She could see Alex wince at her side, but she couldn’t look at him, nor at Rose. She dropped her gaze to the ground, releasing Alex’s hand and wrapping her arms around her chest.
“You went behind my back, knowing how I felt about him.” Rose’s words were crisp and sharp, and Fern rounded her shoulders, stepping back from the verbal assault. “How could you do this to me? Tome, of all people—”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you, I truly didn’t—“ Fern cried.
“You were jealous.” Rose’s words struck Fern like knives. “You were jealous I was going to be married, and you set out to ruin everything for me.”
“Rose, please stop.” Alex stepped between Fern and her sister. “Fern did not want to deceive you, she has been devastated by this.”
Rose ignored him, focusing her venom on Fern. “You’ve always been selfish, wanting the world to bend around your requirements, then dismissing us as shallow and stupid when you don’t fit in.” Rose advanced on her, pointing one delicate finger towards her chest. “I defended you, I stood by you, and wanted nothing but happiness for you, but this?” A single tear fell from Rose’s lashes. “This is unforgivable!”
Fern nodded, a nearly imperceptible bob of her chin, each cut of Rose’s words tearing into her and bleeding her slowly. She was right. Fern had destroyed her sister’s happiness so she could have something she wanted. She was selfish and horrible.
Rose’s mouth twisted as she stared at Alex with daggers in her eyes. “Did you know she told me she had no feelings for you? She said you and I should be together, and I was a better fit for you. She said you would makemehappy. Did she tell you all that?”
Alex shook his head slightly, brows furrowed. “I don’t understand,” he said, looking to Fern for clarification. “What is she talking about? When did you say those things?”
Fern closed her eyes and squeezed them shut, as though she could wish away this horrible moment and stop the inevitable from happening.
“Wait.” Rose looked between them, her expression incredulous. “You didn’t tell him about the ball?” Her voice was tight and shrill as she spat out the words, making Fern’s entire body tremble. “How it wasyouhe danced with and kissed that night?”
Alex turned his gaze to Fern, his lips parted. “What does she mean?” Alex asked, his shoulders tense. “I never saw you at the ball.”
“She didn’t tell you?” Rose gasped, then released a mirthless laugh. “Of course she wouldn’t. And you said she wasn’t deceptive. She’s been lying to you from the start!” Rose gave him a pitying gaze. “You never even saw me at the ball. Fern was pretending to be me. Then when you came to call she panicked and insisted I play along. It was all a game for her.”
“That can’t be true,” Alex muttered, his voice low and intense, like a rumble of thunder in the distance. He stared at her, his expression pleading. “You would have told me. Please tell me this isn’t true.”
A low laugh rumbled in Rose’s throat. “For a smart man, you aren’t very bright. Did you truly not see it?”
Fern felt the earth moving beneath her, as though heaven and hell had exchanged places and she tumbled into oblivion between them.
“It’s—“ Fern gasped, her lungs having stopped functioning altogether. “I didn’t mean for you to find out like this—”
Rose looked at her sister with disgust, her eyes rimmed red. “Well, I will leave you both to it,” she said, each word trembling with barely controlled emotions. “Liars, both of you. I can’t believe you would deceive me like this, string me along and play with my heart. Perhaps you deserve each other.” She stormed towards the door and grabbed the handle with a trembling hand.
Fern finally found words. “Please, Rose, you have to forgive me.”
Rose spun back to face her sister. “Oh, I most certainly do not. Icannotforgive you for this. You’re not the person I thought you were.”
And she was gone. Her footsteps echoed through the hallway, and the sound of a door slamming caused Fern to jump. Only then did Alex raise his eyes to meet Fern’s.
“Alex,” she whispered. But she knew it was too late. His eyes were shuttered and his shoulders stiff.
“It was you.” His voice was cold, so icy it made her shiver. “At the ball, the woman I—” His breath came out in a rush. Tears fell down her cheeks but couldn’t move to wipe them away. “You knew it was me, from the library, and yet you still—” He shook his head. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“If you knew I had deceived you, then you would have stopped courting Rose, and I couldn’t let you go.”
Alex exhaled with a huff. “You mean you needed my help.”
She froze. “Yes, but that wasn’t the only reason.” Fern’s words tumbled out, but Alex held up his hand, putting distance between them.
“There were so many times when you could have told me,” he murmured, his face twisted as though he were trying to make sense of her.
“I barely had you, Alex. I was sure you would leave me for Rose as soon as you knew the truth. Everyone always wants Rose, not me.”
“I didn’t,” he shot back. “I wantedyou, I was ready to give up everything for you.”
Fern flexed her fingers at her side, drawing tall. “Rose was right,” she said and Alex’s eyes widened. “How did younotknow? How did you not recognize me?” She shook her head as her chest heaved. “You didn’twantit to be me. You wanted it to be Rose, beautiful, perfect Rose who would be the perfect wife for you. You saw exactly what you wanted to see, and ignored me, ignored the truth.”
