4. Played by all

To say I'm bewildered is an epic understatement.

My eyes dart between the two of them in confusion. I'm shook by their proximity.

I'm just taking in their appearances — Skylar looks so flustered, and Zayn looks exhausted and overwhelmed. There's also a flicker of guilt in his eyes, but it's masked by annoyance.

Something's not right.

Seeing my sister standing so intimately close to MY boyfriend, dressed in nothing but a lingerie nightdress, sends my thoughts racing across Jupiter, pondering the possibilities that might have led her to this boldness.

One possibility clicks.

But I shake my head inwardly. No, it can't be what I’m thinking.

Skylar wouldn’t do that to me. And even if Zayn were to cheat, he wouldn’t do it with my own sister. There must be some other explanation for this.

I finally reel myself back from my bewilderment and direct my question at Skylar, whose hand has now entwined Zayn’s muscular arm.

I ignore the sight, pushing down the volcano of emotions threatening to erupt within my heart.

"What are you doing here, Sky?" I ask my sister. "How are you even here?"

Her smirk remains intact. "Why, did you forget what you asked me to do yesterday? You asked me to distract Zayn, remember? Or more specifically, you told me to stall him from finding out about your little secret," she adds, sighing wearily. "Unfortunately, Liora, I failed. I couldn't keep your secret from him. Last night was really intense with all the emotional unpacking. Phew."

"What the hell are you talking about? What secret?" I ask, my heart pounding in my chest. Several theories swirl in my mind, but I force myself to push them aside.

Skylar is my sister. She wouldn't hurt me.

I repeat in my head like a mantra, trying my best to keep my cool. But I'm already glimpsing red.

Zayn snaps at me, "The secret that you're wedded to the Mafia — you dumb bitch!"

"Dumb bitch?" I'm officially gagged. I couldn’t believe my ears. I turn to my boyfriend, my voice laced with astonishment. "Zayn, where's this coming from?"

He merely rolls his eyes.

I supply, "I already told you it’s complicated."

"Yeah, well, complicated or not, we’re done, Liora," he says firmly.

I shake my head. "No, you can't do that to me. We've been together for five solid years..."

"Yeah, right, you should have thought about that before running off into the sunset with another man," Skylar says.

Skylar. Fucking Skylar just said that.

My head spins in disbelief as I turn my gaze to my sister. How could she make such remarks when she’s the one I’m trying to help? What exactly is she playing at?

What the fuck is going on here?

"What did you just say?" I narrow my eyes, my brows arching to horrifying heights.

She speaks softly, "Liora, you have to move on. Because Zayn already has, after I told him about your wedding last night—"

"Sky, how could you tell him?"

She shrugs. "I'm bad at keeping secrets, Liora. And, honestly, Zayn didn’t deserve to be treated like that. So, the truth is, after I revealed your shenanigans to him yesterday, let’s just say Zayn and I had a little escapade... just to help him forget your betrayal cause he was so devastated."

As I absorb her words, my heart plummets to dangerous depths, and my whole body turns cold. What??

Please, tell me I'm dreaming, and my sister didn't just say that to me.

"So, yeah, Zayn has moved on with someone else — me. I suggest you crawl back into the gothic hole you came from," she says bluntly.

My chest feels hot—so hot that I can feel moisture burning in my eyes.

I turn to Zayn, my voice trembling slightly. "You cheated on me? With my sister?"

"It's just retribution for what you did," he says nonchalantly. "You cheated on me first."

I scream in his face, "I didn't cheat on you, asshole!"

"The photo of you and Lorenzo Sorrentino is what then? Or I guess he was just shoving his tongue down your throat, looking for cocaine, right?" he remarks sarcastically, then scoffs with derision. "I don’t have the time for this. Get the fuck out when you're done spouting your bullshit to whoever is willing to buy, because that person is definitely not me."

With that, he turns and heads back inside.

"Zayn," I call out, a tear slipping down my cheek.

I don’t even know why I’m calling him—there’s no way in hell I’m still trying to explain myself after what he did. He cheated on me with my fucking sister?

What the—

"Aww, poor Liora," Skylar's voice sails into my ears—effortlessly taunting.

I turn to her, still in disbelief. "How could you do this to me?"

"How could I not?" she retorts, crossing her arms on her chest and leaning against the doorframe. "You know Zayn has always been the one I wanted from day one. When I saw the opportunity to be with him, I took it."

"You begged me to help you last night. All this time, your plan has been to sabotage my relationship?" My voice cracks, but I'm not crying. "How could you do that to me?"

"Spare me the look of betrayal, Liora. You've always known this would happen someday."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

She steps forward, her voice menacing. "What, you think I've suddenly forgotten what you did to me ten years ago?" She laughs mirthlessly.

My heart skips a beat.

She then adds, "I don't forget, nor do I forgive, Liora. I collect. I win. I avenge."

I'm barely able to recognize the woman standing in front of me as my own sister. It's as if someone else has possessed her—she looks so enraged, so malicious, so vengeful.

"You thought I'd let you off the hook just because I've only asked for a few favors from you over the years? Newsflash, Liora—you thought wrong!"

"W-what?"

"Luring you into this marriage with the Mafia is my ultimate revenge! Because you're going to suffer in it, sis, I promise you. You have no idea."

"No," I shake my head, not wanting to believe her words. "Y-you didn't LURE me."

"I did, actually." Skylar scoffs, "The fake tears and all that pleading shit last night were part of the act."

"Sky—"

"You've always been too soft, too naive, too stupid to see when someone's taking advantage of your so-called kind heart. I deliberately called you back to the City because I knew you’d always come rushing to my aid. So, here’s the truth,"

She looks me dead in the eyes. "In case you're wondering, Mom and Dad are already aware of this, so don’t get your panties in a twist hoping to cry to them because there's nothing they can do to help you. After all, it was Dad who brought up this great opportunity after losing a bet to Mr. Sorrentino."

My face pales. "What?"