Olivia’s face brightens when she sees me approaching. “Aurora! Finally! I’ve been looking everywhere for you.” She twirls, her dress catching the light. “What do you think? Does the mask work with the dress? Hunter had it specially made.”
The guilt twists deeper in my stomach at the mention of his name.
“You look stunning,” I say honestly. “The belle of the ball.”
She laughs, squeezing my hand. “Says the woman in that incredible black gown. You’re turning more heads than I am.”
“Please. This old thing?” I gesture dramatically at my dress, falling into our familiar pattern of banter.
“Oh, stop. I saw at least three executives nearly walk into walls watching you cross the room.” She lowers her voice conspiratorially. “Including that gorgeous VP from Hunter’s R&D department.”
I force a smile, my resolve strengthening. “Speaking of Hunter… Liv, I need to talk to you about something.”
Her expression shifts to concern. “What’s wrong? You look serious.”
“Not here,” I say, scanning the crowded ballroom. “Somewhere private.”
I spot a small alcove tucked behind a massive floral arrangement, partially hidden from the main room but still within sight of Ari. Perfect.
“Come with me,” I say, taking her hand and guiding her toward the alcove.
“You’re scaring me,” Olivia says as we move away from the crowd. “Is everything okay?”
“Just... something important we need to discuss,” I manage, my heart pounding as I lead her into the secluded space.
Once we’re tucked into the alcove, all my carefully rehearsed words evaporate. Olivia stands before me, eyes bright and trusting behind her beautiful mask.
“What’s this about, Aurora?” She tilts her head, sensing my discomfort.
I take a deep breath, my fingers instinctively finding the diamond necklace Hunter gave me. “It’s about Hunter.”
“Is something wrong with the engagement?” Concern crosses her features.
“Liv, I’ve been sleeping with Hunter.” The words tumble out unfiltered. “We almost kissed before the engagement was announced, but... It’s continued since then.”
Olivia goes completely still. For a moment, I wonder if she heard me. Then I see her eyes widen behind her mask, pupils dilating.
“You’re joking.” Her voice comes out flat. “This is some sick joke.”
“I wish it were.” The guilt claws at my throat. “I never meant for it to happen. We met that day at my dad’s cliff house when I was standing near the edge?—”
“Stop.” One gloved hand raises between us. “You expect me to believe my sister and my fiancé have been having an affair this entire time?”
“When he approached Dad about the engagement, he had believed after we met at my dad’s old house that I was Olivia Harrison. It was a misunderstanding.”
Her laugh cuts me off, sharp and brittle. “A misunderstanding? And what about these weeks, where you’ve continued while I plan our wedding? You should have told me!”
“Liv, please?—”
“My own sister.” Her disbelief crystallizes into something harder, colder. “All those times you helped me plan the wedding. All those conversations about Hunter.” Her voice drops to a whisper. “You sat there and watched me talk about him while knowing...”
The color drains from her face, replaced by a spreading flush. Her perfectly assembled composure slips, revealing rage I’ve rarely seen in my sister.
“You’ve always been like this,” she says. “Taking what isn’t yours.”
Her eyes narrow behind the intricate mask, no longer the soft, forgiving sister I’ve known all my life. This Olivia is someone with ice in her veins.
“I was going to tell you,” I say, my voice cracking at the edges. “That night when we were discussing your feelings toward him, I was planning to confess everything then.”
