“Blair, I didn’t mean…”

“Don’t you dare talk about my son like that!” I cut her off, my voice rising. “You don’t know anything about what we went through, so shut your fucking mouth!”

Kyle stepped in and positioned Aria protectively behind him. “Blair, that’s enough. She’s your sister, for Pete’s sake!”

I glared at them. How shameless!

“Who cares if she’s my sister? She better watch her mouth!”

Aria, looking hurt, pleaded, “It’s fine, Kyle. If Blair won’t admit that Andy is faking his illness, I’ll just drop it.”

I frowned and looked at Kyle. “You think Andy is faking it too?”

Kyle didn’t say a word, but his silence spoke volumes.

Damn. What a nice father this man was!

Kyle looked around, but Andy was nowhere to be seen. “So, where’d you take him this time?”

Clearly, he didn’t believe me. If only he’d come home, he’d see our table covered in medications and medical records. But well, he never did.

I remember when Andy knew he didn’t have much time left. I expected him to cry, but he didn’t. Instead, he said he wanted one last family trip to Disneyland.

I wanted to grant it, of course.

So, I begged Kyle and knelt before him. When he refused, I clung to his pants, promising that it would be the last time I’d ever bother him.

One last request, and I’d set him free.

He was happy then. He didn’t say much, but his sparkling eyes told me he was happy.

I was miserable, but so what?

Kyle was a kid I found by the river when we were little. He was homeless, so I begged my parents to adopt him.

It never became official, though. The adoption papers didn’t push through, so we weren’t legally siblings.

When I was in junior high, my parents split up, and Aria went to live with my dad. I always stuck close to Kyle, so I begged him to come with me and my mom.

Little did I know, that made Kyle resent me for years. Turns out he wanted to go with Aria.

Later, my mom made Kyle promise to take care of me, saying it would give her peace of mind. Maybe he didn’t have a choice, so he married me in a quick, no-frills wedding—no family, no friends, no certificate.

He said that was all I deserved.

“Don’t ask as if Andy is just a thing to drag around. He’s your son, Kyle. Can’t you sound a little concerned?”

“Why not? He’s not my responsibility,” Kyle said coldly. “I never wanted any of this.”

Hearing that made me mad.

How heartless could he be?

“You think you’re the only one suffering? Andy didn’t ask to be born into this mess, jerk! He’s a child. Your child! And he deserves better.”

“Aria and I... belong together, Blair. You and Andy are just... complications.”

“Complications?” My voice broke.

I stared at Kyle in disappointment.

Why did I even agree to marry this guy? He used to look like a Prince Charming to me, but now? Seeing him alone made me want to scream.

Kyle opened his mouth, probably to say something stupid, but Aria cut in.

“Kyle, my foot hurts, and my face is burning. God! Can you check if it’s swollen? I’m worried it’ll ruin tomorrow’s business event.”

Right on cue, Kyle’s attention shifted to her.

Aria collapsed dramatically into his arms, water welling up in her eyes like she was in some soap opera. And there was the handprint I left on her cheek!

It was so red, and I was so proud!

Right then, she cried. Not sure if she's faking it or not, but my stupid husband wiped her tears away like she was a fragile porcelain doll.

He used to be that sweet to me. He’d pick me up when I fell and brush away my tears. Now, I couldn’t even remember the last time he was nice to me.

“Apologize to your sister, Blair.”

Excuse me? I straightened my back and lifted my chin. “No way.”

Kyle blinked. You didn’t expect that, did you?

I used to be careful around him because I liked him. Tried to be perfect so he wouldn’t hate me. Desperate, I know, but nothing I did ever measure up to Aria.

After looking surprised for a second, Kyle went back to cuddling Aria.

No time to stay, I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me.

“Blair, don’t push me.”

Then, a bodyguard stepped in, guiding me back. Kyle lounged there, legs crossed, looking at me like I was an annoying fly.

“Apologize to Aria,” he ordered.

Aria gave me a smug smile and then turned to Kyle with fake sweetness. “It’s okay, Kyle. Blair didn’t mean it.”

Kyle sighed, patting her arm. “Aria, you’re too kind. You treat her like a sister, but she’s never seen you that way.”

After that, he glared at me. “Anyone who hurts Aria will pay double.”

Bullies would corner me and steal my lunch money way back in elementary school. But whenever they did that, Kyle would swoop in and beat the crap out of them to protect me.

That protector was long gone, though.

He's protecting someone else now.

When Kyle signaled the bodyguards, they forced me to my knees. I could feel his satisfaction as I bowed my head. Is this what he wants?

On his cue, a bodyguard stepped forward and raised his hand to hit me. Just then, Aria spoke.

“Kyle, she’s still my sister. Men can be too rough. Let me do it.”

Kyle didn’t care, of course.

He just nodded, and Aria slapped me twice.

Then, she turned to Kyle. “Oh no, Kyle! Did I hit too hard?”

Kyle laughed coldly. “She deserves it, Aria. You should have slapped her harder. You’re too kind.”

Not gonna lie, Aria's slap hurt.

“Don’t be stubborn now, Blair. Apologize.”

Apologize for what? For her talking shirt about my son?

If this had happened before, I would have done what he asked immediately.

But I’ve had enough.

Smiling, I spat the words out, “In your dreams!”

I never knew falling out of love was possible overnight until I experienced it.

When I looked at Kyle, there wasn’t a bit of love left—just pure, burning hatred.

"What's so hard about apologizing, Blair? Say sorry, and you can have whatever you want," he said, like he was handing me the world on a silver platter. "I'll hang out with your kid or even make you my wife."

I used to dream about being his legit wife. I imagined standing by his side, everyone knowing I was his. But he was always seen publicly with Aria, so everyone thought she was his wife.

There are dreams we pursue, and dreams we drop, though.

Now that I no longer wanted it, he was dangling it in front of me like a carrot.

"No need, Kyle. We're done."

Kyle’s face twisted, like he couldn’t process what I’d just said.

“What? Not gonna come running to me, pretending you need me to play with your kid anymore?”

Pretending? I flared up.

“You don’t get it, do you? It’s not about pretending. It’s about you never being there when it mattered.”

Before I could snap back, Aria chimed in.

“Blair, stop deceiving Kyle! If Andy is really dying, where is he? Why are you here alone?”

“Shut up! You have no right to mention my son.”

Aria’s face crumpled. “Okay. I'm sorry! You don't need to be mad at me, Blair.”

After saying that, she turned her big, doe eyes to Kyle, playing the victim perfectly. Her act was sickening, and it was working.

Kyle got pissed, too.

Not at Aria, though. At me, and I could see it.

Chuckling, he pulled out his phone and dialed someone's number. Then, he put the call on speaker.

“Find out which hospital Blair’s kid is at, and pass the word to stop his treatment.”

Kyle’s eyes glinted with satisfaction like a cat playing with a mouse.

He thought he had me cornered.

He thought this power play would break me.

He thought this move would make me crawl back to him.

But that's just what he thought.

He had no idea.

I gave him a bleak smile before the person on the line could answer.

“Is this the kind of game you want?” I asked, sneering.

Kyle’s smirk faltered, but he didn’t back down. Soon, the man's voice came through the speaker, hesitant and unsure.

“Mr. Tyson, Andy passed away the day after you disappeared.”