Chapter 3

"Vera, I raised you to have a conscience. How did you become so twisted and unreasonable?"

"You stabbed Lexi, and then you had the nerve to go and provoke her while she was recovering! Is there any limit to your cruelty?"

"You've embarrassed the entire Vaughn family. You are going to her room right now to apologize."

"Do it, or don't call me your brother ever again. You make me sick."

My brother's shouting snapped me back to reality.

I stared at him, unable to believe he was choosing Lexi over his own flesh and blood.

But then again, this wasn't the first time.

Whenever it came down to me versus Lexi, the two men I loved most always chose her.

I was always the one who was discarded.

Lexi Leighton was my college roommate. Unlike me, she was wealthy, beautiful, and possessed an effortless grace. She was the IT girl on campus from day one.

Back then, we were close. She never looked down on me and introduced me to a world I never knew existed.

If anyone called me her lackey, she'd snap back at them and tell everyone I was her best friend.

I was truly grateful for her back then.

When Vance found out, he insisted on taking her out to dinner to thank her.

He spent his meager savings to take us to a high-end restaurant.

But when we got to the door, Lexi just smiled and said, "I'm bored of fancy food. Let's go grab some burgers instead."

She never acted like she was better than us. She fit right in.

Naturally, Vance fell in love with her.

I just didn't realize it would turn into a full-blown obsession.

I didn't realize he would turn on the sister he promised to protect just to please her.

The sound of his voice was making my head pound. I covered my ears, wanting it all to stop.

Vance took my silence as defiance. He stepped forward and slapped me across the face.

The sting was sharp.

"It was Lexi..." I whispered, my voice trembling.

But he didn't let me finish.

"Vera, you stole Xavier from her years ago and almost drove her to suicide. Now you're trying to blame her for your own mess?"

I met Xavier through Lexi, that much was true.

But I never stole him.

Xavier was the student body president and was supposed to host a major gala with Lexi. She got sick and couldn't make it, so she recommended me to fill in.

Working with him during rehearsals, I fell for him.

But I knew life wasn't a fairy tale. A guy like Xavier Sterling was meant for a girl like Lexi, not a plain girl like me.

I hid my feelings. I was content just being his friend, cherishing the small moments we shared.

Everything changed when Lexi decided to move to Europe.

The night she left, Xavier asked me out for drinks.

We both drank too much. We made a mistake that we couldn't take back.

The next morning, Xavier was cold, but he said he would take responsibility.

So, I married him. I became the envied Mrs. Sterling.

Vance never missed a chance to mock me, saying I was a peasant trying to play queen.

He was convinced I had seduced Xavier to spite Lexi.

I tried to explain the truth so many times, but he never believed me.

He only ever believed Lexi.