Chapter 52 Fifty Two
Chapter 52 Fifty Two
VALERIE
For a second, everything went eerily still. The café, the noise, even the air in my lungs—as if my body hadn’t yet decided how to react to Vanessa right here in front of me.
The moment her voice settled into my ears, a hollow ache spread through my chest. Nothing I’d braced myself for could have prepared me for this.
I stared at Vanessa as though my mind had misfired, replaying her presence over and over, waiting for her to disappear.
Sofia released a soft, thin chuckle and darted a glance at Vanessa—already seated beside me. Vanessa didn’t look at her.
Her eyes were fixed on her neatly polished nails as she dragged a file across one of them, slow and deliberate.
“So,” Sofia said lightly, folding her arms as if this were a casual coincidence, “I didn’t know you were back in town.”
Vanessa hummed in acknowledgment, still focused on her nails. “Neither did most people,” she replied. “I like it that way.”
Her calmness unsettled me more than if she’d been dramatic. The file paused. She finally lifted her head, her gaze flicking briefly to Sofia before settling uncomfortably on me.
“But then again,” she added smoothly, setting the file down on the table, “some reunions don’t need announcements.”
My chest tightened.
The coffee no longer looked inviting. The café felt too bright, too loud, yet unbearably quiet. I stared at the table, wondering when everything had tilted so completely out of balance.
Sofia didn’t bother hiding her disgust.
“You really walked back in here with your head high,” she said. “No apology. No warning. No shame.”
Vanessa's lips tugged upward in something that almost resembled amusement. “I don’t recall owing you one,” she replied calmly.
Sofia’s jaw flexed. “You came back like you didn’t detonate an entire family,” Sofia snapped coldly.
“You wrote a whole letter about how you didn’t want to be tied to a man. About how marriage felt like a cage. So tell me—why are you back?”
Vanessa set her hand down, finally glancing up. “People change.”
“Do they?” Sofia snapped. “Or do they just get bored and circle back when they realize what they lost?”
Vanessa blew softly on her nails, inspecting them with mild interest, as if Sofia were talking about the weather. The audacity of it made my stomach twist.
Vanessa smiled faintly, blowing on her nails again. “I wanted freedom.”
“And now?” Sofia demanded. “What do you want now?”
“You already know the answer,” Vanessa said.
Sofia laughed again, bitter. “You think Lucas is still waiting? That he’s been sitting around nursing your memory like some wounded romantic?”
My heart stuttered.
I lifted my head and wrapped my fingers around Sofia's fist, grounding her, pleading without words.
Sofia stopped mid-breath.
Her eyes met mine, conflicted, then resigned. She leaned back slowly, lips pressed together, fury still simmering beneath her skin.
Vanessa’s gaze dropped to our joined hands.
The room seemed to narrow around us.
She looked at me then—really looked at me—and for the first time, something shifted in her expression. Not anger. Not surprise.
Calculation.
I withdrew my hand gently and lowered my eyes again.
Because if Vanessa connected the dots—if she realized how close Lucas and I had grown, how blurred the lines had become, I didn’t know what she would do.
And I was still trying to survive her return without burning everything I wasn’t ready to lose.
Vanessa exhaled loudly and leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. She glanced at Sofia, who was still glaring daggers at her, but it didn’t seem to faze her in the slightest.
“You know,” Vanessa said calmly, tilting her head, “you’ve always been full of trouble, Sofia. One of the many reasons we never got along.”
Sofia’s jaw tightened.
“Why don’t you stop fretting over something that’s inevitable?” Vanessa continued, unbothered. “We both know your brother is hopelessly in love with me.”
My stomach dropped.
“Do you know how many times Lucas begged for my forgiveness?” she added lightly. “Even when I was the one in the wrong.”
Sofia scoffed. “You don’t—”
“Oh please,” Vanessa cut in smoothly. “I don’t owe you an explanation.” Her gaze sharpened. “Only Lucas deserves one. So do me a favor and stop nagging like a pissed, pregnant wife.”
Sofia bristled, eyes narrowing, clearly ready to lunge at her but Vanessa’s attention shifted.
Her lips curved into a sly smile as her eyes settled on me.
“Oh my,” she said softly. “I’ve been so caught up sparring with Sofia that I didn’t even notice my sister.”
Her gaze dropped to my hair.
The blonde.
Her smile widened. “You changed your hair color.”
Heat crawled up my spine.
“How could I forget,” she murmured, amused, “how exceptional you are at pretending.” Her eyes glittered. “I must say, I’m impressed. No one suspected a thing.”
She clicked her tongue. “Poor Lucas. I wonder how he must have felt, loving you… while believing you were me.”
Sofia snapped, “He knows.”
Vanessa blinked. Once.
“Oh?” she said. “Then I suppose he kept up the charade because of the contract.”
“You knew about the contract,” Sofia fired back. “And you still ran. How much worse can you get?”
Vanessa smiled faintly. “There’s always a way.” Her gaze slid back to me. “And I knew my sweet sister wouldn’t mind covering for me. Which she did.”
Something snapped inside me. “What do you want, Vanessa?” I finally asked.
Her smile vanished.
She studied me for a long moment, eyes hardening.
“This,” she said quietly, “is exactly why Mother and Father never brought you into the spotlight. Why they never made you known.”
My throat burned.
“That’s why I never mentioned having a twin,” she continued. “I couldn’t risk people associating me with someone so… dim.”
The words struck clean and deep.
“Why do you think I’m here?” she asked softly. “To reclaim my place. My husband. My life.”
Tears blurred my vision.
She paused, eyes narrowing. “Wait.”
Her gaze sharpened. “Why are you crying?”
My heart slammed violently.
“Are you in love with Lucas?”
“What if she is?” Sofia snapped.
Vanessa whipped her head toward her.
A tear slipped down my cheek. I wiped it away quickly and forced a smile.
“I’m not,” I said quietly. “I don’t think I’m in any position to feel that way.”
Vanessa smiled again, satisfied.
“Exactly,” she said. “You wouldn’t dare.” She glanced at her watch. “I should go.”
She stood, then paused and turned back to me.
“I’m generous,” she said. “I’ll give you time to gather yourself before you move out of Lucas’s house. I’ll be moving back in soon.”
“Bye, twinnie,” she added sweetly.
Her eyes flicked to Sofia. “Bye, sister-in-law.”
Her laughter echoed as she walked away.
Sofia scoffed. “Her entitlement is unreal.”
I said nothing.
“And you?” Sofia pressed softly. “What happened to fighting for yourself?”
I looked up at her.
“For what?” I whispered. “Lucas has been waiting for her all this while.”
Sofia’s expression softened. She pulled me into her chest.
“Oh, Valerie…”
And I finally let myself cry.