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No fucking way.
Someone was watching us.
Someone knew exactly how to hit Riley’s car so that Laney would take the full impact.
And that same someone snuffed out my sister’s life like a hiss of breath to a lit match.
Now, three years later, it’s me who will be walking down the aisle tomorrow to meet Tyson Van Dyne at the end of it.
The end.
Sounds pretty accurate.
My life as I know it will be over once we become husband and wife.
Finishing my degree at Brown?
Nope. Try again.
Going to medical school to fulfill my dream of being a surgeon?
Pipe dream. Next!
Taking my place as the respectful and obedient wife to the heir of Van Dyne Enterprises?
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!
Fuck my life.
“Isn’t it funny how even being in a roomful of people can make you feel more alone than you ever thought possible?”
He gives a nod, his shoulders deflating the slightest bit. I study his face. He looks paler than usual, the dark circles under his eyes more pronounced in the overhead light. Smudges of purple stain the skin, deep lines etched into the corners of his eyes.
Except he’s not smiling.
“You miss her.” He pats me on the arm. A lump of unshed tears lodges in the back of my throat. I swallow hard but nothing can break up that knot.
“More than anything. I just feel like I should have done something, like if I’d been paying closer attention, maybe I’d have seen or heard something…” Tears sting my eyes.
Seeing Zak dredged up all the guilt again, just one more thing to loop around my neck.
I already have one, otherwise known as Tyson, pulling so tight I can barely breathe.
“We’ve been down this road. You have to stop blaming yourself.” He lets out a deep sigh. “There is plenty of blame to go around. We all could have chosen to do things differently in the past… things that might have different outcomes for the people we love.”
His eyes glaze over, his forehead pinched when he spots Nathan Van Dyne, Dad’s business partner and Tyson’s father, standing across the room from us. I watch his curious but threatening gaze tangle with Dad’s. Tension sizzles the air between them. They stare at each other for a long minute, their eyes sparring viciously while their mouths remain tightly closed.
Dad finally pulls his eyes away and looks at me. “I love you so much, Skyla. Always remember that.” Then he leans closer and kisses me on the cheek before walking back to my mother. My brows furrow. He walks with a slight limp, his shoulders slumped.
My heart pangs. He’s so beaten down, so broken.
Just like the rest of us.
I want to be angry. I want to kick chairs over and scream bloody murder. Hell, I want to punch holes in the wall and hurl champagne glasses at my fiancé and his smug-ass family.
But right now, I’m just sad.
Sad for everything I’ve lost and everything I’m about to lose.
