Vivian tugged at her black dress, hoping it could somehow make her invisible. The hall of the Westmore Hotel sparkled with crystal chandeliers and the fake laughter of New York's elite. She gripped her champagne glass tightly, her fingers turning white.
"Just breathe," she whispered to herself. "You can do this." From her hiding spot behind a huge flower arrangement, Vivian spotted her father across the room.
Alexander DeWitt stood tall in his expensive suit, his silver hair perfectly combed back. He smiled and shook hands with important-looking people, but Vivian knew that smile. It never reached his eyes.
Ten years. Ten years since he'd looked at her with pure hate and told her to leave. Ten years since everyone decided she was guilty for Isabella's death.
Vivian took a sip of champagne, the bubbles burning her throat. Why had they invited her back now? What could possibly have changed?
A waiter passed by with a tray of tiny sandwiches. Vivian's stomach growled, telling her she'd been too nervous to eat all day. She reached for one, then froze as the crowd near the entrance suddenly hushed. The huge double doors swung open.
A woman in a beautiful red dress glided in, her dark hair flowing over her shoulders like a waterfall. Something about her walk, the way she held her head high... Vivian's heart stopped. The champagne glass slipped from her fingers. No. It's not possible.
The woman turned, and Vivian saw her face clearly for the first time. Those familiar dark eyes. That beautiful smile that charmed everyone. Isabella. Isabella DeWitt. Her dead sister. Not dead at all.
The room spun around Vivian. Isabellaalive and beautifulwas moving through the crowd, accepting hugs and kisses like a queen returning to her land. "I must be dreaming," Vivian mumbled, steadying herself against the wall. "Or going crazy."
But then she saw something that hurt even worse. Following behind Isabella, holding her hand with a careful grip, was Damien Holt. Damien. The only person who had believed in her. The man she had loved with every piece of her broken heart.
He looked older now, more serious. His once-playful eyes now seemed guarded. He kept close to Isabella, saying something in her ear that made her laugh.
The champagne glass Vivian had been holding broke against the marble floor. Several folks turned to look. Isabella's eyes locked with Vivian's across the room.
For one heartbeat, Vivian saw something flicker in her sister's face surprise? Fear? But it vanished quickly, replaced by a perfect, practiced smile. Isabella whispered something to Damien. He looked up, saw Vivian, and his face went pale. Vivian couldn't breathe. The room was suddenly too hot, too crowded.
The music became a screaming noise in her ears. Everyone was watching, whispering. My sister is living. My sister is living and with Damien.
Her legs moved on their own. Pushing through groups of startled guests, Vivian ran for the quickest exit. She heard someone call her name was it Damien? but she didn't stop.
The cool night air hit her face as she burst through a side door into an empty yard. Gasping, she bent over, hands on her knees, trying not to throw up.
"This can't be happening," she whispered, tears running down her face. "They told me she drowned. I saw them search the lake!" For ten years, she'd held the weight of Isabella's death.
She'd lost her family, her home, her futureall because everyone thought she'd somehow caused her sister's accident. And now? Isabella was living. Which meant... "It was all a lie," Vivian realized, rage building inside her chest.
"They all knew. They must have all known." The door behind her opened with a soft click. Vivian spun around, ready to run again, but froze when she saw who it was. Julian Parker stood in the doorway, his kind eyes full of worry.
But his look was the same one he'd worn the day she left townlike his heart was breaking for her. "Vivian," he said softly. "I'm so sorry. I wanted to warn you before" "You knew?" Vivian's voice cracked.
"You knew she was alive?" Julian took a step toward her, hands raised like he was approaching a hurt animal. "I just found out last month. I tried to find you, but you changed your name, your number" "But why?" Vivian ordered, her voice rising.
"Why would Isabella fake her death? Why would my father let me think I was responsible? Why would they remove me if she wasn't even dead?" Julian glanced nervously back at the door.
"It's tricky. There are things about your family you don't know."
"Like what?" Vivian demanded. Before Julian could answer, the back door opened again. Damien stood there, his eyes wild and searching until they found her. "Vivian," he breathed her name like a prayer.
"Please, let me explain." The sight of himstill so handsome, still able to make her heart racemade Vivian's anger boil over.
"Explain what?" she snapped. "How my dead sister is actually alive? Or how you're holding her hand now?" Damien winced. He took a step toward her, but Julian moved between them.
"Give her space, Holt," Julian warned. Damien's jaw tightened. "This isn't about you, Parker. Vivian and I need to talk."
"No," Vivian said, finding power in her fury. "I don't want to talk to either of you. For ten years, I've been living with the guilt of something that never even happened! Everyone in this town treated me like a killer while my sister waswhat? On vacation?"
"It wasn't like that," Damien maintained. "We thought it was the only way to keep her safe."
"Safe from what?" Vivian demanded. A shadow passed over Damien's face. "There are things you don't understand."
"Then make me understand!" Vivian shouted. From inside the hall came the sound of tinkling glasssomeone calling for attention. Damien looked back, suddenly nervous. "Not here," he said quickly
"Meet me tomorrow at the Bluejay Café on 6th Street. Nine in the morning. I'll tell you everything."
Before Vivian could reply, the garden door opened again. Isabella herself stepped out, beautiful in her red dress. She looked exactly the same, yet somehow differentharder around the edges, despite her beautiful smile.
"There you are," Isabella said easily. "Daddy's about to make the announcement." Her eyes landed on Vivian, and her smile never faltered. It was like looking at a stranger wearing her sister's face. "Hello, little sister," Isabella said coolly.
"Surprise." Vivian stood frozen, unable to speak or move. "Isabella," Julian warned, "this isn't the time." "On the contrary," Isabella answered, her voice honey-sweet but her eyes cold. "It's exactly the time.
Ten years too late, perhaps, but here we are." She reached for Damien's arm, squeezing it possessively. "We should get back inside, darling. Daddy's waiting." Damien paused, his eyes never leaving Vivian's face. Something passed between thema current of electricity, of unfinished business.
"Tomorrow," he mouthed quietly to Vivian. "Please." Vivian watched as Isabella pulled Damien back toward the party. Just before they disappeared inside, Isabella glanced back over her shoulder, straight at Vivian.
And smiled. Not her public smile, but something elsesomething that sent ice through Vivian's blood. A smile that said, I've won. "Vivian," Julian said softly, touching her arm. "Let me take you back to your hotel." Vivian shook her head, her mind running.
"No. I need answers, and I'm not going until I get them." She squared her shoulders and wiped away her tears.
The shocked, scared woman from moments ago was gone. In her place stood someone newsomeone determined to find the truth, no matter how ugly it might be. "My sister wants to play games?"
Vivian said, her voice steady. "Fine. Let's play." What she didn't see was the figure watching from the shadows of the yard, cell phone raised, capturing every moment of her breakdown.
Or the quick text they sent: She's back. And she suspects something. Should I continue with the plan?