Chapter 3

The next day was supposed to be the day we went to the Los Angeles County Clerk's Office to apply for our marriage license.

Julian called many times. I didn't answer any of them.

Finally, Serena called.

"Emma." Her voice was gentle on the other end, with a hint of teasing reproach. "Today's the day for the license. How can you throw a tantrum and not come?"

"Did you fight with Julian? I'll give him a good scolding for you, all right? Just come on over, be a good girl."

I listened to her voice in a daze. It was nothing like the woman I'd heard tangled up with Julian in bed that night. Two different people entirely.

How badly I wished that night had only been a nightmare. That I could wake up and Serena would still be the sweet older sister who adored me.

And Julian would still be the man I trusted with everything.

But no.

I leaned back against the hospital bed and spoke hoarsely.

"I'm sick. I can't come."

"Serena, tell Julian we'll have to reschedule."

I hung up right after that. Then I opened the synced feed from the dashcam of Julian's Tesla.

The image steadied. Julian and Serena were in the car.

Serena was frowning. "Julian, what's wrong with Emma? Everything was fine—why is she throwing a fit now?"

"She wouldn't have found out about us, would she—"

"No." Julian leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth. "She's too stupid. What could she possibly know?"

"And even if she did, she wouldn't dare do anything." He said it with certainty. "Serena, I won't let anything hurt you."

Serena still looked uneasy. "But if she doesn't come to file the paperwork, how are the two of us going to—"

"Then she doesn't. The wedding will go ahead as planned. It's just a show for everyone else." Julian's voice was lazy.

Then, suddenly serious, he looked at her. "Let's get married."

Serena stared at him blankly. "What did you say?"

Julian pulled her into his arms.

"She gets the wedding. You get the license."

"From today on, you're my real wife."

Off camera, my breath caught in my throat.

I'd known for a long time that there was something wrong between them.

But watching the man I once loved most, wearing that face, say those words to another woman—my own sister—the pain was still fresh.

On the screen, Serena's eyes slowly filled with tears.

She nodded instinctively, then shook her head, over and over.

"No, no, we can't. We've already wronged Emma too much. This… this is too cruel to her."

"So you'd rather turn me down? Is that not cruel to me?" He leaned in closer. "Serena, are you going to choose your sister over me?"

Serena looked at him, her face twisted in agony.

Finally, as if she'd made up her mind about something, she nodded.

"Okay. We'll apply for the license."

"Even if it has to be annulled later, even if we have to divorce—I'll accept it."

She looked at him, tears in her eyes, as resolute as if she were walking to her execution.

"Julian, no matter what happens later… at least this once, I'll have truly been your bride."

They gazed at each other with unbearable devotion, then kissed, refusing to let go.

Off camera, tears rolled down my face and wouldn't stop.

So this was the sister I thought loved me most. This was the man I thought loved me most.

Sisterly devotion, love that lasted a lifetime—all of it a joke.

And I was the punchline.

I closed my eyes and let the nurse wheel me into the operating room.