Chapter two

Chapter two- 

Hannah 

Morning came faster than I expected. I watched the sun rise, rays of sunlight invading the darkness I seeked safety in. 

My eyes were red and swollen from crying through the night.

Kingston's words still echoed in my ears, looping like a ringtone I couldn't shit off.

“I want to get a second wife." 

He had waited for two long minutes after he dropped the bombshell, expecting that I would react.

But I couldn't. The words sat heavy on my tongue but nothing came out. Even when my chest tightened and my heart bled in pain, I just couldn't say anything.

So I did what I knew how to do best—i stayed silent.

I had stared at the ceiling for long hours after he had left the room, waiting for the pain to dull. It never did.

The door opened again. Kingston appeared in front of the door with a wet towel in his hand.

He stared at me for only a second before stepping in. "I came to get my shoe polish.” 

A lump grew in my throat watching him parade the room in search of his shoe polish.

My eyes turned glassy just remembering what he said. My knees felt weak as I stood up, my eyes never leaving him.

"What about the promises?” I asked, there were so many other things I wanted to ask him but this was more vital.

He turned slowly, his expression was neutral like the question meant nothing to him.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. “What about the promises we made to each other, Kingston?" 

Again, I asked yet he stood there, unfazed. 

“That was a long time ago." He answered, finally. "This is what we need now.” His voice was low, cold and certain.

A broken laugh escaped my lips as I stepped back. Bringing another woman to replace me was what we needed?

He opened his mouth to speak again but I didn't give him the chance.

My steps quickened as I walked to the wardrobe and took out the shoe polish where I had kept it. 

“Here. Take it and leave.” 

He walked forward and took it from my hand, our fingers brushed slightly. I looked at him, really looked but all I saw was a stranger wearing my husband's clothes. 

He was unrecognizable.

 The Kingston I remember adored me. He went against his family to be with me, he cherished our relationship and hated it when we fought. He loved me. 

But that wasn't the man standing in front of me anymore. Now, he barely looks at me. His family now lives with us, the same family he promised wouldn't interfere in our marriage.

Another tear threatened to fall but I wiped it off before he could see it. I turned and walked into the bathroom, closing the door harder than necessary. 

**************

Delightful laughter echoed from the living room as I walked down the stairs.

I followed the sound, my heels clicking against the marble, my chest still tight with the weight of what Kingston said earlier. 

There, curled into the couch like she belonged there, was my sister, Emma. Caroline sat beside her, patting her hand. Samantha lounged in the armchair, sipping tea like she was watching her favorite show.

"What you kids did was wrong, Emma," Caroline said, her voice gentle in a way it never was for me. "But your heart was in the right place. I know you love my son."

Emma lowered her eyes. "Kingston needed someone who understood him. We bonded, and… I didn't mean to hurt anyone."

Caroline smiled and reached over to part her hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear like she was already family. "You'll make a fine daughter-in-law."

Emma opened her mouth to say something else, some other performance of humility, but then her eyes lifted and caught mine.

Her whole face rearranged itself, soft and delighted, like she hadn't just been petted and praised for wrecking my marriage.

"Hannah!" She rose from the couch and crossed the room before I could step back, arms wrapping around me in a hug I never asked for.

Her lips brushed my ear. "Hi, future sister-in-law," she whispered, her tone filled with mockery, low enough that only I could hear it.

The words slid into me like a blade wrapped in silk.

I shoved her off, hard enough that she stumbled back a step.

Something in me snapped.

I raised my hand and swept it across her face hard. 

The sound cracked through the living room, sharp enough to silence the birds outside.

"How could you do this to me?" My voice shook, but I didn't care anymore who heard it. "You're supposed to be my sister."

Emma's hand flew to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock, tears springing up on command. "Why did you hit me, Hannah? I didn't do anything wrong."

"Nothing wrong?" I stepped closer, my hand rising again. "You slept with my husband. You ruined my marriage. You call that nothing?"

"What is wrong with you?" Caroline shot up from the couch, her voice slicing through the room. "Have you lost your mind?"

I didn't answer her. I couldn't. My eyes were fixed on Emma, on the tears sliding down her cheeks that felt like performance more than pain.

I raised my hand a second time.

A grip closed around my wrist before I could bring it down.

Kingston.

"Don't," he uttered, his voice low, final. "Don't touch her."

I turned to look at him, searching his face for even a flicker of the man who used to stand between me and his family, not between me and my own sister. I found nothing. 

"You're defending her?" The words came out broken, disbelieving. "After everything, you're defending her?"

He didn't answer. He didn't have to. His silence was answer enough.

Emma sniffled, pressing her hand deeper into her cheek like the slap had wounded her beyond repair. "Kingston, don't yell at her. She's not well. She's still grieving the baby. I understand, Hannah, I do. I'm not angry."

Her mercy hung in the air, audacity and cruelty dressed up as kindness. 

"You see that?" Caroline said, gesturing at Emma like she was presenting evidence. "Your sister still cares about you, even after everything. Even after you hit her."

I wrenched my hand free of Kingston's grip, my wrist burning where his fingers had been.

There was nothing left to say to any of them.

Turning, I made for the stair but something pulled my gaze back, one last time.

Kingston had pulled Emma into his arms. Her face was buried in his chest, his hand smoothing over her hair the way he used to smooth over mine.

That was when I understood. My husband was already gone. 

And my sister was going to take my place in every way that mattered.