d in on the ultimate betrayal, yet the pain felt just as fresh, just as raw. Sleep evaded her. Food tasted like nothing.

r insides. The room was quiet-too quiet. Mark lay beside her, scrolling through his ph

ena fe

d her eyes, she saw Celine's face-her wide, tear-filled eyes, the pure devast

si

prot

iven up so much to make

d Elena don

n the one man

rolled through her, a

n't do th

er voice barely above

onse, still distr

heart hammering against her

ed up, raising an

th. "For what we did.

ve been over this. What happened, happe

ter. My blood. She trusted me, she loved me, and I-" H

lena, listen to me," he said firmly. "I love you. What w

hat's not true. She loved you. She

Maybe she did, but that doesn't mean I felt the same way

m, her stomach twi

n so blind?

wavered. "Did you

ven a

ve feelin

ther, Mark were you using my sister the whole time and playing with her feelings and emotions? Answer me Mark, Celine questioned.

heart

y sign of remorse, any trace

th

he be so i

troy someone and

the fabric of her dres

lena, don't do this. We made

myself be blinded by you." Her chest ached as fresh guilt consumed he

t this time, she stood abruptl

see her," s

ion darkened.

hook her head. "I have to. She's my s

rgive you," h

ve to

hat? You think she'll welcome you with open

know. But I need to see her. I n

into a thin line.

hesi

s entire mess began, she was

lf, her voice barely above a whis

tep toward

cut him off, turni

as she grabbed her co

say to Celine, no idea if her

e had

he first time,

k didn't t

Celin

ure if she could

s she reached for the doorbell. Her heart pounded violently a

had come

to face h

breath, she pr

nity before the door creak

breath

r eyes were swollen, dark circles beneath them. She had lost

ena fully grasped the

her voic

simply turned and walked in

itation and stepped in, h

ms crossed tightly over her chest.

I don't deserve to be here. But

oice was eerily calm.

. I came to beg for

eness?" Her voice shook. "Elena, do yo

Elena's eyes.

get to 'please' me, Elena. You don't get to stand h

r lip, holdi

our homework, even when I had exams the next day? Do you remember when Mom and Dad died, and I had to become your parent? I gave up so much,

ena's face. "Cely, I n

ve thought about me for once, Elena. Just once. You

first, I made sure your happiness comes before m

esponsible sister, mother, fathe

thout thinking twice, you didn't even think of me, how

about you. Every single day since it happened. That's why I couldn't face you. But I forced m

yes, shaking her head

I can never undo what I did. But

alling unevenly. She turned away, pressing her finger

passed i

nally, s

rgive

h hitched. "Y

ening in her eyes. "Yes. Because despite everythi

eaching for her, but C

er voice firm, "things wil

e, her hea

. I don't know if we can ever go back to how we were." She inhaled

appeared. She had prayed for forgiveness, but

s and nodded slow

lingering look before turn

oward the door. With one last glance at her

idn't tu

ut, closing the

alized that some mistakes, no matter how