He Left Me For My Sister Now He Begs For Me Back Chapter 04
A month before my eighteenth birthday, my mother started preparations for my gown.
The material was a deep red, handwoven satin from my grandfather’s collection. There was only enough for three gowns. My mother had used one for her wedding. My sister had used one for her coming-of-age ceremony. The last bolt had been saved for me.
On the day the designer came for my measurements, my sister was there.
Running her fingers over the gleaming fabric, she smiled. “Red suits Adeline best.”
At the time, I truly believed she meant it.
The family had thrown her a magnificent coming-of-age party at the Royal Hotel. Surely she wouldn’t try to steal the one ceremony that was meant to be mine.
But on the morning of my birthday, her personal assistant rushed in, frantic, saying that coffee had been spilled on the dress my sister had planned to wear.
Her hair and makeup were already done, and guests were arriving at the hotel. There was no time for the designer to make alterations on a new gown.
The only dress in the suite that matched her jewelry was my red one.
I didn’t answer right away. I just looked at my mother.
She avoided my eyes.
“Adeline.”
There it was again. That soft, pleading tone.
I lowered my gaze and smoothed the sleeve of my robe.
“I understand. Let her wear it.”
Relief washed over my mother’s face. She even gave me a hug.
“I knew you’d be the thoughtful one.”
So, at my own eighteenth birthday party, Victoria wore the brilliant, dazzling red gown, while I made a last-minute change into a pale pink dress from the previous year.
The dress wasn’t ugly.
But standing next to my sister, I was nothing more than a backdrop.
Halfway through dinner, a guest brought up my sister’s junior fencing award, remarking that she hadn’t performed in years. Since she seemed to be in such good spirits, why not demonstrate a few moves?
At first, Mother demurred, worried Victoria would tire herself out. But Sebastian had already crossed to the hotel’s display case and returned with an unsharpened competition épée, offering it to her with both hands, like a prize.
“If Victoria is willing, she can use my sword.”
The ballroom broke into laughter and applause.
Someone glanced in my direction.
I was smiling, too. Only I knew that, under the table, my nails were digging into my palm.
My sister glanced at me, her expression hesitant.
“But today is Adeline’s birthday.”
Someone immediately called out, “You’re sisters. A victory for one of you is a victory for both, isn’t it?”
My mother smiled as well.
“Adeline won’t mind.”
So, Victoria took the épée.
The music began. She moved gracefully beneath the lights, completing a full performance. As her red skirt flared out, a hush fell over the entire ballroom.
Sebastian stared, not blinking.
On her final move, she must have tired, because her foot slipped.
Sebastian was at her side in an instant, catching her in his arms.
Warm laughter filled the room.
My mother rushed to see if my sister was hurt. My father called for the on-site Healer. My brother gently scolded her for pushing herself. And Sebastian just held her, refusing to let go.
I stood alone on the birthday platform, the pin symbolizing my adult Pack membership not yet fastened to my dress.
My aunt, Rebecca Hart, who was supposed to preside over my registration ceremony, let out a soft sigh.
She was my father’s only sister. She’d taken over her late husband’s investment firm and run it herself, and she was one of the few people in my family who never used the incident at the lake to pressure me.
She pinned the brooch to my dress and murmured in my ear, “Adeline, does it hurt?”
I shook my head without thinking.
“No.”
But she held my gaze.
“I mean your heart.”
For a moment, a sharp burn in my nose threatened tears, but I shook my head again.
“That doesn’t hurt either.”
Because back then, I still believed that in the end, Sebastian would come back to me.