Chapter 1

LENNOX 

‘You said we are just friends. But friends don't know the way you taste. Lalala.’ 

I sing along to the music blaring inside my car to reduce the tension pulsing through my veins as I make my way to my parent’s house.

An urgent gathering was scheduled through the family group and it made me uneasy. After attending multiple family gatherings since I was young, I could tell nothing good comes out of them.

I pull up in the garage and once I am out of the car, my eyes fall on a red Aston Martin parked at the far end of the garage.

It reminded me of someone. Someone who made my life a mess.

Ugly thoughts carve their way into my mind but I am fast to shake them off. It isn’t the time to think about some toxic ex-boyfriend.

I take a deep breath and head into the house, where, of course, everyone is seated in the dining room, a serious expression on their faces.

No one welcomes me like they always do and the silence in the room makes my stomach twist.

Did someone die?

“I’m home.” I announce, walking towards the empty space between Mom and Grandma Danny. “Why is everyone serious? Did someone die?” I say in an attempt to lift the mood, but no one finds it funny.

Dad straightens up, his face gives nothing away, making me more uneasy. “Liana has something to inform us, hence the reason for this meeting.”

My gaze whips in the direction of my older sister, Liana, whose lips stretch into a wide smile, like she just won a lottery. “Yes. I do have an announcement to make.”

Liana places both her hands on the table and that is when I catch the glittering ring on her finger. 

She is engaged?

“I’m engaged.” A giggle rips off her throat as she flash her ring finger to everyone around the table.

“Wow, congratulations, Sis.” A genuine smile stretches across my lips. I am truly happy for her. “The latest bride in town.”

Mama shifts in her seat uncomfortably as she proceeds to ask. “Last I checked, Liana, you didn’t have a boyfriend.” 

It seems I am not the only one who doesn’t know her fiancé or who she is dating.

“Yes, we were dating in secret.” She pushes a strand of stray hair behind her ear with the ring finger and I can’t help but chuckle.

A show-off already?

Grandma Danny clears her throat, her wrinkled hands tightens around her walking stick. “So who is the lucky guy?”

Liana stares at me as she opens her mouth to speak. “Joshua Rufus.”

My jaw drops and the smile on my lips wipes off instantly. My stomach twists for the third time since the gathering was announced.

Joshua Rufus? My ex-boyfriend?

My mouth opens to speak but no word comes out. Luckily for me, Mom does the talking. “You mean Joshua Rufus? Lennox’s ex boyfriend?”

The smile on Liana’s lips disappears as well and is replaced with a frown. “They weren’t serious. It was a measly fling.”

I am sure she is aware of how bad our relationship ended after I caught him cheating on me. Liana is damn aware of how it took a year to get my messy life together after our toxic breakup, yet she calls it a measly fling?

“They dated for three years, Liana, and you were very aware of it.” Grandma Danny’s voice tightens in disapproval.

“But that doesn’t mean I can’t be with him. They weren’t made for each other.” She merely dismisses what Grandma says like it doesn’t matter.

“Why Joshua?” I finally find my voice, although it trails off with each word, giving away the fact I am affected by her sudden engagement announcement to my ex-boyfriend.

“Why not him?” Her gaze falls on me. “We fell in love six months after your breakup, so we did nothing wrong.”

I scoff in disbelief, my hands trembling beneath the table. 

“You can’t marry him.” Dad shakes his head in disapproval, his voice firm. “Not when I am alive.”

“You can’t stop me, Dad.” Liana backs out a crazy laugh as her hand drops to her stomach.

My eyes went wide in total disbelief and best believe I went pale instantly.

She is pregnant.

“Why not?” Grandma Danny slams her walking stick against the floor.

“Because I’m pregnant for him and we will do the wedding with or without your blessing.”

My entire body goes rigid. “You….you are pregnant?”

“Yes.” Her voice is filled with so much contentment and happiness, it makes me want to throw up. “And here’s another announcement, our wedding will be taking place next month. I wouldn’t want my baby bump pushing through my wedding dress.”

The need to throw up is overwhelming and I’m barely holding out as my eyes blurs with tears. 

I am not close to breaking down in tears because of Joshua and my sister’s betrayal, but because it took me a whole year to pull myself together, whereas, it took him just six months to move on, with not just any woman, but my older sister.

I push myself up from my seat and stagger backward before I am able to balance myself. “I…I am leaving.”

I don’t want to break down in front of everyone. I don’t want them to think I haven’t moved on yet.

I did. But it still hurts like a punch to the gut.

Just when I’m about to walk out, Liana’s voice has me halting on my track. “Little sister, will you do me a favour of being my maid of honor at my wedding?”

I glance over my shoulder, forcing a smile as my stomach churns. “Sure, why not?”

Once I am out of the house, I rush to the backyard and throw up every meal I’ve had. I couldn’t hold it in. Liana’s betrayal hit harder than a blow.

Relief hits me after emptying my stomach and almost immediately, a message from an old college classmate pops up.