Catherine's POV
The question left my mouth before I had enough time to stop it, I was too shocked to notice the eyes that were turned at me.
I had thought they would keep their act a secret for now or even forever but I guessed wrong.
"Yes, we are getting married.
Daddy, aren't you excited?" Anna asked in a chirpy voice with a wide smile over her face.
While they weren't paying attention to her, she turned to smirk at me.
She was doing this on purpose, but why?.
My inside burn and the little appetite I had when I walked in vanished.
Dane and my sister are getting married, and just yesterday I was ready to vow to love him in health and in wealth.
"Catherine, aren't you happy for us?.
Anna taunted again, the grin on her face wider than before.
She is really trying to force words out of my mouth and I'm trying to mind them.
"Excuse me". I murmured and left the dining area with tears burning my eyes.
I can't believe my parents are letting them do this and don't seem bothered at all while I'm here almost falling apart.
"Are you mad at me?" A voice jolted me out of my thoughts.
Anna had followed me, her pretense is now nowhere to be found.
With her arms crossed, she stood ready to challenge me.
"I have nothing to be mad for, please leave" I pointed outside and waited for her to leave but she remained in the same spot.
"Do you want to know why he dumped you?"
She asked suddenly, a sneer turning the side of her lips.
It's unbelievable that she is my sister. She has always been innocent and almost a white lotus and this side of her is too surprising.
"He wanted someone younger, he said you are too cool for him. I gave him what he wanted and he was satisfied. I mean, no man can resist me" she continued in pride as she swayed towards me in her skin tight dress.
"Leave my room now" I said softly, my anger was beginning to rise and I don't know what I might do if she continued to provoke me.
"Catherine, why?
You know that love can't be forced and since he love me, he chose me"
She asked suddenly with a sob.
"I said get out!" I yelled angrily, losing it for a second.
"Why are you yelling at her?
She is more capable than you and is not as useless as you are!" Dad appeared on the doorstep and yelled angrily.
She smiled behind Dad as he continued to shout at me.
Her smile of satisfaction almost made me snap again but I held myself back.
I was never the impulsive one, if she wants to play this game I would not entertain her.
"So what if they are getting married?
As long as he married one of you I don't care who it is, if it means that the Ferdinando and the McLanes would become family I would do anything".
Like cold water, his words left me rigid.
I had thought he supported me all these years but he had been after the benefits all along.
***
Since the damage is done, I can't keep sitting on my hands.
I had been out of the house throughout the day and returned home late, hoping dinner would be over then.
I was just in the foyer when I heard the discussion coming from the dining area.
"I do not like to be deceived, why pretend to marry one when your eyes are on another?" Dad's voice sounded clear and calm.
"She loved me, so it was hard to break her heart but Anna made me realise that I was getting blinded by the pity I felt towards her" Dane's response came a few seconds later.
"Pity?"
Their heads turned sharply in my direction, no one heard me walk in, and even I did not know when I got there.
My lips trembled as I looked at Dane waiting for an answer, that was the first thing I said to him since everything happened.
"All you felt for me was pity?" I asked again and he looked away briefly before looking back at me.
"Yes, you were pitiful. You still are or you would have moved on!" He fired back startling those around.
"Move on you say?
It was just a few days ago, I had believed you loved me until a few days ago!" I yelled back, tears blurring my vision.
Anna scoffed audibly at my question, she stood up to meet me where I was standing.
"Dad needed someone to get it done, you weren't doing it properly and I helped him. Stop being pathetic, it's disgusting" She whispered before moving back with a smirk.
I had spent all my life trusting those around me, believing their words and thinking their actions were genuine.
"Tomorrow you will accompany your sister to pick a dress, I have an appointment with my doctor" Mom's words cut through the tension and only add to it.
My sister stole my fiancè and I am to help her pick a dress.
"No, I won't," I replied, and they all froze.
"Yes, you will," Dad replied, without sparing a glance at me.
Anna giggled at his words and beamed at Dane.
They just carried on, pretending I wasn't standing there.
These are the people I call family and loved all these years. Who would have thought their betrayal could hurt this much?.