018

SHAYLE

Slowly, I walked forward, my shoes dragging slightly against the floor as my mind tried to catch up with what my eyes were seeing. What the hell was Alina doing here?

Was she here to see Carlos? Or me?

My throat tightened.

I could feel the air in my lungs growing heavy as my steps carried me closer.

Maddie was the first to notice me. She was the one Alina was talking to. She froze mid-sentence, her expression changing so fast.

Then Alina turned too.

Her eyes landed on me, and I saw that flicker; shock, followed by something smug and cruel. Her lips curved into a smirk that made my stomach twist.

“Well,” she drawled softly, walking toward me. “Long time.”

Her tone was too sweet, dripping with venom.

“It’s sad I’ll be seeing you from now on,” she added, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “But, well… we don’t have a choice.”

I frowned, every muscle in my face tightening. “What the hell does that mean?”

She tilted her head, that smirk deepening. “Oh, you didn’t know?”

I ignored the jab of annoyance bubbling in my chest.

“Didn’t you come here to see Carlos?”

“Why would I? We live together, remember?”

Her words stabbed straight through me. I felt it but I didn’t let it show. Not to her. Not ever again.

I kept my expression flat. “Then why are you here?”

She crossed her arms, feigning innocence.

“Why would I come to see you after you disrespected me and Mom? If you actually took us as family, if you were even a little grateful for everything we did for you, you would’ve congratulated me instead of ruining the celebration.”

Her voice sharpened near the end. I just stared, too stunned to even form a sentence.

She still hadn’t realized what she’d done wrong. Still hadn’t realized how much that betrayal broke me.

It was useless. Talking to her was like trying to reason with a brick wall.

I exhaled quietly. “Since you’re not here for me,” I muttered, turning away, “I’ll take my leave.”

I barely took a step before her voice cut through again, smooth and teasing.

“Don’t you want to know why I’m here?”

I stopped. My shoulders tensed before I slowly turned back.

“Carlos told me the company was recruiting,” she said, her tone almost playful.

My heart dropped.

She kept talking, watching my reaction with pure delight.

“That’s right. I got the job. From today onwards, I work here too.”

For a second, I couldn’t breathe. My shoulders slumped, and I just stared at her, trying to process the words that came out of her mouth.

“You’re kidding,” I muttered weakly.

Alina took a few steps closer, the smirk on her lips widening like she was feeding off my disbelief.

“I hope we get along, sister.”

Her voice had that fake softness again.

She turned back to Maddie with a polite smile, thanking her for something before walking away, heading in the same direction I’d just come from.

I stood there frozen, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Maddie hesitated for a moment, then came closer, her expression full of pity.

“I’m so sorry about this,” she whispered. “I tried to talk Lucien out of it, but he’s just… something else.”

My head snapped toward her. “Lucien?”

She blinked, like she’d said something she wasn’t supposed to. “Oh,” she muttered under her breath, “shit.”

“Maddie,” I pressed, “what do you mean?”

She looked around, lowering her voice. “He’s the one who handpicked your sister. He selected her personally as one of the new recruits. Even though he knew everything between you two.”

My jaw dropped.

It took me a moment to even process it.

He purposely brought her here while knowing everything?

I felt my stomach twist, anger burning hot in my chest. I knew he didn’t like me. I knew he was a cold-hearted, arrogant bastard. But this? This was too fucking far.

Why? What kind of sick joke was this?

Maddie’s voice pulled me back. “Hey, are you okay?”

I blinked rapidly, my fists tightening. “Yeah, It’s fine. I’ll handle it.”

She looked doubtful, like she wanted to say more but thought better of it.

“Just… don’t tell him you found out from me, okay?”

I nodded automatically. “Sure.”

She gave me one last sympathetic look before walking off, leaving me standing there alone.

Completely numb.

My head felt like it was spinning. My hands trembled slightly as I turned toward the coffee station.

Lucien knew about my miserable life. About Carlos. About Alina. And still, he handpicked her.

I tried to laugh, but the sound that came out of my throat was dry and broken.

Reaching the coffee maker, I grabbed a paper cup and placed it under the tap. The machine whirred softly as hot liquid poured out, filling the silence.

I stared at it blankly, my mind racing.

Then I reached for the sugar jar, my fingers moving on their own.

I scooped a teaspoon. And the two.

I stopped, staring at the granules melting into the dark coffee.

My throat tightened again. My heart ached, my chest burning with anger I didn’t know how to contain.

Then I grabbed the spoon again and added another heap of sugar.