Chapter 6: The Sister Who Wanted My Life
The venue manager’s voice echoed through the speaker.
My mother had put the call on speaker because none of us could believe what we were hearing.
“We received a cancellation request yesterday afternoon,” the manager said.
“It appeared to come from the bride.””
I felt my hands tighten.
“Who sent it?””
“We’re checking the account information now.””
I looked at Chloe.
She looked terrified.
Not guilty.
Terrified.
Because she finally understood that her actions had escaped the little world where she controlled the damage.
“Cancel it,” I said.
The manager paused.
“Ma’am, we already handled it. We confirmed with your fiancé before making any changes.””
I blinked.
“With Ethan?””
“Yes.””
A strange feeling moved through me.
Relief.
And sadness.
Because Ethan had protected me from something I didn’t even know happened.
The manager continued.
“We were suspicious because the request came from a new email address.””
My eyebrows pulled together.
“New email address?””
“Yes. It was created using your name.””
I looked at Chloe.
“What email did you use?””
She didn’t answer.
Marcus did.
“She used your old nickname.””
I froze.
My old nickname.
The one only my family used.
The one Chloe had called me since childhood.
“She pretended to be me.””
Mom stood.
“Chloe.””
My sister started crying.
“I didn’t think it would work.””
“That’s your defense?”” I asked.
She looked at me.
“I didn’t think.””
I laughed quietly.
“No. You didn’t.””
The room went silent.
Because that was the truth.
She didn’t think about the boutique losing a valuable gown.
She didn’t think about Ethan standing at the altar wondering if I was coming.
She didn’t think about Mom watching her daughters destroy each other.
She only thought about her own pain.
I walked toward the kitchen window.
Outside, the morning was bright.
It was strange how peaceful everything looked.
Like the world didn’t know mine had changed.
“When did you start hating me?”” I asked.
Chloe’s crying stopped.
“I don’t hate you.””
“Then what is this?””
She didn’t answer.
I turned around.
“Tell me.””
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“I was tired of being the second daughter.””
I stared at her.
“Chloe.””
“No, listen.””
She stood.
“I know what I did was wrong.””
“That’s not enough.””
“I know.””
She wiped her face.
“But you don’t know what it feels like to walk into a room and feel invisible.””
I shook my head.
“You think I never felt invisible?””
She looked surprised.
I continued.
“When Dad left, who stayed up with Mom every night?””
Chloe looked down.
“When you failed your first semester, who helped you study?””
Silence.
“When you needed money for your apartment, who gave you my savings?””
Her face changed.
“I…”
“Who defended you every time someone said you were irresponsible?””
Tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I know.””
“No, you don’t.””
My voice cracked.
“Because if you did, you would know I was never your enemy.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Chloe whispered:
“I thought if I ruined your perfect day, everyone would finally see that you weren’t perfect.””
I looked at her.
“And did they?””
She cried harder.
“No.””
The answer hung in the room.
Because it was the cruelest part.
She had destroyed something beautiful.
And it still didn’t give her what she wanted.
Attention.
Love.
Validation.
Nothing.
Marcus stood near the door.
“I need to tell you one last thing.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He hesitated.
“The money Chloe took…”
My stomach tightened.
“What about it?””
“She didn’t use all of it for gambling.””
Chloe looked at him.
“Marcus.””
“No. She needs to know.””
He looked at me.
“She used some of it to pay someone.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who?””
Marcus unlocked his phone.
“She hired someone to help her get information about your wedding.””
I frowned.
“What kind of information?””
He showed me a message.
The sender’s name made my heart stop.
It wasn’t Jenna.
It wasn’t a vendor.
It wasn’t a stranger.
It was someone much closer.
Someone who had been smiling beside me all week.
May you like
The message read:
*“I found out what you asked me to find. Your sister still doesn’t know the truth about Ethan.””*
