Chapter Six

 

Rory didn't press him any further to see a picture of his son. She would meet him eventually anyway. But she had a hunch that there was a rift between the two, which was why the old man didn't have a single photo to show her. Still, she refrained from prying—it was none of her business and fell outside the terms of their agreement.

 

After wrapping up her conversation with her soon-to-be father-in-law, Rory decided to head home. She declined a ride from one of Mr. Dimitrios’ drivers because she had her own car. Mr. Dimitrios had already arranged for her vehicle to be retrieved and delivered.

 

Standing in her apartment lobby, Rory felt a growing heaviness in her chest with every step she took. She didn't want to see her mother, nor did she want to face her sister. She had no idea how she was going to look them in the eye—or if she would simply explode in rage and physically hurt Alana.

 

Yet, no matter how hard it was, she had to face them. She needed to suppress her emotions. Today marked the beginning of her revenge. And she was going to make sure they suffered and regretted betraying her.

Standing right in front of her door, Rory took a deep breath before punching in the code on the digital keypad. As soon as it chimed, she turned the handle. The moment she opened the door, she was greeted by the sound of loud laughter coming from the living room.

 

She immediately knew Alana and Richard were there, along with her mother. Playing happy family again, Rory thought bitterly.

 

Rory walked in silently, stepping lightly to ensure she didn't make a sound. She crept toward the entrance of the living room and paused just at the threshold, allowing herself to overhear the sickening conversations of the three people she had trusted most.

 

"Sweetheart, I really hope our baby looks just like you!" Alana cooed playfully.

 

"Hmm. I'd much prefer it if our baby looks like you, Sweetie," Richard replied in a gentle, affectionate tone. "Make sure you eat properly and load up on veggies so our baby stays healthy. We’re heading back to the doctor next week, so don't forget your vitamins, okay?"

 

"Do I really have to? Those meds smell so foul. They just make me feel even more nauseous and dizzy!"

 

"You can't skip them, Sweetie. It could put our baby at risk, and we definitely don't want that," Richard reminded her gently.

 

"Your husband is right, sweetheart," their mother chimed in. "You need to listen to your doctor's advice. You don't want to jeopardize your pregnancy just because you're being stubborn."

 

Rory clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white. This clearly wasn't the first time the three of them had gathered behind her back. They had been deceiving her and treating her like a fool for a long time. If only her mother or Richard had been honest about their disgusting affair from the start, she might have found it in herself to forgive them. But instead, they had chosen to betray her continuously, mocking her intelligence right inside her own home.

 

"Mom's right, Sweetie. You have to be careful," Richard added. "Didn't the doctor mention your pregnancy is delicate? You need to take extra precautions and get plenty of rest."

 

"How am I supposed to feel happy in this situation, Richard?" Alana snapped, a sharp edge of frustration in her voice. "Everyone thinks my sister is your fiancée and that I'm just your future sister-in-law! How long are we going to keep hiding like this? I don't want my child growing up without being acknowledged, Richard!"

 

"Alana, dear, you can't rush your husband," Rory's mother intervened smoothly. "Especially when everyone knows your sister is his girlfriend. It’s not that easy to just go public with your relationship. These things take time."

 

A bitter smile formed on Rory's lips. She had secretly prayed that her mother was innocent in all this—that somehow, her own mom would take her side. But the mere fact that her mother was actively supporting Richard and Alana's relationship shattered every last piece of hope she had left.

 

"Mom is right, Alana. We can't be reckless," Richard reasoned. "Besides, Abuelo's birthday is coming up. And you know how much his family adores Rory, right? As much as I want everyone to know the truth, it's just not that simple. We can't shock Abuelo, especially with his failing health. So please, try to understand the situation. Once everything settles down, I promise I'll introduce you as my wife."

 

Rory felt a wave of nausea wash over her. It was as if it were her fault that Richard's family preferred her—as if it were her fault for being in Richard's life first before her sister crawled into his bed.

 

"Wait... Mom, why isn't Rory home yet?" Richard suddenly asked. "I've been texting her all day, but she hasn't replied to any of my messages."

 

"Ah, she probably picked up an extra shift at the hospital," Rory's mother replied, her tone completely devoid of warmth or care.

 

"Can we please not talk about her?" Alana muttered, barely concealing her annoyance.

How did I miss it for so long? Rory thought. How had she failed to notice just how much her own sister resented her? Or maybe she had noticed all along, but simply refused to believe it. Her own family hated her.

 

She tilted her head up, blinking back the tears threatening to fall. Pulling herself together, she quietly slipped back toward the front door.

 

Once by the entrance, she intentionally made her footsteps loud and heavy. She kicked off her shoes, placed them neatly on the shoe rack, and strode straight into the living room, where Richard was sitting right next to Alana.

 

The moment Richard caught sight of Rory, he sprang up from the sofa. The color instantly drained from his face, and he scrambled over to her in a panic.

 

"Babe! H-How long have you been standing there?" he asked nervously.

 

Rory remained silent, simply staring into his face. Richard was undeniably handsome—he looked like a male model—but his looks weren't why she had fallen for him. She had loved him because he had pursued her so relentlessly, even after she had turned him down countless times. Eventually, she had surrendered her heart to him completely—and that was perhaps her biggest mistake.

 

The man she had trusted to love and cherish her turned out to be the very man who broke her.

 

"R-Rory, dear? Were you standing there long?" her mother echoed, her voice laced with anxiety.

 

Rory let her eyes wander across the faces of the people she had loved and trusted with her life. The people she would have sacrificed everything for... were the same people who had orchestrated her destruction.

 

"Sister!" Alana suddenly shrieked, rushing toward Rory and pulling her into an enthusiastic hug. "I missed you so much! I haven't seen you in days!"

 

Disgusting. That was the word screaming in Rory's mind. Yet, she forced a sweet smile onto her face and gently stroked Alana's hair, even though every fiber of her being wanted to yank it out by the roots.

 

"I missed you too, Sweetheart," Rory said smoothly before turning her gaze toward Richard. "I just got back. I didn't expect to see you here. I assumed you didn't want to meet up with me anymore."

 

The tension on Richard's face visibly dissolved into relief. "Of course I wouldn't do that. I came here to apologize to you. Wait, hold on a second."

 

Richard turned around and grabbed something off the side table—a large bouquet of fresh flowers. He turned back and offered them to Rory with a contrite expression.

 

"I want to say I'm so sorry for being such a jerk last night. I should have been more understanding, Babe. I really hope you can forgive me."

 

Rory looked down at the flowers, then raised her eyes back to Richard. She wanted nothing more than to slam the bouquet right into his lying face. Biting the inside of her lip, she reminded herself not to do anything stupid that would ruin her plan before it even started.

 

"Thank you, Babe!" Rory chirped affectionately. She stood on her tiptoes, pulled him in, and kissed Richard right on the lips.