Chapter 2

I didn't turn around, only glancing at her through the mirror.

"Knock before you come in. Get out."

Chloe gave a dry chuckle and waved her hand dismissively.

"It's just a knock. Why are you so petty?"

"Mom and Dad never knock before walking into your room at home. They just push the door open."

"Why are you acting so high and mighty all of a sudden? It's not like you're in my room."

Even she knew.

Nobody ever respected my privacy. They walked into my space whenever they felt like it, without even a word of warning.

Yet when it came to Chloe, they would knock gently and wait for her permission before taking a step inside.

"Get out!"

"This is my dressing room. I want to be left alone."

Chloe pouted impatiently, completely ignoring my words.

Instead, she pushed the door wider and leaned outside, complaining to the hallway:

"I tried talking to her, but she won't listen. What else am I supposed to do?"

"Brandon, Mom, Dad, you guys talk to her."

The three of them rushed in at once.

My parents started with the exact same routine.

"Your sister is young and playful. She only piped up during the vows for fun. You're the older sister, cut her some slack."

"Exactly. We're all family. We've always done things this way. Why are you acting so dramatic on your wedding day?"

Even Brandon joined in, accusing me:

"Sierra, Chloe is your sister. I love you, so she's family to me too."

"You're older than her, why are you making a scene? Besides, she came in here to make peace. Be sensible and let it go. Stop being so selfish, okay?"

I looked at Brandon, feeling a wave of utter disappointment wash over me.

He claimed he loved me, yet he never saw my pain or my humiliation. He was just forcing me to endure more of it.

I suddenly let out a laugh.

It finally clicked.

There was no future for Brandon and me.

Seeing me laugh, Brandon actually thought I was calming down. He hurriedly waved to Chloe, who was standing in the corner, trying to play peacemaker.

"Chloe, come apologize to your sister. See? Sierra is reasonable."

Chloe rolled her eyes, tossed whatever was in her hand onto the couch, and dragged her feet over.

"Fine, my bad. I'm sorry. Thanks for forgiving me, happy now?"

My eyes caught what she had just thrown onto the couch.

"What did you just toss?"

Chloe went silent, instinctively hiding her right hand behind her back.

I walked over to the couch.

It was the velvet jewelry box that held our wedding bands.

The lid was halfway open, and my diamond ring was gone.

Seeing her hide her hand, I instantly knew what she had done.

I grabbed her right wrist and pulled her hand into the light.

My custom diamond ring was sitting right on her ring finger.

"Chloe, you stole my ring?"

Caught red-handed, Chloe yanked her hand back, her face flushing with anger.

"Stole? How can you say something so nasty!"

"I was just trying it on! I'll take it off and give it back to you, alright?"

With teary eyes, she tugged at the ring, muttering under her breath:

"You're my sister. What's the harm in letting me try it on? Now you won't share anything with me, and you're yelling at me too."

"Ouch, it hurts! It's stuck. I can't get it off."

Chloe didn't keep her voice down.

I knew she wasn't talking to me.

She was performing for the other three people in the room.

Sure enough, the moment Chloe pretended to tug at the ring for the third time, Brandon caught her hand.

"Stop pulling, your finger is getting red. If you like it, keep it."

"It's just a ring anyway. I'll buy your sister a brand-new one later."

Then, he turned to me.

"Sierra, what do you say?"