touched Leo’s arm perfectly, and looked like the happiest woman in the world. Nobody else saw the predator behind the pearls.
"Alana, darling, you look pale," my mother said, stepping up to me. She adjusted the strap of my dress. "Are you still feeling unwell? Leo said you were a bit shaky at the fitting."
"I’m fine, Mom," I lied, forced a smile. "Just a lot of work."
"Well, look at them," Mom sighed, looking toward Leo and Jade. "I never thought Leo would find someone so perfect. She’s so attentive to him. It’s like she’s been waiting for him her whole life."
She wasn't waiting for him, I thought bitterly. She was hunting for me.
At that moment, Jade looked over Leo’s shoulder. Her eyes locked onto mine across the crowded room. She didn’t smile. She just watched me, her gaze heavy and dark, reminding me of the night before. Reminding me of the rain and the kiss.
"I'm going to get some air," I whispered to my mother.
I slipped out the sliding glass doors into the backyard. The night air was cool, a relief from the stifling heat of the party. I walked toward the edge of the garden, near the old oak tree where Leo and I used to play as kids. I leaned my head against the rough bark, closing my eyes.
"Running away again, Alana?"
I didn't even have to open my eyes to know it was her. The smell of sandalwood reached me first. I heard the soft click of her heels on the stone path.
"Leave me alone, Jade," I said, my eyes still shut. "Go back to your fiancé. Go play the perfect bride."
"He’s busy talking to your father about real estate," Jade said. She was standing right behind me now. I could feel the heat of her body. "He doesn't miss me yet."
I turned around, my back against the tree. "How can you do this? How can you stand there and lie to my parents? To my brother? They are good people. They don't deserve this."
Jade stepped into my space, trapping me against the oak tree just like she used to trap me against the lockers. "I told you, Alana. This isn't about them. It was never about them."
She reached out, her thumb brushing my lower lip. "You’re wearing the lipstick I like. Did you do that for me?"
"No," I lied, though my heart was pounding so hard I was sure she could hear it.
"Liar," she whispered.
She leaned in, her face inches from mine. I knew I should push her away. I knew I should scream for Leo to come out and see the truth. But my body wouldn't move. I was paralyzed by the history between us the pain she had caused and the strange, dark attraction that had grown out of it.
Suddenly, we heard footsteps on the patio.
"Jade? Alana? Are you out here?" It was Leo.
We froze. Jade didn't jump back. She slowly pulled her hand away from my face, her eyes never leaving mine. She looked completely calm, while I felt like I was about to explode.
"Over here, Leo!" Jade called out, her voice shifting back into that sweet, innocent tone.
Leo walked down the garden path, looking confused. "What are you two doing out here in the dark?"
"I found Alana looking a bit overwhelmed," Jade said smoothly. She reached out and took Leo’s hand, interlacing her fingers with his. It felt like a slap to my face. "I was just telling her how excited I am to be her sister. I think she’s just a little sentimental about you getting married."
Leo’s expression softened. He walked over and wrapped his free arm around my shoulders, pulling me into a half-hug. I was sandwiched between my brother and the woman who was secretly haunting me.
"Oh, Lana," Leo said, kissing the top of my head. "Don't be sad. You're not losing a brother. You're gaining a sister. Jade is going to be the best thing that ever happened to this family."
"I know," I choked out. The guilt was so thick I could taste it.
"Come on," Leo said, tugging us back toward the house. "Dad is about to give the toast. We need to be inside."
We walked back into the light of the party. My father stood at the head of the table, holding a glass of champagne. Everyone went quiet.
"To Leo and Jade," my father began, his voice booming with happiness. "May your marriage be as strong as your love. And to Jade welcome to the family. We’ve wanted a daughter like you for a long time."
Everyone cheered. Leo beamed. Jade smiled, looking like a literal angel.
But as the toast ended, Jade leaned over to "whisper" something to Leo. As she did, her hand dropped beneath the table. She found my hand under the tablecloth and squeezed it tight. Her nails dug into my skin, a sharp, hidden reminder of who she really was.
I looked down at my plate, my eyes filling with tears.
Later that night, as the party was winding down, I found myself alone in the kitchen, helping clean up. I saw Jade’s clutch purse sitting on the counter. She must have forgotten it when she went to say goodbye to some guests.
I shouldn't have looked. But I was desperate for something anything to use against her.
I opened the bag. Inside was her phone, a lipstick, and a small, folded piece of paper. I pulled it out. It was a legal document. A private investigator’s report.
I scanned the lines quickly. My breath caught in my throat.
The report wasn't about me. It was about Leo. It listed his bank accounts, his business partners, and a secret debt he had been hiding from our family a debt that was massive.
Jade didn't just want me. She knew Leo was in trouble. She was using her own money to pay off his debts in secret, buying her way into our family so she could own all of us.
She wasn't just a bully. She was a savior with a very dark price tag.
I heard the kitchen door swing open. I shoved the paper back into the bag, but I was too slow. Jade was standing in the doorway, her arms crossed. The "sweet" mask was gone. Her eyes were cold as ice.
"You really shouldn't look in other people's bags, Alana," she said softly. "You might find things you aren't ready to handle."
"You're buying him," I whispered, my voice shaking. "You're paying off his debts so he’ll be indebted to you forever."
Jade walked toward me, her heels clicking on the tile. "I’m saving him. Without me, your brother goes to prison for fraud. I’m the only reason your parents still have their house."
She stopped right in front of me, her eyes boring into mine. "So, you see, Alana? You can’t tell him. Because if you ruin us, you ruin him, too. You’re stuck with me. Forever."
She leaned in, her lips brushing my ear. "And the best part is... you know you want to be."
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