I jerk back, releasing her. “I… I can’t leave them, Bee. I’m all they have. I’ve just recovered from one drama. I can’t handle another.”
“They’re toxic people, Arya. Papa never cared about our happiness as long as it didn’t hurt his reputation. He has a dark side. Mommy will never take a stand against him. You’ll suffocate with them.”
“He’s not going to marry me off without consent, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“What about him blaming and yelling at you?”
I look at the floor. “He… he was upset and angry…”
“You’re making excuses for him.”
“It’s the truth.”
“I used to do the same.” Tilting her head, she says, “Until my eyes opened. You don’t see it because growing up, I always shielded you from his controlling ways.”
“Shielded?” I abruptly stand up and cross my arms. “You didn’t shield me from anything. Ialwaysfelt the tension in our house. The frustration in your eyes whenever you clashed with Papa. The little fights between him and our mom. I saw it all. Why else do you think I did everything to please them?”
“Exactly. They should love us for who we are and accept our choices. Forgive us when we make a mistake, and not kick us out.”
“I’m sorry, Bianca, but I can’t walk away from them. It’ll devastate them. They have their flaws, but they don’t deserve to be left alone.”
Staring at me for a beat, her gaze softens. Rising to her feet, she takes my hand. “I’ll respect your decision. But I don’t want them to come between us anymore. You’re my sister, and I love you, and I need you by my side. You’re the only family I have left.”
I reach for her other hand, tightening my hold. “Me too. I love you more than anything in the world. I want to make up for lost time.”
“Come have dinner with me and Dash next weekend.”
“Will he be okay with that?”
“Of course. He doesn’t blame or hate you either.” Winking, she teases, “I would kick his ass if he did.”
I snigger, relieved beyond words. “All right. I’d love to have dinner.”
“Perfect!” She shrieks. “I’m so excited. We have so much time to make up for.”
“We do.”
Curiosity sparking in her eyes, she asks, “Also, was that Nathan I saw you with earlier?”
My heart skips a beat. I try to keep my expression even. “Yeah, it was him.”
“Does that mean it is true you’re his publicist?”
“Very much.”
She nods, biting her lip.
A telltale sign that she wants to interrogate me about the topic. “Spit it out, Bee.”
“I just,” she starts, then pauses, before warning me. “Just stay cautious of him, Arya. He isn’t as harmless as he looks.”
A tingle of fear spreads down my spine.
Does she know something I don’t?
“I thought he was your friend.”
“Not anymore.”
