Riyin The Dragon Shifter

Anyta's POV

If there was a prize for "Most Ridiculous Timing," my sister Siena would be polishing the trophy right now.

One minute she was smiling and clutching her ridiculous designer clutch, and the next minute she was tumbling down the grand staircase in the middle of Everett’s family party.

I stopped halfway up the stairs, watching her tumble in pure panic. Gasps and whispers erupted through the crowd like wildfire.

"Oh my God, she pushed her!" someone hissed from the bottom.

"I saw it! Anyta’s hand was right there!" another voice piped up.

"What kind of monster shoves her pregnant sister?"

My stomach lurched in fright. "No! Not me. I didn’t do anything! I didn't push her!"

Siena groaned on the marble floor, one manicured hand cradling her stomach. "My baby…" she whimpered.

An older man near the buffet waved his arms. "Call an ambulance!"

I shook my head vigorously. "I swear, I didn’t do anything!"

"She’s lying!" A woman near the bar yelled loud enough for everyone to hear.

"What happened?" Everett my husband appeared at the top of the stairs with confusion in his eyes. Relief bubbled in my chest: finally, someone who’d believe me!

"Everett...." I started to speak.

"What did you do, Anyta?" His voice surprised me; it was cold. My relief crumbled.

"I didn’t do anything!"

He brushed past me and rushed down the staircase without looking twice, kneeling beside Siena. "You’ve been bullying her since you moved in, haven’t you?" He glared up at me. "Was this your plan all along?"

"What? No!" My hands flew up, useless defense against his words.

Siena let out a louder moan and curled into my husband like some tragic heroine. "Everett, help me."

"It’s alright, Siena." He murmured. "I’ve got you."

Watching her in his arms felt like watching my own heart get stomped on. Still, I rushed down the last steps. "Let me help, please...."

"Don’t touch her!" He snapped, blocking me with one arm. "Haven’t you hurt your sister enough?"

The words felt worse than a slap. Before I could fight back, a familiar voice came in. "What’s going on here?"

Granny Jo, Everett’s grandmother, was making her way through the crowd.

Siena whimpered before I could speak. "Anyta pushed me! I'm losing the baby!"

Everett’s whole face drained of color. "We need to move now."

"An ambulance has arrived!" Someone in the crowd yelled.

The hospital staff barreled in, pushing through the gawkers. Everett scooped Siena into his arms, all the while murmuring reassurances only she could hear. Without one glance at me, he followed the medics out the door.

I stood there in horror until Granny Jo stepped closer. She took my hand for all of two seconds.

"I didn't do it!" I wailed as tears fell down my eyes. "I swear, Granny Jo!"

"You’ve always been a good kid, Pumpkin," she said quietly. "But sometimes your jealousy hurts others."

I gasped in shock. "Granny, I didn’t..."

She squeezed my fingers once, then let go. "We’ll talk later."

Just like that, she was gone too, leaving me amongst these strange guests. Guests who were looking at me like I was the devil. My cheeks felt hot enough to catch fire. I straightened my spine, ignored every pair of eyes and walked straight out of that ballroom before more tears could fall.

I’m not sure how I made it back to our room. I stepped in and sank into the edge of our bed.

I sat there for an hour, staring at the door and waiting for Everett to come back so I could tell him the truth, that I hadn’t touched Siena. I wanted to tell him that she had fallen on her own, and everyone was acting like they’d lost their minds.

I flopped backward onto the mattress, eyes on the ceiling. I’d been stupid enough to believe things were getting better between us. I had thought that Everett was starting to see me as more than the wife his grandmother forced on him.

It wasn’t like our marriage was romantic to begin with. It was a business deal between our families. Still, he’d been in my bed, hadn’t he? We’d shared nights together.

I stared morosely at the rumpled sheets. He’d agreed to sleep with me because Granny Jo wanted a grandson, not because he wanted me. I knew that. I’d known it from the start. But I still let myself hope.

And now I was the wicked sister who "hurt the pregnant angel."

I squeezed my eyes shut, pressing my palms over them like I could block out the memory of him holding Siena, speaking to her in a way that he'd never spoken to me before.

Then the sound of voices outside the door snapped me upright. Finally, Everett was back!

I pushed off the bed, heading for the hallway. My hand was already on the doorknob when I paused. Everett’s voice carried up the stairs as clear as ever.

"Grandma, I want a divorce."