"Sydney!" Dad''s teeth were clenched as he red. Mum''s palm came on his shoulder.


    "I ask, dad, what nonsense?" I continued, unstoppable. That your darling Mark got dumped by his lover and fiancée on the day they were to be made man and wife?"This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Mum''s eyes widened and she nced behind her. "Sydney. Stop it!"


    I took a step forward. I cocked my head and frowned. "Or is it the nonsense that your little princess Be is a slut who seduces her brother-inw?" I enunciated the word ''slut'' and made sure it stuck.. The look that crossed their faces would have worried me a little if we were alone because then, I was sure one of their palms would have connected with my cheeks but not here, there were far too many people - too many of their elite society- and they cared too much about their image to do anything.


    The day I prepared toe back to my parents had been one of the happiest days of my life. Even though while growing up, I felt abandoned by them, I had still yearned to meet them someday. I had been disappointed. I had felt unwanted especially with Be around.


    Then the wedding bells rang and Be didn''t seem excited like I had expected. It wasn''t very shocking when, on the day of the wedding, she fled. She had left a letter. I had been the one to find it and I read before taking the letter mum and dad. She wrote - Mum, dad, I''ve met my true love and I''m leaving with him. Don''t bother to find me.


    Spoilt brat! I thought


    It had first sounded like a joke to be honest but we couldn''t find Be and time was drawing near. ! remember pitying the man she was to marry; he fell in love with a woman who didn''t want him. I pitied my parents too. I wondered how they''d break the news to the man.


    Up until they asked me to take her ce. At first, they pleaded and made countless promises with the sweetest smiles. I had refused. I couldn''t deceive a man on the day that was to be one of the happiest of his days. Then they had started to threaten me. Dad had torn my dress from my body and mom threw Be''s wedding dress at me.


    The staff that were supposed to dress Be up were called into the room. "Dress her up as fast as you can. There''s no time," dad had ordered with a sneer.


    "At least, you''d be useful," mom spat, her sweet smile long gone and both of them left the room.


    I couldn''t stop the tears from pouring down my face until I was fully dressed. The makeup artist had to redo my makeup thrice.


    Before Mark and I walked into the hall, I heard dad - from outside - announce solemnly. "It''s both a joyous and sad day for my family." There was a dramatic pause before he continued, "One of my daughters is getting married to the love of her life today, while the other has flown out of the country for a heart surgery."


    Of course, the crowd was swayed and they felt sorry for Mr and Mrs Michael and their daughters.


    "How dare you say such a thing about your sister!" I was thrown out of my reminisce and in a blur,I saw mum''s hand fly towards me. I took a quick step back and caught her arm. Chapter 0017


    +25 BC


    I held it and met her zing gaze. "Try to touch me one more time and I''ll spill the whole truth to Mark." I threw her arms away from me. "Think of what will happen then." "Michael," with a polite smile, Mark shook hands with dad. "Happy birthday."


    fa


    Dad cleared his voice, "Thank you, Mark."


    "Happy birthday, dad!" Be''s ever sweet voice rang out, probably unaware of the tension in the air while Mark was looking between me, dad and mum.


    Mum closed the space between her and Mark and they hugged. "Thank you for showing up, Mark." Her smile shone as if her face hadn''t just been red from anger.


    She sidestepped and pulled Be into a hug. Her voice softened. "Sweetheart, how are you?"


    "I''m fine, mum." Then she moved to dad too, inly ignoring me


    II took a few steps back and allowed them to finish with their pleasantries before I made my own announcement. All the while, as I watched them, I felt Marks gaze on me.


    Finally, I pped my hands, putting on the sweetest smile I could conjure up. "Attention everyone!" Dad''s head whipped to turn to me as everyone present turned too. "Don''t you dare!" Dad''s voice was a low growl.


    I ignored him and turned to the guests. I have some good news to announce." I paused, gauging everyone''s reaction. Some murmured amongst themselves while some had their gaze fixated on me in curiosity.


    With a smirk, and gushy feeling coursing through me, I made my announcement. "I''m getting a divorce from Mark Torres!"