Bianca's POV
Three weeks had passed since the wedding, and I was still living in Chloe's house. Well, technically it was Alexander's house too, but I tried not to think about that part too much.
Every morning I woke up in the guest room with its cream colored walls and fancy chandelier, and every morning I had to remind myself that this was real. That I wasn't dreaming. That I actually had a sister who cared about me, who wanted me around.
Even if I was sleeping under the same roof as the man I'd slept with before he became her husband.
I was in the kitchen making coffee when Chloe walked in, practically glowing. Marriage looked good on her. Too good. It made the guilt sitting in my stomach feel like broken glass.
"Morning!" she chirped, grabbing a mug from the cabinet. "Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah," I lied. I hadn't slept well in three weeks. Every night I tossed and turned, replaying that night over and over, wondering when everything would blow up in my face.
Chloe poured herself some coffee and sat across from me at the kitchen island. "So, I've been thinking."
"About what?"
"About you. Your future." She smiled that bright, innocent smile that made me want to crawl into a hole. "You can't keep working at that club, Bianca. It's not safe, and you deserve so much better."
I stirred my coffee, watching the cream swirl into the dark liquid. "I appreciate that, but I can take care of myself. I've been doing it for years."
"I know you can." She reached over and squeezed my hand. "But you don't have to anymore. You have family now. Let me help you."
The word family made my chest ache. I didn't deserve this. Didn't deserve her kindness or her trust or any of it.
"What did you have in mind?" I asked carefully.
Her eyes lit up. "I was thinking you could work at one of our companies. Nothing too stressful to start, maybe reception or assistant work. Just to get your foot in the door. And I could enroll you in some business classes so you can learn the industry."
I blinked at her. "You want to give me a job? Just like that?"
"You're my sister. Of course I do."
I wanted to argue, to tell her I couldn't accept charity, but the truth was I was tired. Tired of dancing for strangers, tired of pretending I was okay with the life I'd been living. Maybe this was my chance to actually be someone different.
Someone better.
"Okay," I said softly. "Thank you, Chloe. Really."
She squealed and jumped up to hug me. "This is going to be amazing! We'll be like a real family now."
Over her shoulder, I saw Alexander walk into the kitchen. He froze when he saw us hugging, and for just a second, our eyes met.
I looked away first.
"Morning, babe," Chloe said, releasing me to go kiss her husband. I focused very hard on my coffee mug, studying the handle like it was the most fascinating thing I'd ever seen.
"Morning," Alexander said. His voice sounded strained. "What's going on?"
"I just told Bianca she's going to start working for us! Isn't that great?"
I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to look up.
"That's wonderful," he said, and I couldn't tell if he meant it or not. "Which department?"
"I was thinking she could start at Montgomery Media. Work with the admin team."
"Good idea." A pause. "I'll make sure HR gets everything sorted."
"Thank you, honey." Chloe kissed him again, and I suddenly felt like I needed to be anywhere else.
I stood up. "I should go get ready. Thanks again for everything, Chloe."
"Where are you going?" she asked.
"Just out. Need to clear my head, maybe walk around the city for a bit."
That wasn't entirely a lie. I did need to clear my head. Being in the same room as both of them was suffocating.
I grabbed my jacket and headed out before either of them could stop me. The fresh air hit my face, and I breathed it in deep, trying to calm the panic rising in my chest.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.
"We need to talk. Coffee? The place on Fifth and Main. One hour."
I didn't need to ask who it was. I just knew.
I should've ignored it. Should've deleted it and blocked the number and pretended I never saw it.
But I didn't.
Instead, I found myself walking toward Fifth and Main, my heart pounding harder with every step.
The coffee shop was small and quiet, tucked between a bookstore and a dry cleaner. Alexander was already there, sitting in a corner booth, looking way too good in a simple black sweater and jeans.
I slid into the seat across from him. "This is a bad idea."
"I know."
"Then why did you text me?"
He leaned forward, his grey eyes intense. "Because we can't keep pretending this didn't happen. We live in the same house now, Bianca. We're going to see each other every day. We need to establish boundaries."
"You're right." I crossed my arms. "Boundary number one, no secret coffee meetings."
"After this one."
"There shouldn't be a this one."
"But there is." He ran a hand through his dark hair, looking frustrated. "Look, I'm not trying to make this harder. I just need to know we're on the same page. That night was a mistake. We both agree on that, right?"
"Obviously."
"And it won't happen again."
"Obviously."
"Good." He sat back, but he didn't look relieved. He looked tense, like every muscle in his body was wound too tight. "I love Chloe. I married her because I love her."
The words shouldn't have hurt, but they did. I forced myself to nod. "I know. And she's my sister. I would never do anything to hurt her."
"Even though we already did."
The truth of that statement hung between us like poison.
"She can never find out," I whispered.
"She won't." His jaw clenched. "I'll make sure of it."
We sat there in silence for a moment, and I wondered if he felt it too. That pull. That magnetic thing that had drawn us together in the first place.
"I should go," I said, standing up.
"Bianca."
I stopped but didn't turn around.
"For what it's worth," he said quietly, "I'm sorry. For all of this."
I left without responding because I didn't trust my voice not to break.
When I got back to the house, Chloe was waiting in the living room with a huge smile on her face.
"There you are! I have the best news."
I tried to match her energy. "What's up?"
"Mom's getting out of prison early. Next week, actually. Isn't that amazing?"
My blood ran cold.
Vanessa.
The woman who hated me, who blamed me for ruining her perfect family, was coming home.
"That's great," I managed to say, even though my hands were shaking.
Chloe didn't notice. She was too busy talking about welcome home plans and family dinners and how excited she was to have her mother back.
All I could think was that my time was running out.
Vanessa would see right through me. She'd know something was wrong. And when she found out the truth, she'd make sure I paid for it.
I excused myself and went to my room, closing the door and leaning against it.
My phone buzzed again.
Another text from Alexander.
"I heard about Vanessa. Be careful."
I deleted the message and threw my phone on the bed.
This was getting too complicated. Too dangerous.
But I was already in too deep to climb out now.