at the house. Congressman is coming!" her mother said f

hed the bridge of her

If only she had a choice, she would've opted for overtime at work, hung ou

ther wouldn't stop until

early," she replied b

gs, trying to push down the

we

urned into her memory. Two weeks of pain, anger, and forced composure. She did everything

emember how she was

ster. They didn't even know she and Benedict had a relationship. She chose to keep it a secret, trying

starting to reg

veway. She parked behind it. Before getting out, sh

paring for the event. Her mom was equally frantic, bossing everyon

urning back to give more orders to the staff. She was about to head upstairs to change when her mom stopped her.

into wealth. In truth, they were a working-class family that got lucky moving into the middle class, thanks mostly to her late grandmother on

r shoulder bag and headed to the kitchen, only to freeze at the sight of

n her chest. She didn't expect to see them like this, espe

front them, but Aleli turned to her with a sweet smi

erfully, pretending to be innocent. "Benedict's

but she didn't let herself

fake smile. "No, thanks. I mi

nnoyance. Benedict, on the other hand,

nd focused on the oven, checking the temperature before grabbing a pot h

li wasn

er tone baiting a reaction. "I wanted you t

ah f

e water was po

d dropped the pot holder. She

ng ma

wed the lump of an

once dreamed of spending forever with-had not

two weeks? And

seeing each other behind her back all along. M

She wanted to see if Aleli was telling the truth

e, she saw it, the glinting

n't show

i a cold, emo

almly, even though it felt li

en though it felt like she was walki

ool, but it couldn't extinguish the fire raging inside her. She drew in a deep br

mposed herself when she hear

iya

fr

d, but eventually,

s Ben

his expression serious, his eyes

asked coldly, trying to maint

ser. "I want t

e turned her back, ready to walk away, but he stepped clo

" he said firmly. "Do you

ang at the

till feel

k that after choosin

. She wouldn't let anger win.

a bitter smile,

I still l

looked him up and dow

he one still ho

d she saw irritation

nto a joke, Aliyah

azed. "I don't feel anything fo

nger flared

grabbed her by the arm-tight-al

enched teeth, eyes burning. "

idn't finish

ddenly, he

widened

red her strength to push Benedict away. But b

ilthy

sister Aleli was the first thing she saw. Her sister was seething wi

screamed, shaking with anger. "You only know how to us

e couldn't speak right away, too stunn

li,

to hit her again, but Aliyah c

shouted back. "Benedict came to

finish explaining,

anded angrily. Their mother rushed to Aleli

liyah... she was flirting with B

"What?!" She looked at Benedict, hop

e was

eared his throat and looked at their

sigh. "I only wanted to ask for Aliyah's blessin

ething exploded

creamed in anger. "Be

seemed to

"What's gotten into you? Your sister

was Bene

red. "I don't want to he

't believe what was happening. Not only had the truth been

tighten. It felt like she was

said weakly, her

r was Aleli's sobbing while their mother comfor

, full of heartbreak. She didn't wait for anyone to speak. She didn't

ack here!" her

't stay. She had to get away, b

ew was that she wanted to escape, even just for a momen

nt of her. At the same time, a sharp ho

wide in fear, bu

by heartbreak, confusion, and

what came next, she lost