Maya's POV
My phone buzzed during breakfast, and I nearly dropped my coffee mug when I saw the name.
Lily.
Not Adrian's Lily Chen. My Lily. My older sister who'd been living in London for the past three years and had only returned last month.
Heard about the divorce. Lunch today? My treat. Please?
My thumb hovered over the screen. Part of me wanted to ignore it. But Lily was still my sister, even if we hadn't been close in years.
Okay. Where?
La Maison. 1 PM.
Of course. La Maison was the most expensive French restaurant in the city. Lily always chose places like that—places where everyone could see how successful she'd become.
I showed up in jeans and a simple sweater. The hostess looked at me like I'd wandered in from the street by mistake, but her expression changed when I mentioned my sister's name.
"Right this way, Ms. Rivera."
Lily was already seated at the best table by the window. She looked like she'd stepped out of a fashion magazine—cream designer dress, gold jewelry that probably cost more than my car, perfect makeup that made her look like she glowed from within.
She stood and hugged me, and I caught the scent of expensive perfume.
"Maya! You look... tired." She pulled back, studying my face with those sharp eyes that never missed anything. "Sit, sit. I already ordered us wine."
"It's one in the afternoon."
"It's never too early for wine when you're going through a divorce." Lily smiled, but something about it felt wrong. Too bright. Too practiced.
I sat down, and she pushed a glass toward me.
"So," she said, settling back in her chair like a queen on a throne. "Tell me everything. When did you finally decide to leave him?"
"Two weeks ago."
"And he's already signed the papers?"
I shifted uncomfortably. "Not yet. But he will."
"Interesting." Lily sipped her wine, watching me over the rim. "You know, I always wondered how long you'd last."
My stomach clenched. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Oh, Maya, don't be sensitive. I just mean... you and Adrian were always such an odd match. You're so quiet and simple, and he's so ambitious and driven. I remember thinking at your wedding, 'This won't work.'"
The waiter arrived with fancy-looking salads I didn't remember ordering. Lily must have ordered for both of us. She always did that.
"Thanks for the support," I said flatly.
"I'm being honest! That's what sisters do." She stabbed a piece of lettuce with her fork. "Besides, you're doing the right thing. Letting him go before things get worse."
"Things weren't that bad."
"Really? Then why are you divorcing him?" Lily raised one perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Come on, Maya. I know you. You don't make big decisions like this without good reason."
I pushed the salad around my plate. "He loved someone else."
"Lily Chen." My sister said the name like she was tasting something bitter. "Yes, I heard about her. Adrian's college friend. Always hanging around. Must have been hard, watching your husband pine for another woman."
"He didn't pine—"
"Please." Lily leaned forward, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Everyone knew. At your wedding, half the guests were whispering about how Adrian kept looking at Lily Chen during the ceremony. Mom heard people saying he only married you because Lily turned him down."
The words hit me like a slap. "That's not true."
"Isn't it?" Lily sat back, studying me. "Maya, I love you, but you've always been so naive. You see the best in everyone, even when they don't deserve it."
The waiter brought our main courses—some kind of fish with sauce I couldn't pronounce. My appetite had completely disappeared.
"Why are you saying all this?" I asked quietly.
"Because I'm your sister, and someone needs to be honest with you." Lily cut into her fish with precise movements. "Adrian never got over Lily Chen. He settled for you. And now you're finally free to find someone who actually wants you first, not as a consolation prize."
Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not here. Not in front of Lily, who looked so perfect and put-together while I felt like I was crumbling.
"How's London?" I asked, desperate to change the subject.
"London was amazing. But I'm back for good now. New job, new opportunities." She smiled that bright, fake smile again. "Actually, I've been meaning to tell you—I ran into Adrian last week."
My fork clattered against my plate. "What?"
"At a business event. He looked terrible, by the way. Very stressed." Lily took a delicate sip of wine. "We talked for a while. He asked about you."
"What did he ask?"
"If you were seeing anyone. If you seemed happy." Lily paused, watching my reaction. "I told him you were doing great. Moving on. Meeting new people."
"I'm not—"
"I know you're not. But he doesn't need to know that." Lily reached across the table and patted my hand. "Trust me, Maya. Men like Adrian need to think you're fine without them. It's the only way to protect yourself."
I pulled my hand back. Something felt off about this whole lunch. Lily had barely contacted me in three years, and now she was suddenly so concerned about my divorce?
"Why did you really ask me here?" I asked.
"What? I told you—"
"No, really. Why now? You've been back for a month and this is the first time you've called."
Lily's smile faltered for just a second. "I've been busy with work. And I wanted to give you space to deal with everything."
"Or maybe you wanted to wait until the divorce was official."
"Maya, what are you implying?"
I didn't know. But my instincts—those same instincts that had finally pushed me to leave Adrian—were screaming that something was wrong.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number: Your sister isn't who you think she is.
I stared at the screen, my heart racing.
"Who's that?" Lily asked, trying to see my phone.
Another text: Ask her why she really came back from London. Ask her about Adrian.
My hands started shaking. "Lily, what happened in London?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you really come back?"
Lily's face hardened. "I got a better job offer. I told you that."
"You're lying." The words came out before I could stop them.
"Excuse me?"
I stood up, my chair scraping loudly. Several other diners turned to look. "I don't know what's going on, but something about this feels wrong. You show up after three years, you're suddenly so interested in my divorce, you ran into Adrian—"
"Maya, you're being paranoid."
"Am I?" I grabbed my purse. "Thanks for lunch, but I need to go."
"Maya, wait—"
I was already walking away, my pulse pounding in my ears. Behind me, I heard Lily call my name again, but I didn't stop.
Outside the restaurant, I pulled out my phone with trembling fingers. The unknown number had sent another message: *Meet me at Riverside Park in one hour. I'll tell you everything about your sister and Adrian. Come alone.*
My finger hovered over the delete button. This was crazy. I should ignore it. Block the number. Go home and forget this whole bizarre lunch.
But what if the texts were right? What if Lily was hiding something?
I thought about the way she'd smiled when she mentioned Adrian. The way she'd emphasized that he "never got over" Lily Chen. The way she'd made sure to tell him I was "moving on."
My stomach twisted with a feeling I couldn't name.
I typed back: Who are you?
The response came immediately: Someone who knows what really happened five years ago. Someone who knows why Adrian really married you. And someone who knows what your sister is planning now.
What is she planning?
Come to the park and find out. One hour. This is your only chance to learn the truth.
I stood on the sidewalk, people streaming past me, the city noise fading into background static. Every logical part of my brain screamed this was a trap. A scam. Something dangerous.
But I couldn't stop thinking about Lily's face. The way her smile hadn't reached her eyes. The way she'd seemed almost pleased when talking about my failed marriage.
My sister. My own sister.
I started walking toward the park, my phone clutched in my hand like a lifeline.
Whatever truth was waiting for me there, I had to know.
Even if it destroyed everything I thought I understood about my life.