Tyler arrives quickly, breathless, tie crooked, and a fake smile plastered on his face. Several women chide him for “seeing the bride” before the wedding, but he easily charms his way past them. He stops short whenhe sees my expression.
“What’s wrong, baby?” he asks, searching my face for clues. “I’m not supposed to see you in your dress yet.”
I flick my perfectly manicured fingers toward Belladonna’s phone, which still has his text messages open. She holds it up like a badge of dishonor.
His face drains of color, and he quickly looks away. The man says nothing in defense.
Coward.
The room around us has grown silent, everyone sensing something bad has happened. I hear the wedding coordinator murmur, “Let’s give them a minute.” People leave the room until it’s just the three of us.
The silence between all of us stretches on for what feels like forever. It’s thick and suffocating. I watch both squirm and say nothing.
“Well?” I say casually. “I hear you’re in love with each other.”
Tyler swallows nervously and lets out a big sigh. “This isn’t what it looks like, baby.”
Just hearing him call me baby makes me want to gag. My sister bristles as if that’sherpet name and I stole it from her. She can have it.
Belladonna scoffs and whines. “Tyler. She knows.”
I tilt my head and say, “Yes. I know. You’ve been sleeping with my sister for five months.She’syour ‘baby.’”
Tyler winces. “Silvie, don’t be absurd. At least let me explain.”
And the gaslighting begins. I shake my head and laugh at being called absurd. As if I’m the one who did this.
Belladonna lets out an exasperated sigh. “Just admit it, Tyler.”
“Please do. Tell me,” I say as I drag my gaze over him, trying to understand what I ever saw in this man.
He runs a hand through his perfectly styled hair, messing it up. “It wasn’t our fault. It just...happened.”
Accidents happen. Like spilling milk or backing into another car. Their affair was premeditated, sneaky, and well thought out. Anger burns hot in my veins, chasing away the panicky feeling from earlier.
My gut tried to tell me…
“It just happened,” I mutter, mimicking his words. “Andwhosefault was it?”
I want to scream at the both of them. I’m so freaking mad.
“You’ve been working so much,” he explains, looking at Belladonna for help. “And, with the wedding planning, you were so distant. I got lonely.”
Distant. Wow. I was working and planning our wedding. Doing all of it by myself, I might add. He played golf, worked meager hours, and obviously was busy screwing my sister. I see where his priorities were.
I glance down at my expensive dress that now feels completely ridiculous. There were thousands of tiny buttons that required a special hook to button them, and it took over an hour to get them on. I can’t even imagine how long it’s going to take to get off.
“So, you repeatedly slept with my sister, and it’smyfault? Is that what I’m hearing?”
Clarity matters.
Belladonna huffs. “Whatever, Silvie. It’s not like that.”
I look at her. “It isn’t?”
“He lovesme,” she bites out. “Not you. Me.”
Her words, shot out at me like arrows, don’t penetrate. Belladonna makes everything about her, so this response is expected.
