Meadow's POV
Juniper is the one I love.
Juniper.
Is.
The.
One.
He.
Loves.
The words echoed in my head, crashing into one another until they lost all meaning and yet somehow still hurt just as much. My lungs seized. I tried to inhale, but my chest refused to cooperate. My mouth opened, but no sound came out.
You really believed that?
My mind couldn't process it. It was like someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart with merciless precision.
Tyler's hand dropped from my jaw abruptly, as if touching me disgusted him now.
"Why?" The word came out broken, thin, barely audible. I sounded young. Small. "Why would you do this to me?"
Juniper laughed.
Not a loud laugh. Not hysterical. Just a soft, pleased sound, like she was enjoying a private joke. She walked toward me completely bare, utterly unconcerned by my presence or my pain.
"Oh, sis," she said lightly. "You still don't get it?"
She tilted her head, her eyes bright with something ugly and sharp. "You were never anything more than a piece on the board." Then she smiled wider. "Long time no see."
My hands curled into fists. "You were supposed to stay away from my life."
"And I did," she said, clicking her tongue. "Mostly." She shrugged. "But then I realized something."
She stepped closer, invading my space.
"You don't deserve happiness."
My stomach twisted.
"And that's where your precious fiancé came in." She reached up and cupped Tyler's cheek, her thumb stroking his skin possessively. "Perfect, isn't he?"
"No," I said hoarsely, shaking my head as I turned to Tyler. "That's not true. Please, tell me it's not true."
My voice cracked as I took a shaky breath. "Tell me you haven't been lying to me."
Tyler's jaw tightened. For a split second, something flickered across his face.
Then he smirked. "It's true," he said calmly. "Why do you think I never touched you? You didn't seriously believe it was because you wanted to wait, did you?"
The words hit like a slap.
"You think Tyler just found you?" Juniper added mockingly. "That he just magically fell for your boring, innocent little act?"
Tyler leaned back against the bed, crossing his arms. His expression was cold now. Calculated. "Juni told me everything before I even met you," he said. "Your habits. Your fears. The way you cling. Honestly? Pretending to be decent for you was exhausting."
He chuckled. "You made it easy, though."
I stumbled backward, my legs barely holding me up.
My head hurts.
My chest hurts.
Everything hurts.
"You… planned this?" I whispered. "From the beginning?"
Juniper's smile stretched wider, triumphant. "Of course I did."
"Why?" My throat burned. "Why would you do this to me?"
Her expression darkened, something cruel surfacing beneath her beauty. "Because watching you fall apart is the only thing that makes me feel whole."
My knees gave out.
I collapsed onto the floor, sobs ripping out of me before I could stop them. "I loved you," I cried. "I loved him."
Juniper crouched in front of me, brushing my hair back with mock gentleness. Seeing my own face twisted into something so heartless was almost unbearable.
"I know," she murmured, leaning close enough that I could smell sweat and sex clinging to her skin. "That's why this feels so good."
Then she pulled back and laughed again. "Honestly? I'm almost disappointed he never slept with you. It would've been even better knowing you gave him everything, and still weren't enough."
I forced myself up, my body shaking as I turned toward Tyler.
"Tyler," I begged. "Please. Tell me what we had was real. Tell her she's wrong."
But even as I spoke, I knew the truth.
He looked uncomfortable, not guilty. He glanced between us before turning fully to Juniper.
"This is weird," he muttered. "Seeing you both here." He reached for her, pulling her close. "It's like looking at the same person. Only…"
He kissed her.
"…I'm only in love with one of you."
My chest caved in.
I backed away as they kissed again. Juniper looked over Tyler's shoulder, her eyes locking onto mine.
"Do you mind?" she asked casually. "We kinda need to finish what we started." She smirked. "You're welcome to stay and watch."
I couldn't breathe.
I wiped my tears angrily, my whole body trembling, and turned away.
There was nothing left to say.
Nothing left to fight for.
So I left.
"Another."
The bartender didn't question me. He poured the shot smoothly, sliding it across the counter. I knocked it back immediately, welcoming the burn as it scorched my throat.
I had no idea how long I'd been there.
After I fled the hotel, without my bag, without anything, I'd wandered aimlessly through unfamiliar streets until I stumbled into the first club I saw.
I laughed bitterly.
I should've been celebrating. Dancing. Drinking with my husband.
Instead, I was drinking to forget the sound of my sister moaning his name.
Drinking to forget how stupid I'd been. How blind. How easily I'd let myself be fooled.
I downed another shot, letting the music vibrate through my bones.
Then I froze.
The shiver that ran through me had nothing to do with the music.
I was being watched.
The sensation crawled over my skin, sharp and undeniable. I didn't turn.
"Rough night?" the bartender muttered, wiping down a glass.
"What?" I asked absently.
He nodded toward something behind me. "You've got the most untouchable man in the country staring holes into you."
My heart pounded.
I hesitated, then slowly turned.
The first thing I noticed was the watch.
Black. Expensive. Diamonds catching the strobe lights.
The watch was attached to a large hand. A tattoo disappeared beneath the sleeve of a tailored black suit.
The rest of him remained in shadow, leaning against the railing like the world belonged to him.
I couldn't see his face.
But I could feel his gaze.
Focused. Heavy. Intent.
Not curiosity.
Something darker.
My pulse stumbled. "Who is that?" I whispered.
The bartender's expression tightened.
"That," he said, "is Alaric Ashford."