Prologue 1

I couldn't wrap my head around what was going on. I still thought it was some sick joke. With that hope, I asked, "What the hell, Daniel? What are you doing?"

"What do you mean, Eli? I am proposing to the love of my life. Once I take your father's position, I will need a sensible wife by my side. And who's better than my Irin?"

Irin gave him a 200 watt smile like he just hung up the stars for her. Well, her ring did shine like a star under the bright lights. Everyone around us awed, touched by the love between the two back-stabbing hoes.

I was still waiting for this prank to be over when Daniel asked me, "Do you have a problem with it, Eli?"

Obviously, my trashy sister couldn't let go of this chance to humiliate me. Before I could reply, she said, "Oh Eli, I know you have had a crush on Daniel since forever but he loves me. And I love him too. I hope you understand this and stop your petty tricks to come between us."

Son of a bitch. This boyfriend stealing harpy needs to know her place.

"Eli, I am sorry but I have been telling you for years that we can't be anything more than friends. You need to let me go. There's no one for me except Irin."

Man, they were putting on a show. I needed to put a stop to this ASAP. And I will as soon as my tongue gets up from the shock induced paralysis.

My father finally decided to intervene in this horror show my life had become.

"Eli, maybe you should go back to your room. We still need to cut the cake for celebrating your sister's engagement to Daniel. It might be uncomfortable for you."

Father of the year performance. He even made me feel like he gave a flying fuck about my feelings. Fuck them all. Fuck. It.

I took a deep breath, put on my best smile and said to my sister, "Irin, if I knew Daniel was a two-faced bastard, I would have offered him up to you on a platter. After all you two are made for each other. Scum belongs with scum."

"Eli!", screamed Daniel.

My father said at the same time Daniel screamed, "Eliana! Watch your tongue. This is no way to behave just because you feel bitter."

I laughed at him. It puzzled him. Then I said, "Bitter? Daddy, I am happy that Irin found just the man she deserves. Her vagina has had more users than Facebook. She deserves a lying, cheating, piece-of-sh*t like Daniel."

Irin was breathing so hard through her nose at this point. She looked around at the people who were watching us and probably wishing we offered popcorn at this party to go with the drama. At least that was what I would think if I were one of the audiences. But I didn't have that luck. I was at the center of this storm.

"Eli! That is enough! I will not have you slandering my Irin." Daniel said pretty fiercely.

Wow. He actually did love her. Then why the fuck was he with me and telling me he loved me for the past year? Then my eyes darted to my father. He was going to let Daniel take over after him and Irin was going to be Daniel's wife. What were his plans for me? I wouldn't have sat quietly if Irin and Daniel had been dating openly with intentions to marry. He had to distract me somehow. And he used Daniel to do so.

I couldn't believe these people could still surprise me with their skills of betrayal. This was a new low for my father. He didn't have the guts to take me head-on?

My sister finally found her missing voice and said,"Eli! You don't have to do this." Sometime during my epiphany about the size of this betrayal, Irin had started crying tears through her water-proof mascara. She continued, "If you want, I can put this engagement on hold till you feel fine with it. I-I don't wanna lose my sister for a boy--"

She was getting on my nerves. I interrupted her in my most disgusted and condescending tone, "Oh shut up, Irin. I don't have time for your crocodile tears. If you think your elaborate plan to humiliate me in public is gonna hurt me, you don't know the first thing about me. Let me spell it out for you, how wrong you are. This will just make me stronger than before. It will strengthen my hate for you and my motivation to take what belongs to me."

I didn't have time to waste on her. I had to plan for a counter-attack so I decided to leave. But I couldn't leave without one last insult so I said to Daniel, "The trash gets picked up tomorrow. Be ready."

My sister might be engaged but she would not become a bride, ever. My dad was right when he had said love wasn't for people like us. No one in this family will get a happy ending.