Chapter 2

2.

I dragged my heavy, aching body back to the house.

Xavier was in the kitchen, busy with pots and pans.

In all the years we had been together, I had never seen him cook a single meal.

He looked startled when he saw me come in. A flash of guilt crossed his face before he masked it with a casual greeting.

"You're back. I made some chicken and mushroom stew. Why don't you have a bowl?"

I felt a bitter laugh bubble up in my chest. I wasn't the one who liked mushrooms. Tiana was.

Actually, I was deathly allergic to them.

Tiana had once told me with a malicious grin, "I don't even like them that much. But knowing they make you miserable makes them taste delicious."

I shook my head, wanting nothing more than to go to my room and collapse.

But Xavier blocked my path. He rubbed his nose, refusing to look me in the eye.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Vivi, we need to talk about our engagement."

"Your parents have been so worried about Tiana's health. They told me Tiana's biggest regret is that she might never get to be a bride. So, we talked, and… we want to fulfill her wish."

I stood there, frozen. I felt like I had been hit by a truck.

When I didn't respond immediately, he grew annoyed.

"Don't be so selfish. She's your sister! She's so sick, and you're still holding onto some petty grudge? It's just a ceremony!"

"I agree," I whispered.

He had been ready to keep lecturing me, but he stopped mid-sentence. His eyes lit up, and he let out a huge breath.

"You really agree? That's amazing! I have to tell them the good news right away!"

"Don't worry, Vivi. You're the one I truly love. Once Tiana is better, I'll give you a wedding that's ten times bigger than this one!"

Looking at his eager face, I couldn't even force a smile. A bitter taste, like poison, spread through my entire body.

When we were younger and I used to cry to him about how unfair my parents were, he was the one who cried for me.

He used to hold my hand and promise to protect me. He said he would give me all the love my parents denied me. He swore he would never even look at my sister.

He told me Tiana was the person he hated most in this world.

And yet, here he was, glowing with joy at the thought of being hers.

Maybe the pain was just too much to handle. My vision started to go black, and I lost consciousness without warning.