Chapter 4

Lilly 

My mouth went dry as everyone gathered around Alina, whose face wore a dazzling, victorious smile. She was breathtaking, more radiant than she had been two years ago.

Victor didn't even see me. He walked straight to her, his gaze locked on hers, and claimed her lips in a deep, possessive kiss.

“Welcome home, baby. Happy birthday,” he murmured against her skin.

The room seemed to forget I existed, until Alina’s eyes locked onto mine.

“Why are you staring, sister? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Did you wish I’d died in that accident so you could keep living my life?”

I watched, my lips shivering in realization. Had she planned this all along?

“Alina?” I managed to whisper, trembling.

“That’s me, Liliana.” She walked toward me, her heels clicking like a countdown. “Sometimes I wonder how vile you can be. You sacrificed your own legs just to try and kill me? Why?”

The room gasped. The crowd turned on me instantly. 

She wanted to kill her sister?

How wicked?

She deserves everything happening to her.

“What are you doing?” I questioned, fighting back the tears. “Why are you doing this? I remember giving you blood this evening. How are you here now, pointing fingers at me?”

Alina laughed. “Well, to answer your questions, I was only in a coma for a year. I recovered, but I pretended so you could suffer the consequences of trying to kill me. That is generosity on my part as your sister.”

I stared hard, my eyes stinging. “A year? You were only… and yet you kept collecting my blood!”

“It was donated to whoever needed it. I certainly didn't use it. I’d rather die than have your blood running through my veins. I just needed to make you bleed for all the blood I lost in that accident.”

“Alina!”

“How could you be so jealous, Lilly?” she continued, raising her voice for the room to hear. “I was your sister. You wanted Victor so badly you attempted to murder me. You even tried to steal my spotlight by taking acting roles you had no business playing. How pathetic.”

The murmurs grew louder.

“I didn't—Mother, tell them! Margaret, you know the truth!”

“Keep my name out of your mouth, you witch,” my mother spat, stepping forward. “God, I wish you were never my daughter. I wish your father hadn’t been on that business trip; he would have been disgusted to see what a viper you’ve become.”

A viper? How was I the viper? The memory of my childhood flashed before me—when we were six, and Alina had poured acid on my face, calling it a face wash. My parents had blamed me for being "foolish" rather than questioning her. I had been hidden away, kept from visitors, while Alina shone.

 I had been forced to marry Victor, and now, I was the one being burned at the stake.

“You knew?” I asked my mother, my voice hollow. “You knew she was faking it?”

“Of course,” my mother replied, shrugging, her eyes cold as she sipped her champagne. “She wanted to expose you, and we agreed.”

I turned to Victor. I knew he was involved, but a desperate, foolish part of me hoped for a shred of decency. “And you? You let her do this?”

“Why are you looking at me?” Victor sneered. “If we hadn't done this, we wouldn't have heard you confess your hatred to your sister on her sickbed. You’re truly evil, Liliana.”

The room erupted into gasps. I wanted to die right there.

“Confessed to what?” I choked out.

“To sleeping with another man while trying to pin the baby on Victor!” Alina fired back, her voice echoing through the hall. “How can you be so wicked? You got pregnant by someone else, and you want my man to take responsibility?”

My heart thundered against my ribs. Pregnant? I hadn't even known until hours ago. How did she know?

“How is that possible? I…”

“She’s pregnant?” my mother and Margaret echoed in shock, cutting me off.

“Yes,” Alina said, savoring the moment. “She went to a bar and messed around with some random dude. I confirmed her pregnancy at the hospital. She wanted to surprise you all with a bastard.” She pulled a paper from her dress and handed it to Margaret.

I gasped. I had only been to that bar once—when Margaret had thrown me out of the house. I had been alone. I hadn't done anything with anyone. It was a lie.

“That’s a lie…”

“A lie? Didn't you go to that bar a few weeks ago?” 

Alina challenged.

“I did, but…”

“Shut up!” Victor roared. “I knew you were pregnant. Dorcas told me everything about how you left the house that night dressed like a slut.”

My world tilted. Who did he say told him?

I whirled around to find Dorcas. The kindness in her eyes was gone, replaced by a cold, hardened mask.

“Dorcas, is that true?” Margaret asked.

“Yes, sir,” Dorcas said, her voice steady. “She came home disheveled, and she threatened to fire me if I ever told anyone.”

My world collapsed. Even Dorcas.

“Dorcas?” I whispered.

“Shut up, you whore. I am glad I never opened my heart to you. I will never do so anyway.” Victor fired before throwing a file that Dorcas handed him.“Those are the divorce papers. You don’t need to sign them. Our marriage wasn't even registered. As far as the law is concerned, we were never married.”

Tears streamed down my face. I had been deceived the entire time.

Victor then turned toward the door. “Take her away. She has tried, time and again, to hurt my fiancée.”

I looked up as two police officers stepped into the room, their faces grim.

“Miss Liliana Lewiston,” one said, stepping toward me. “You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Miss Alina Lewiston.”