"Victor is cheating on me," Elena said, staring straight into my soul.
The world tilted.
For a second, I couldn't breathe. The restroom suddenly felt too small, too bright, the air too thin. The sound of the party outside—the music, the laughter, the clinking glasses—faded into a dull ringing in my ears.
No. No. No.
Not this.
Not here.
Not now.
My mind started racing so fast it physically hurt. Why did I follow her here? Why did I insist on bringing her to the restroom when she said she felt dizzy? I could have let one of the staff handle it. I could have stayed downstairs. I could have avoided this.
I couldn't afford this.
I couldn't afford to be the slutty little sister secretly sleeping with her sister's husband while she stood there crying about him.
Before I could even form a response, Elena suddenly bent forward and threw up into the sink.
The harsh sound snapped me back to reality.
"Elena!" I rushed forward instantly, grabbing her hair and pulling it back from her face. My hands were shaking. Her body trembled as she heaved again, gripping the edge of the marble sink.
The smell of alcohol hit me hard.
She lifted her head slowly, eyes glassy, mascara slightly smudged.
"Aren't you curious to know who she is?" she asked weakly.
My heart slammed against my ribs so hard I thought she could hear it.
"Umm…" was all I managed.
She stared at me for a long second.
Then she laughed.
Actually laughed.
A strange, broken giggle that didn't match the tears sitting in her eyes.
"I don't even know," she said between laughs, shaking her head. "I don't even know who she is."
She kept laughing for a few seconds like it was some twisted joke only she understood.
Relief flooded me so hard my knees almost gave out.
Good.
She doesn't know.
She doesn't know.
"I need to go now," I said quickly, almost too quickly, turning toward the door.
But she grabbed my wrist.
Her grip was tighter than I expected.
"He has another woman," she insisted, her eyes suddenly clear, serious. "I'm sure of it."
"That's impossible, sis," I said immediately, forcing my voice to sound steady. Calm. Convincing. "Victor is perfect. He only has eyes for you."
The lie burned my throat.
I cupped her cheeks in my palms and looked straight into her eyes. I even forced a tear to gather in mine.
"Don't ever think that," I whispered softly.
"But it's true," she said, pushing my hands away. "He's distant. He doesn't look at me the same anymore."
I swallowed hard.
Drama.
This was the last thing I needed tonight.
"Alyssa?"
Aaron's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Oh," I said, turning too fast. "I didn't notice you left."
"I found you," he said gently, stepping closer. "Are you okay?"
"I had to take care of something," I replied quickly. "Can you help me take Elena to her room?"
He nodded without hesitation.
We each took one of her arms. She wasn't fully drunk, but she wasn't steady either. Her heels dragged slightly against the marble floor as we stepped out of the restroom and into the hallway.
The party downstairs was still alive.
Music pulsed through the walls. Guests laughed. Someone cheered over something trivial. Glasses clinked.
Halfway up the stairs—
I saw him.
Victor.
He was moving toward us fast.
Too fast.
His eyes scanned Elena first.
Then they landed on Aaron's hand around her waist.
Something changed in his face.
Something snapped.
Before I could even process what was happening—
Boom.
The sound echoed through the staircase.
Aaron hit the floor.
It happened so quickly I barely saw the movement. Victor's fist connected with Aaron's face so hard that Aaron's head jerked to the side. His grip loosened. Elena slipped, her heel twisting awkwardly as she dropped against the railing before sliding down to the floor.
Gasps filled the air.
The music downstairs cut off abruptly.
Silence swallowed the house.
"Don't you dare touch my wife!" Victor roared.
His voice thundered through the space.
Aaron stayed on the floor for a second, stunned. Blood started forming at the corner of his lip. He wiped it slowly, staring up at Victor with disbelief… then anger.
He stood up quickly, fists tightening.
I grabbed his arm immediately.
"Stop," I whispered harshly.
"You're crazy!" Aaron shouted at Victor.
Now the whispers started.
Guests were turning.
Phones were lifting.
Recording.
My stomach dropped.
Elena was still on the floor, dazed, trying to sit up.
And then Lily's small voice pierced through everything.
"Grandma! Daddy hit that guy and mummy is on the floor!"
She ran across the room toward my mother, who must have arrived while I was in the restroom.
My mother rushed forward and scooped Lily into her arms.
"That's adult stuff, darling," she said quickly, trying to calm her. "You'll understand when you grow up."
Camera flashes went off.
Not press.
Just guests.
Curious, hungry guests with phones in their hands.
"This is just a misunderstanding," Aaron said firmly, raising his hands slightly, trying to create space. "Please, give us some room."
Victor's chest rose and fell heavily. His jaw was tight. His eyes wild.
I felt like the ground beneath me was cracking open.
I quickly signaled one of the staff.
"Play the music," I whispered urgently.
Within seconds, the speakers came back to life.
Soft music filled the air again.
It felt wrong.
Forced.
Awkward.
But slowly, people began pretending again.
Conversations restarted. Nervous laughter floated around. Some guests returned to their drinks.
The party continued.
Like nothing had happened.
Elena was helped up by a staff member. Victor didn't even look at her. He was still staring at Aaron like he wanted to hit him again.
My mother stepped between them.
"What's wrong with Victor?" she asked, clearly shaken. "This is so unlike him."
I shrugged.
Fake confusion.
"I don't know," I said quietly.
Inside, my thoughts were screaming.
This is because of me.
Aaron touched his lip again. It was swelling.
"I'm fine," he muttered.
Victor slowly adjusted his suit jacket. Straightened his cuffs.
Like he hadn't just punched someone in front of everyone.
He turned and walked toward the bar.
Like nothing happened.
Elena looked lost.
Lily clung tightly to my mother.
The music kept playing.
Champagne glasses clinked again.
The show must go on.
Aaron stepped closer to me.
"Is this normal?" he asked quietly.
I forced a small laugh.
"He's protective," I said.
"That wasn't protective," Aaron replied softly. "That was territorial."
The word sent a chill down my spine.
Territorial.
Victor was now at the bar, laughing at something a business associate said. His hand rested casually on the counter. He looked calm.
Controlled.
Like he hadn't exploded seconds ago.
Like he didn't just expose something ugly and dangerous.
I felt sick.
I needed air.
I needed to breathe.
But before I could move—
Someone grabbed me from behind.
Very gently.
Softly.
And familiar.
My body froze for a minute.
"You wanna dance?" he asked.