"Me? Crying? No, I wasn't." The lie slid out too quickly, my voice an octave higher than usual. I swiped the sleeve of my sweater across my eyes-too rough, the fabric scraping my skin.

Llike maybe if I rubbed hard enough, I could erase whatever she thought she saw.

"Something just got in my eye and Roman was helping me get it out."

Her brows dipped like she didn't believe me, but she smiled anyway."Mind if I sit?" She gestured toward the bed.

"Of course." The words tumbled out in a rush. My gaze darted to the perfectly smooth duvet-thank God Roman always fussed over tidying his living space. If she'd walked in to the mess I usually leave, I'd have felt worse.

The mattress dipped as she sat, the springs adjusting to her weight.Her palms ran down her thighs once, twice-nervous. "I wanted to apologize for the last time we spoke." Her voice was careful, each word chosen like she'd rehearsed it.

"I realized that some of my words were a bit harsh and very uncalled for and... I really shouldn't have said those things to you. Especially about-"

"No, no, no. It's fine." The interruption was sharp, my hand slicing the air like I could physically cut the sentence in half before she landed on the memory I didn't want revived. "I didn't take it to heart. It's really fine,Alyssa." I waved it aside, trembling within.

She gazed at me like she could see into my very soul. Her eyes didn't move from mine. It was the way she used to look at me when we were kids-searching, like she could spot every secret I tried to hide.

"Sav,are you okay?"

I nodded. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?" I even gave a little shrug, the casual kind people use in sitcoms. The kind that's meant to scream normal.

She wasn't convinced. She could see through my little act.

The air between us shifted, heavier, like the atmosphere before a summer storm. Alyssa inhaled, steady and deep, before delivering the blow I hadn't braced for.

"I heard you crying from outside the door."

Her words hit me like a bucket of cold water.

Her brows pinched together, her tone low and careful. "Did Roman do anything? Did he say something? You can always talk to me."

The room seemed smaller all at once, the air thinner. Heat prickled at my scalp, sliding down the back of my neck. My throat became drier than the desert in a second.

My palms went slick, and I curled them into fists to hide it.

Still, I struggled to come up with a convincing lie.

"What? Crying? No... of course not." My laugh was brittle. a sound that didn't belong in my mouth. "I was sneezing. There was something in my throat-"

"Don't lie to me, Sav. I'm your sister." She leaned forward, her voice gaining an edge. "I know you better than anyone."

Her hand reached for mine, warm and certain, fingers curling around me with quiet insistence.

"Talk to me. Please."

I looked at our hands. Hers was steady, mine was trembling ever so slightly. I forced my eyes to travel upward, inch by inch, until I met her gaze. The softness there wasn't pity yet, but it was close.

I gulped. I couldn't hold the gaze. My eyes slipped away.

"Please,Sav."

I didn't know how to say it to her. Or even if I should say it. I've never been shy to say that Alyssa was my favourite sibling and someone I've always been open to.

But now, I couldn't say anything. I didn't know how she'd understand the whole situation.

As if she could hear my thoughts, she added, "I'm not going to judge you. Look around, am I really in a position to judge anyone?"

The corner of my mouth twitched, almost a bitter smile, but it didn't make it all the way.

I took a deep breath, then decided to break it down gradually.

"It's not Roman." I whispered.

She actually let out a breath like a burden had been lifted, "Thank Goodness. I'm relieved to hear that."

I looked down at my lap, pulling imaginary lint from my clothes. "It's Dean."

Her expression instantly melted into one of pity. I hated receiving that look from anyone, so I looked away.

"Don't look at me like that."

"No. Sav. I understand you. Damn, we're literally living in the same hell. I don't pity you. I sympathise with you." She rushed out.

My ears perked up instantly.

The sincerity in her tone made me glance at her despite myself. My brows furrowed. "You're still in love with Emily's dad?" My voice cracked around the shock, thedisbelief.

She dropped her shoulders, "Isn't it obvious?"

I shrunk back, mortified. "How? I mean, why? Should you?" Holding back was difficult. "He's married, Alyssa."

She didn't seem fazed, "They're about to be divorced. He told me himself."

The disgust I fel slipped out before I could leash it, "You spoke with him?"

"We met." She smiled-actually smiled-and the sight made my stomach knot."I jjust wanted to let him know that I wasn't going to let him take my daughter away from me. I informed him that Roman was ready to back me up in court."

Something dark and ugly coiled low in the pit of my stomach.

Something vile.

Something that felt so much like jealousy.

Its taste, bitter and metallic, settled under my tongue before I could shove it away.

"Well, Chloe's rebellion sort of brought us back together." She smiled,bright and wide. "He actually had no intentions of taking her away. He just wanted to get across to us. And strangely, Chloe helped in that."

I'm not entirely sure I heard her correctly. "What are you saying?"

"He's leaving his wife, Sav." Her tone was almost dreamy, "She couldn't give him what he needed most. So he's divorcing her. He wants to be present in Emily's life now."

I felt bile rise in my throat, "Are you serious?"

"I haven't said yes yet." She said quickly. "But it's good to know that he isn't going to cause any problems-"

"Are you out of your mind?" My voice cracked, louder than I meant,and my chest heaved with every word. "Shouldn't you be pressing forward with a lawsuit on this guy? You should make him pay through the nose for neglecting Emily for five fucking years! That's his daughter." My pulse thundered as I leaned forward, unable to stop. "You shouldn't be sitting here and smiling as if everything is okay. And divorce? C'mon, Alyssa, put yourself in her shoes. She's a woman. Just like you."

Alyssa flinched as if I'd hit her. A quick, involuntary recoil. Her eyes shut for a brief moment, and when they opened again, there was something colder in them.

The next words she spoke were quiet but sharp enough to slice right through me.

"Did you put yourself in Monica's shoes when you slept with her husband,Sav?"