za

ther' s words echoed, a cruel, mocking laugh in my ears. Etienne McCarthy. Engaged. To Kaylee.

s a raw whisper, barel

tle Kaylee! Dr. McCarthy, such a catch. Brilliant, handsome, from such a distinguished family. They've been seeing each oth

mind scrambling. "He's... Kaylee is a d

rthy family, darling, they're old money, powerful. And his medical career? It was all funded by a special trus

my potential. His trust... funding Etienne's c

"Kaylee has... that fabricated PTSD from the car accident she caused

like Kaylee overcome their... delicate conditions. He's so devoted to her, Aliza. He even turned down

e. My own breathing was ragged, shallow. My grandfather's trust. Kaylee's "PTSD." Etienne's "devotio

ter, lit up with a call. He glanced at the screen, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of something in his eyes-not coldness,

a prescription for painkillers. "You're all set, Miss Cabrera. The wound is superficial. Avoid strenuous

, his back ramrod straight. "Dr. McCarthy?" I called out, desperate. He paused, his ha

d, "My personal life is not relevant to your medical care, Miss Cabrera." His words were a

t suffocating. I had to know. I had to see. I grabbed my purse, ignoring the dull a

hind his sleek black sedan. He drove to a quiet residential area, pulling up to

t anything other than his surgeries. He rang the doorbell. A moment later, the door swung open, and Kaylee stood the

nched herself

ng up to cradle her, to stroke her hair. He buried his face in her neck, holding her tigh

zed, crushing my heart into a million pieces. My vision swam. All this time. Three years. My relentless pursuit, my despe

-a tear that wasn't there a moment ago. He murmured something, his voi

"He rejected me because he had her." The thought was a fresh wave of agony

ng, I know Aliza was at the clinic again. Did she... cause any trouble? She can be quite persistent when s

"She's fine, Kaylee. Just

protect her from getting hurt, and you did. But I worry she won't understand. She might think you actually dislike her."

ou asked, Kaylee. Anything for you." His voice was soft,

rmance. Orchestrated by Kaylee. My own stepsister. My vision swam again, a black tide rising. The betrayal was a phys

ulating us all along. My grandfather's trust, her fabricated trauma, Etienne's chosen profession, his

a searing inferno, burning away the last vestiges of my shattered hea

terror. "Aliza! What are you doing here?" Her innocent facade

s eyes, fixed on me, were now truly glacial. "Aliza. What is the me

pointed a trembling finger at Kaylee. "She orchestrated this! All of it! The indifference, your 'devotion

t jealous! She always hated me, ever since Mom married her father. She

one that funded your entire medical career, Etienne! Kaylee manipulated it! Made it seem like her own legacy! And her '

genuine condition, Aliza. Her childhood

ing mother married my stepfather? That's her 'difficult childhood'? I watched my mot

een through a lot. You're just projecting your own bitterness onto her because yo

. My knees buckled. He actually believed her. He truly believed he

d, my voice barely a thread. "After

id, his voice firm, unwavering. "