Chapter 4

Paulina stood in the living room, her mind full of emotions as she stared at James. 

The man she had once loved, the man who had broken her heart into a thousand pieces, was standing before her, concerned and unaware of the sins he would commit in the future. She knew what was coming, knew how his love would turn to betrayal, how his charm would morph into cold indifference.

 But now, as he stood there, offering her comfort in a moment that had once been the start of their union, Paulina felt a strange mix of anger and confusion. How could she be mad at him for something he hadn't done yet? And yet, the knowledge of his future infidelity burned inside her, making her sick with the thought of what was to come.

"Paulina," James said softly, stepping closer to her, "what's going on? You're scaring me. Did something happen?"

Paulina's heart pounded in her chest as she took a step back, her resolve hardening.

 "James," she said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and determination, "I need you to leave. Right now."

James blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Leave? What are you talking about? Paulina, I'm here to take care of you. You just lost your parents, and you're not thinking straight. Let's just sit down, and—"

"No," Paulina cut him off, her voice growing stronger.

 "I need you to leave my house. Now."

James stood frozen; shock written all over his face. He looked at her as if trying to decipher what had gotten into her. 

"Paulina, are you sure you're, okay? You're not making any sense. We need to talk about this."

She could see the genuine concern in his eyes, the confusion at her sudden change in demeanor. For a fleeting moment, Paulina felt a pang of guilt. This was the man she had loved, the man who had stood by her during one of the darkest moments of her life. But then, the image of him in bed with Alexis flashed before her eyes, and her resolve solidified.

"Please, just go," Paulina repeated, her voice cold and distant.

 "I don't want to see you right now."James hesitated, still trying to process her words.

 "Paulina, I don't understand. I'm your boyfriend. I'm here for you. Why are you pushing me away?"

For a moment, Paulina wavered. How could she be angry with him for a crime he hadn't yet committed? But then she remembered the years of pain, the humiliation, the betrayal.

 She couldn't let herself be swayed by the man he was now, not when she knew what he would become.

"Just go, James," she said, her voice firm. "Please, leave."He opened his mouth to protest, but something in her tone made him stop. 

He nodded slowly, his eyes filled with hurt and confusion. "Okay, if that's what you really want, I'll go.

" But I'm here for you, Paulina. If you need anything, just call me."

She didn't respond, her gaze fixed on the floor as she waited for him to leave. 

She heard him hesitate for a moment, then the sound of his footsteps retreating. 

The door clicked shut behind him, and Paulina finally let out the breath she didn't realize she had been holding.She felt a strange mix of relief and unease.

 She had just chased away the man who would ruin her life, but it felt surreal, like she was acting out a scene from a play rather than living her own life. An hour passed in silence, with Paulina sitting alone in the dimly lit living room, her mind racing. 

She replayed the events of the past hour over and over, questioning her actions, wondering if she had done the right thing. 

Could she really change the future? Was it even possible, or was she just delaying the inevitable?As she sat there, lost in thought, a soft knock on the door broke her reverie. 

Her heart skipped a beat, anxiety creeping in. Who could it be? James, coming back to plead with her? Someone else? She hesitated, then slowly made her way to the door.

 She opened it to find Alexis standing there, her face pale and tear-streaked. Paulina's stomach churned at the sight of her half-sister, the woman who would one day betray her in the most unforgivable way

.She remembered her words. 'I will ruin you before you ruin me bitch"

"Paulina," Alexis said softly, her voice filled with emotion, 

"I just wanted to check on you. I know how hard this must be for you."Paulina stared at her, her emotions filled with anger, sadness, and something else—disgust.

 This was the woman who would betray her, who would sleep with her husband and shatter what little was left of her life. 

Yet here she was, pretending to be a caring sister, offering comfort like nothing was wrong.

"Come in," Paulina said quietly, stepping aside to let Alexis in. She couldn't let her suspicion show, couldn't reveal that she knew what the future held.

 She had to play along, for now.

As Alexis entered, she glanced around the room before turning back to Paulina. 

"I know I'm just your half-sister," she began, her voice shaky, "and I know I was an illegitimate child, but I've always felt so grateful to you, Paulina. You've always treated me like a real sister, even when you didn't have to."

Paulina clenched her fists, the words cutting through her like a knife. She remembered how those same sentiments had once made her heart soften, how she had believed in Alexis' sincerity, how she had let her guard down. But now, knowing what she knew, those words only filled her with revulsion."Thank you, Alexis," Paulina said, forcing herself to keep her voice steady. 

"That means a lot."

Alexis stepped closer, her eyes brimming with tears. 

"I know things have been difficult between us, but I want you to know that I'm here for you. You don't have to go through this alone."

Paulina's stomach twisted with the bitterness of irony. How many times had Alexis said those same words, only to betray her when it suited her? How many times had she believed in the facade of sisterly love, only to be stabbed in the back?But now, Paulina was different. 

She wasn't the naive girl she had been ten years ago. She wouldn't fall for the same lies, and wouldn't be swayed by false emotions.

 She had been given a second chance, and she wasn't going to let it slip through her fingers.

"I appreciate that, Alexis," Paulina said, her voice calm and controlled. "But I need some time alone right now. I hope you understand."

Alexis nodded, though there was a flicker of something in her eyes—disappointment, perhaps, or even suspicion.

 "Of course, Paulina. I'll be here if you need me."

Paulina watched as Alexis turned to leave, her heart pounding in her chest. This was her chance to change everything, to prevent the betrayal that had once destroyed her. But how? How could she navigate this new reality, knowing what she knew?

Just as Alexis reached the door, she paused and turned back to Paulina, a strange look in her eyes. "You know, Paulina, I've always wondered… if things had been different, if I hadn't been born out of wedlock, do you think we would have been closer? Like real sisters?"

Paulina felt a chill run down her spine. The question was loaded, heavy with implications that Paulina couldn't fully decipher. She opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out.

 Last time when she had been faced with this question, she had said yes to Alexis but now she couldn't.

 Alexis smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Never mind. It doesn't matter now, does it?"

Before Paulina could react, Alexis turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her. Paulina stood there, her mind racing. Something was wrong, something was off.

Had Alexis somehow sensed that something had changed? Or was this just paranoia creeping in?

Paulina's heart pounded as she realized that the game had already begun.