His hand was still wrapped around my wrist , warm and tight . I could feel the wall at my back , the smooth wallpaper pressing against my spine , and the way he looked at me , his eyes sharp , flicking over every inch of my face , made it almost impossible to breathe . His gaze dropped to my mouth , then back to my eyes like he was trying to remember something important . I could feel it , my heart racing like it wanted to tear out of my chest . My mouth opened slightly , but I didn't know what to say . I was trying too hard not to hold my breath , trying too hard not to lean in like some pathetic girl stuck in the past . I swallowed . " Is … is something wrong ? " The words were too soft , and I hated how obvious the stutter was . He didn't answer right away . His fingers flexed just slightly around my wrist . Then he leaned in , not touching , just close enough that I felt his breath as he spoke . " I can't stop thinking I've seen you before ." I froze . The hallway was quiet , but the sound of those words slammed through me . He meant it , he really didn't know . My chest tightened so hard it hurt , but I couldn't let it show . I straightened slowly , lifted my chin , and tried to shake it off . " Maybe because I'm your fiancée's sister , " I said . His eyes didn't move . I shoved against his chest , not hard , just enough to send a message , but he didn't budge , not even an inch . I sighed , " this is ridiculous , someone could walk out and see us , and you're getting married to my sister . " He didn't respond , but his eyes stayed locked on mine . There was something there , confusion , something tight and unsure but it didn't matter . He was still stupidly handsome . His jaw was clean - shaven , his cheekbones sharp , his lips too perfect for someone who had no idea what damage they'd done . The hallway light hit just right , making his eyes look like pale steel . It was stupid how much it still got to me . Eventually , and without a word , he stepped aside , I walked past him fast , heels clicking harder than I meant , like that sound could keep me from falling apart . My face was burning , ny palms were sweaty . I felt like I had just walked out of a fire. I stepped back into the dining room and headed toward my seat . Marissa looked up from her phone and narrowed her eyes . " Why do you look like you've just seen a ghost ? " I didn't answer . I didn't even blink . 1/3 & 8:40 pm ED · Chapter 4 5 vouchers Rick walked in seconds later . Everyone's eyes moved between us like a tennis match . I grabbed Lena's plate and said quickly , " let's just eat and get the hell out of here ." We sat down again , the atmosphere thick and quiet . Knives scraped plates , glasses clinked . I could feel Rick across from me , and even though I refused to look up , I knew he was watching . But then something caught my eye … Marissa . Her phone lit up again in her hand . She glanced at the screen , then stood up too quickly . " Excuse me ," she said . She walked out , head low , looking around like someone was following her . I waited two seconds before quietly slipping out of my chair and following . I didn't even need to go far . She had ducked into the small den near the back of the hall . The door was cracked just enough . " I told you to stop calling me ! " she snapped into the phone . " I told you it's over . I'm marrying someone better , someone rich . " She paused , and her voice dropped to a sharp whisper . " I don't care if we slept together last night ! Just leave me alone . " I felt my stomach twist . I leaned back before she could notice me , then walked as fast as I could back to the table , heart hammering in my ears . I sat down and stared straight ahead . What the hell was this ? Marissa had always been the golden child , the one who smiled just right for our father , who wore everything perfectly , who never got her hair wet or her shoes dirty . Now she was just a liar with perfect lipstick , throwing herself into a fake marriage for money . And Rick … he had no idea . My hands clenched under the table . I hated all of this , the house , the voices , the food I couldn't taste . My father laughing like he hadn't tried to erase me . Marissa pretending she was in love . Rick pretending he didn't know me . And Lena … sitting here like this was a normal day . I didn't ask for this , I didn't want this . But I wasn't going to keep quiet anymore . Marissa returned to the table , tucking her phone into her clutch like nothing happened . She smiled , fake and easy . The kind of smile you use to fool the world . I didn't even think . I just opened my mouth and said it . " I'm going to marry Rick ." 2/3 8:40 pm ED Chapter 4 Silence . Forks stopped moving , conversations die and heads turned . 55 vouchers " What did you just say ? " Marissa said slowly , blinking at me in complete shock like I'd just dropped the world's biggest bombshell . My father's voice exploded across the table . " You ungrateful little , what is wrong with you ? You want to snatch your sister's fiancé now ? Are you insane ? " Marissa pushed her chair back again . My stepmother's mouth opened in full offense but before any of them could get another word in , Rick's voice cut through everything . He didn't raise it , he didn't even look surprised . His eyes were only on me . " The agreement was to marry into the family , " he said , his voice was low and he didn't peel his gaze off of me the whole time . He stood up slowly , tall and unshaken . " So it shouldn't matter what sister it is . I'll marry Fiona . " 田 AD Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!