—- Chapter 7 A fiery pain exploded across my face. But it was nothing compared to the venom in Maya’s eyes. “Finally!” she shrieked. “Finally, | don’t have to pretend anymore!” Her face was twisted into an ugly mask. “Do you have any idea how much | hate you? Catherine Sterling, the perfect little princess!” Her voice echoed through the lobby. A few passersby stopped to stare. “| hate your perfect family! | hate your clean background! | hate how you get everything without even trying!” | stood there, listening, as my heart bled. “Luciano was supposed to be mine!
The queen’s throne was supposed to be mine!” Maya’s voice grew shriller. “But then you floated in, St. Catherine, and you bewitched him with your wide-eyed —- innocence and your fucking kindness!” “Inever-” “You did!” she cut me off. “You took everything from him! His love, his attention, his promises! And what was |? | was left to hide in the shadows, stealing scraps of what should have been mine!” | thought back to a night six years ago. Maya called me from a casino, drunk and crying, saying she’d killed someone. A guy who tried to rape her.
It was self-defense, but the guy’s mob ties made things complicated. | didn’t hesitate. | used every connection my father had. Lawyers, judges, police. It took a full year to make it all go away. “It cost me Paris,” | said, my voice hollow. “It cost me my dream.” —- The head designer of Chanel had personally invited me. There was only one spot. But | chose to stay and help my best friend. “Does the name Marcus Evans mean anything to you?” | asked softly. Maya’s expression froze. “Never mind. You have no idea what | gave up to save you,” | said, looking into her eyes.
“But | never regretted it. Until now.” “That’s different! What could you possibly give up? You already have so much…” “How is it different?” my voice started to tremble. “I treated you like a sister, and you treated me like an enemy.” “Because you are so goddamn perfect!” Maya screamed. “Your goodness is a spotlight on all my flaws! Your purity makes me feel like filth! I’m sick of living in your fucking shadow!” Tears blurred my vision. Not from the pain of the slap. —- From disappointment. Complete and utter disappointment. “Maya-” “Don’t say my name!” she shrieked. “| hate you!
| hate your very existence!” | looked at the girl | once loved. The one who saved my life. My best friend. The person | would have done anything for. And now she hated my guts. Because | was good. Because | loved her. “| get it now.” | raised my hand, and | slapped her back. Crack! Harder than she had hit me. Maya stumbled back, her cheek instantly turning red. “Maya Cross,” | said, my voice breaking but my eyes hard as stone. “We were never sisters. And now, —- we’re nothing.” She clutched her face, staring at me in disbelief. Just then, Luciano appeared.
“Catherine!” He saw us and ran over. “What’s going on?” | looked at the two of them. The liar and the psycho. “Nothing,” | said, wiping my tears. “Just saying goodbye.” “Goodbye?” Luciano panicked. “Catherine, you can’t- “lcan,” | cut him off. “| can do whatever the hell | want.” “You two deserve each other,” | said without looking back. “A liar and a psycho. A match made in hell.” Behind me, | heard Luciano’s roar and Maya’s sobs. | didn’t care. —- | left the car Luciano gave me behind. As | finally walked out of the estate gates, the light felt blindingly bright.
| had no idea where to go. My world had collapsed. My love was a joke. My friendship was a lie. | had nothing left. “Catherine.” A familiar voice called from behind me. I turned. A black Rolls-Royce was parked on the side of the road. The door opened, and a tall figure walked toward me. A dark gray suit, silver hair, and a gaze that was both gentle and strong. It was my father. Four bodyguards stood behind him. —- He opened his arms, his eyes filled with pain for me. “I’m here, baby. Daddy’s got you. We’re going home.” | couldn’t hold it together anymore. The dam broke.
| ran to him and collapsed into his arms. “Dad!”
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
