1.

Vera’s POV

I tightened my grip on the glass of sparkling water, feeling the chill of it seep into my palm. My mind was a mess. Evelyn, my elder sister, had just announced her contract marriage to Daniel Hart. Daniel Hart. The name echoed in my head, and the thought of him being tied to my sister made my stomach churn.

I stared at Evelyn, sitting at the head of the table like a queen, with Daniel right beside her. Her smile was radiant, while his face showed no emotion, as usual. My parents couldn’t stop beaming, clinking glasses as if this was the greatest news in the world.

My chest felt tight, and I knew I couldn’t stay in the room any longer. My phone buzzed on the table, and I snatched it up like a lifeline. It was Cecily, my best friend.

“Excuse me,” I mumbled, standing up and walking out of the dining room.

As soon as I was in the hallway, I answered the call. “Cecily, I need to get out of here,” I said, my voice shaking slightly.

“What’s going on?” she asked, sounding concerned.

“Evelyn’s marrying Daniel,” I said, pacing back and forth. “It’s a contract marriage, and everyone’s acting like it’s the best thing ever.”

Cecily was silent for a moment. “Daniel Hart? That Daniel?”

“Yes,” I snapped, frustration boiling over. “I can’t handle this. Can you pick me up?”

“I can’t leave right now,” she said apologetically. “But Nicholas is nearby. I’ll ask him to come get you. He can be there in ten minutes.”

I hesitated. Nicholas was Cecily’s boyfriend, but he was like a brother to me. “Are you sure?”

“Of course. He won’t mind,” she assured me.

“Fine,” I said quietly. “Thank you.”

I ended the call and leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath to steady myself. My chest still felt tight, but at least I had an escape plan.

Reluctantly, I walked back into the dining room. Everyone was still laughing and talking like nothing had happened. I stood near the doorway, trying to find the words to excuse myself.

“I’m leaving,” I said finally, breaking through the noise.

My mother looked up, her smile fading. “With whom?” she asked sharply.

“Nicholas is picking me up,” I replied, keeping my voice steady.

She frowned, her eyes narrowing as she looked me over. “Next time you visit, wear something more appropriate. That dress doesn’t suit your figure. You should take a page out of Evelyn’s book. Look how slim and elegant she is.”

Her words stung, but I wasn’t going to let her see that. “Mom, I’m not chubby,” I said firmly. “I like the way I look. I’m healthy and happy with my curves. I don’t need to look like Evelyn to feel good about myself.”

The room fell silent. My father cleared his throat awkwardly, and Evelyn glanced at me with a raised eyebrow, but I didn’t care.

My phone buzzed again, and I glanced down. Nicholas was here. “I need to go,” I said, grabbing my bag.

“Wait,” Evelyn said suddenly.

I stopped, turning back to face her. “What now?”

She stood, smoothing down her perfect dress. “Before you leave, I have an announcement to make.”

I crossed my arms, waiting for her to speak.

“As you know, Daniel and I have been discussing a partnership,” she said, smiling brightly. “Well, tonight, we’ve decided to take it a step further. We’re engaged.”

Applause broke out around the table. My parents were practically glowing with pride, and Evelyn looked like she was enjoying every second of it.

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My stomach twisted, and my throat felt tight. Without a word, I turned and walked out of the room, my heels clicking loudly on the floor.

When I stepped outside, Nicholas’s car was already waiting at the gate. I climbed in without hesitation, slamming the door behind me.

Nicholas glanced over at me, his expression full of concern. “Rough night?”

“Just drive,” I muttered, leaning back in my seat.

He didn’t ask any questions, and I was grateful for that. As the car pulled away from the house, I stared out the window, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over.

“She announced their engagement,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

Nicholas sighed softly. “I’m sorry, Vera.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. All I could do was stare at the passing streets and try to make sense of the chaos in my head.