Chapter 2

Eric and I were childhood sweethearts. When I first came to the Lynch family, I was an outsider, but Eric was always there to have my back.

He insisted that being adopted did not make me any less than anyone else.

With him by my side, I was untouchable.

Ever since Willa came into the world, he was petrified that the Lynchs would start to overlook me, not shower me with the love I was used to. He would make excuses to check in on them three times a day, just to make sure I was not left out or pushed aside.

However, at some point, Eric began to change.

I could have never imagined that he would twist the Lynchs' kindness into a weapon, guilt-tripping me over Willa.

So, if that's how it was going to be, I figured I might as well go through with that arranged marriage.

What I did not see coming, though, was the immediate spark between that outsider and me, sealing the marriage deal on the spot.

"Sis, are you okay?"

The moment I stepped back into the house, there was Eric, and Willa.

Eric, following close behind, was full of assurance. "I've talked to Dad. She's in the clear. That guy doesn't stand a chance with her."

His words hung in the air, and a hush fell over the room, everyone's gaze locking onto the marriage certificate he was holding.

I was shaking with fury. "Eric, you promised it was all just for show!"

Willa burst in then, "Sister, please don't be mad at Eric. It wasn't his fault. It was me. I got scared we'd be found out, so I... I let the act become real."

The anger inside me roared to life, and I did not care if our foster parents got upset—I slapped Willa right across her face.

Tears streamed down Willa's face as she looked at me, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Sister, please, no more anger. It's all my fault. I'll go and get a divorce from Eric right now."

She tried to drag Eric out, but he was having none of it. His brow furrowed, he yanked back Willa, her tears falling like raindrops on pear blossoms.

"Go where? Divorce? Over my dead body!"

Eric's eyes bore into mine, disappointment etched across his face. "Sylvia, when did you start making such a fuss over nothing? It's just a marriage certificate, meant to make things look more real, more believable. Tell me how many you need, and I'll make them for you. You've become so petty, almost like a shrew who's lost all sense of reason!"

Willa's eyes brimmed with tears. "Eric, sister's right. You two haven't split up yet. I wasn't thinking straight, this isn't right. We should go through with the divorce."

"No way!"

Eric's grip on Willa's waist was unyielding.

Willa squirmed in his embrace, not caring about his hold on her. "No, no, this will upset my sister. If word gets out, everyone will say the Lynch family did sister wrong. It was my oversight, my mistake."

"It's not your fault!" Eric protested.

Then, right in front of me, he pressed his lips to Willa's.

I stood there, petrified, as the world around me seemed to freeze.

I could only watch as they kissed passionately before me, as if I were the punchline to some cosmic joke.

Eric, still clutching a breathless Willa and catching my stunned look, went pale for a split second.

"Sylvia, haven't I been there for you? If not for me and my dad, you could've been the one chosen. What's got you so mad? I did this for both Willa and you, a win-win. Can't you see that?!"

His words struck me as completely ludicrous.

However, I could not be bothered to explain anymore.

At that moment, the nanny walked in, interrupting us with a knock.

In her hands, she carried a pristine white wedding gown.

"Miss, this is the wedding gown the mister sent over for you. You've got your big day the day after tomorrow, go on, give it a try."

Eric let out a scoff when he heard that. "Big day? Sylvia, you're tying the knot?"

Willa was just as shocked. "Sis, who's the lucky guy? How come I'm the last to know?"