Isla's POV
I'm late to my own engagement party.
My phone buzzes again—the fifth text from Natalie in ten minutes. Where are you??? Everyone's asking!
I shove through the revolving doors of my office building, my silver heels clicking frantically on marble. The presentation ran over. My boss wouldn't let me leave until every slide was perfect. Now it's almost nine o'clock, and two hundred of New York's wealthiest families are at the Thornton mansion waiting to celebrate my upcoming wedding to Derek Hamilton.
The town car my father sent idles at the curb. I collapse into the backseat, breathless.
The Hamptons estate, miss? the driver asks.
Yes. Please hurry.
During the hour-long drive, I fix my makeup in a compact mirror. Try to tame my wind-blown hair. The silver gown I changed into at the office is beautiful, Derek's mother picked it out, but I feel like a fraud wearing it.
My phone buzzes. Derek this time: Where are you?
Almost there, I type back. So sorry. Work emergency.
Three dots appear, then disappear. No response.
My stomach twists with guilt. Derek's been so patient with my crazy work schedule. He deserves better than a fiancée who shows up late to her own party.
The Thornton mansion glows like a jewel box when we finally arrive. Every window blazes with light. Music and laughter spill from the open terrace doors. I can see people inside—designer gowns, tuxedos, champagne glasses catching the chandelier light.
Thank you, I tell the driver, then rush up the front steps.
Inside, the party is in full swing. The ballroom is packed. I recognize senators, CEOs, celebrities. My father spared no expense.
Isla! Maya Chen appears from the crowd, gorgeous in a red dress, her expression relieved. Thank God. Everyone's been asking where you are.
I know, I know. Work ran late. Where's Derek?
Something flickers across Maya's face. I... I'm not sure. I haven't seen him in a while.
What about Natalie? She kept texting me.
Maya's jaw tightens. Isla, maybe we should
There you are! My stepmother Victoria glides over, all fake smiles and diamond necklaces. Darling, you're over an hour late. People are starting to talk.
I'm sorry. I'll find Derek and apologize.
He's not in the ballroom, Victoria says. Her smile doesn't reach her eyes. I think he went upstairs. Maybe check your father's study?
Maya grabs my arm. Isla, wait
But I'm already moving, weaving through the crowd toward the grand staircase. People call out congratulations. I smile and wave, my mind focused on finding Derek.
The second floor is quiet. Most guests are downstairs. My heels sink into plush carpet as I walk down the familiar hallway toward my father's study.
The door is closed. But not all the way. A thin sliver of light cuts across the dark hallway.
I hear voices inside. Derek's voice, low and rough with emotion.
Relief floods through me. I'll apologize for being late, we'll go back downstairs together, everything will be fine.
Then I hear the laugh.
High-pitched. Feminine. Familiar.
That's... that's Natalie's laugh.
My hand freezes on the doorknob. My heart starts pounding so hard I can feel it in my throat.
God, you're so beautiful, Derek murmurs.
A woman giggles. We should stop before someone catches us.
No. No, no, no.
My hand moves on its own, pushing the door open wider. The hinges creak.
The scene inside burns into my brain like acid.
Derek. My fiancé. The man I'm supposed to marry in three months. Shirt unbuttoned, pants unzipped, half-sprawled on my father's leather couch.
And underneath him, red dress hiked up around her thighs, blonde hair a tangled mess, is Natalie.
My stepsister.
They freeze when they see me. For one endless second, nobody moves.
Then Derek climbs off her. Slowly. Like he has all the time in the world. He doesn't even look guilty. Just annoyed.
Isla. He tucks his shirt back in, completely calm. We need to talk.
I can't speak. Can't breathe. My lungs have forgotten how to work.
Natalie sits up, smoothing down her dress. Her lipstick is smeared. She doesn't look ashamed either. She looks... satisfied.
How long? The words scrape out of my throat like broken glass.
Derek sighs. Isla, don't be dramatic
HOW LONG?
Six months, Natalie answers, examining her nails. Give or take.
Six months. We've been engaged for eight.
I love her, Derek says, like he's explaining something obvious to a child. I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but I can't marry you. It wouldn't be fair to anyone.
The room tilts. I grab the doorframe to stay upright.
You... I look at Natalie, my stepsister who I grew up with, who I trusted. You did this on purpose. You wanted to hurt me.
Natalie stands, adjusting her dress. Oh, Isla. Not everything is about you. She walks past me toward the door, then pauses. Maybe if you'd been less boring, Derek wouldn't have needed someone more exciting.
The slap of her words hits harder than her hand ever could.
Natalie, wait, Derek calls, following her.
They're leaving. Together. Leaving me standing here in my expensive dress with my expensive ring, completely destroyed.
Derek. My voice breaks on his name. Please. We can fix this. We can
He doesn't even turn around. There's nothing to fix, Isla. It's over. It's been over for months. You were just too blind to notice.
They disappear into the hallway, Natalie's laugh echoing behind them.
I stand alone in the study, staring at the couch where my fiancé just betrayed me with my own stepsister.
My phone buzzes. A text from Maya: Isla, where are you? Derek and Natalie just came downstairs together. People are staring. Something's wrong.
Oh God. They're going back to the party. They're going to tell everyone.
I need to get downstairs. I need to... to do something. Stop this. Fix this.
I stumble into the hallway on shaking legs. Voices drift up from the ballroom. The party continues, completely unaware that my entire world just shattered.
At the top of the grand staircase, I freeze.
Below, in the center of the ballroom, Derek stands with a microphone. Natalie clings to his arm, tears already streaming down her face.
Fake tears. I know my stepsister. She's performed in enough school plays to cry on command.
Ladies and gentlemen, Derek's voice booms through the speakers. I need to make an important announcement.
No. Please, no.
My fingers grip the banister so hard my knuckles turn white.
I know you all came here tonight to celebrate my engagement to Isla Thornton...
Every face in the ballroom turns upward. Toward me. Standing frozen at the top of the stairs like a ghost at my own funeral.
Derek's eyes find mine. There's no apology in them. Just cold, calculated cruelty.
But I can't marry her, he continues. Because I'm in love with someone else.