Chapter 4

CELESTE’S POV

THREE WEEKS LATER

I sat on the toilet lid as my hands trembled, and tears streamed silently down my cheeks as I clutched my stomach.

It had been three weeks since my sister’s wedding.

Three weeks since I’d made the most horrific mistake of my life.

Three weeks since I’d found out that the man I’d slept with in a dark garden under the stars… was Nathaniel Steele… my sister’s husband.

Three weeks since he spat those gut-wrenching words at me.

And three weeks of emotional torment.

The secret was eating me alive. I hadn’t told Sophia. I couldn’t. Because deep down, in the most twisted corner of my mind, I knew Nathaniel was right.

She’d never believe me.

What would I even say?

“Hey, Sophia. I slept with your husband the night before your wedding! Surprise!”

I cringed at the thought, burying my face in my hands and letting out a strangled groan. When I looked back up, the reality hit me all over again.

Five pregnancy test strips lay across my lap.

All of them flashing the same word.

Positive.

I was pregnant.

Pregnant for my sister’s husband.

Fuck my life. The universe really had it out for me.

“Celeste! I’m heading out to work. You okay in there? You’ve been a while.” Bethany’s voice rang from the other side of the door.

I panicked as I quickly turned on the tap to mask the sound of my sobs.

“Yeah, I’m fine, Beth!” I croaked. “Think it’s just a stomach bug.”

“Aww, sorry Celeste. Feel better soon. Can you still grab the groceries and the laundry from Sally’s later? I'm going to work.”

“Yes, of course,” I called back, trying to sound casual as she moved about the room.

“Alright! Bye!” she chirped, and I listened to her footsteps fade down the hall.

Then, my phone buzzed violently on the sink. I glanced at the screen.

Bruce Gallagher.

Again.

He’d been calling for the past two weeks—nonstop.

I could remember how I stole his money before running away from Velmont City. But he caught on and since then, I owed him money until I wasn't reachable anymore.

Now that I'm back, he is on my neck once again.

And worst case?

I didn't have it and I can't handle his threats right now.

My gaze flicked back to the test strips, and fresh tears blurred my vision.

How could this be happening?

I couldn’t lie anymore.

Never to myself and, most importantly, not to Sophia.

She deserved the truth.

I needed to tell her.

With my fingers shaking, I picked up my phone and dialed her number. She hadn’t been taking my calls since the wedding. The few times she had, she’d been cold and distant.

The line clicked.

“What?” came her sharp voice which made me flinch.

I swallowed hard. “Um, can I come to see you? Please. I have something really important to tell you.”

A tense silence followed.

“I think it’s about damn time,” she said. Her voice was cool and calm—but carried an edge that I didn't really sit well with. “I have something to tell you too. I’ll email you the address.”

Before I could respond, the call ended.

My heart slammed into my ribs.

Is she still mad at me?

Did she already know?

I was finished.

I panicked once again as I rushed out of the bathroom and started getting dressed.

Whatever happened next—I had to face it.

***

After I received her mail.

I drove and parked in front of a quiet townhouse nestled on a clean, upper-middle-class street in the suburbs.

Everything about the place screamed picture-perfect domestic bliss. A white rose bush bloomed beside the porch. Wind chimes danced softly in the breeze.

I hesitated. My fingers trembled as I reached for the doorbell.

Ding-dong.

A few seconds later, the door creaked open, and there she was—Sophia.

Her glossy brown hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail. She wore a pale peach wrap dress that hugged her frame. It glowed against her golden skin. She looked radiant. Effortless. Exactly how a newlywed should look.

Her eyes, though, held none of their usual warmth.

“Come in,” she said flatly, stepping aside.

I walked in stiffly. The living room was clean and tidy like she’d been expecting someone. My gaze briefly focused on the framed photo on the console table… Sophia and Nathaniel on their wedding day.

He was in a black tux and she in a delicate lace gown. Both were smiling.

She gestured to the couch. I sat. My palms were clammy against my jeans.

Sophia sat across from me, legs crossed, hands resting on her belly… almost protectively.

“I’m glad you came,” she began. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you. And I… I wanted to do it in person. Not over the phone.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. “Yeah. Me too.”

She gave me a nervous smile. “Okay, so I’ll just say it. No dramatic buildup.”

I held my breath…

Expecting the screams of why I had slept with her husband, then followed by a vase smashing on my head.

But none of that happened…

“I’m pregnant,” she said softly.

The world tilted.

I blinked. “W-what?”

She beamed, a hand subconsciously sliding over her stomach. “I just found out last week. I haven’t even told Nathaniel yet. I wanted to tell you first.”

“What?” I murmured.

“You’re my sister, Celeste. I know we’ve had… an unforgiving past, and as much as I want to hate you, I can’t, I love you. I wanted you to be the first to know.”

She reached for my hand. I stiffened, but let her hold it.

She was an angel and I was a monster.

Tears welled in my eyes. Now, I wish I had obeyed my gut.

I realized this wasn't the time to wallow in my misery.

This was the moment. I had to tell her what had happened between Nathaniel and I.

But I couldn’t.

How could I ruin that smile? How could I crush the happiness she felt carrying the child of the man who had betrayed her—with me?

Her voice broke into my thoughts. “Ok enough about me, you said you had something important to tell me too?”

I stared at her and right there, the words died on my tongue.

“I’m going back to Elorra tonight,” I said instead.

I saw a series of emotions flicker through her eyes, but the one that dominated all the others was indifference.

“Okay, bye!” she shrugged, standing up and walking toward the door.

I followed her silently, not knowing what else to say.

“I’m sorry, but I have to, Sophia. I have to go back to wor—”

Or better still, back to job hunting.

“Yeah, you have to,” she rolled her eyes. “Just like you had to leave me behind all those years ago,” she scoffed, moving to open the door. “Why am I even surprised? You’re running away again, and you know it. It was nice of you to come to my wedding, really sweet. And now, after I tell you I’m pregnant, you’re bailing again like I mean nothing to you.”

She laughed bitterly, tears welling in her eyes. “How stupid was I to think this pregnancy would make you stay? That being your sister would be enough? What did I ever do to you, Celeste? Why do you hate me so much?”

She was trembling now, standing in front of me like a broken mirror… furious, vulnerable, and splintered in all the places I helped create.

I could see the pain in her eyes, and I couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it. I wanted to tell her the truth, to let her know why I had to leave. But how do you do that without inflicting even more pain? Without destroying what was left of the fragile relationship we were just beginning to rebuild?

So I did what I always did.

I lied.

“Geez, Soph… even after all these years, you still can’t take a joke?” I chuckled nervously, unsure if she was going to buy it. I quickly pulled her into a hug, biting down hard on my lip. “Come on, you really thought I was leaving?”

I pulled her into a hug before she could answer, biting the inside of my cheek so hard it hurt.

“I just wanted to see how mad you’d get,” I murmured. “Did you really think I was going to leave again? Just when you finally told me the best news I’ve heard in my twenty-three years of living?” I laughed, throwing my whole body into it.

More lies, Celeste.

“You’re not going?” she asked, pulling back and looking at me with a baby-soft expression. It was nice to know that my sister was still there, underneath all those layers of hurt and anger.

“Of course not, silly! I only just got you back. I want nothing more than to fix this relationship. I was such a coward for leaving you to deal with Bruce on your own. I can’t even imagine what the past few years must’ve felt like for you. Just give me a chance. Please, Soph?” I placed my hands gently on her shoulders, my throat tightening with guilt and emotion.

I was lying. I was being selfish. And I knew it.

She nodded slowly. “It’s fine, Celeste. I forgive you. I guess… underneath all my anger, I understand why you had to get out. I just wish we had gone together.”

“So, tell me… how’s life with Nathaniel?” I asked, changing the subject. And instantly regretted it.

Ugh. Of all the subjects I could’ve picked… I chose this?

Her eyes lit up at the mention of Nathaniel. She practically beamed, grabbed my hand, and pulled me back into the living room. She went on and on about all the sweet things he’d done for her… their little inside jokes, the way he made her tea in the mornings, how he talked to her belly like the baby could hear him. And I sat there, smiling and nodding, even though inside I felt like a train wreck.