Vanessa's POV
"Seriously, do I gotta keep my mouth shut? I came with you, scott. Just because I haven’t even stepped inside yet, I’m not on the list? What’s the big secret, huh?"
Scott shot me a sharp look, checking if people were staring. "Stop acting like a kid, Vanessa." He grabbed my hand and dragged me to sit down.
In five years of being with him, never once had he snapped at me like this, especially not in front of a crowd. Sure, I had to play his “sister,” but he always kept it low-key.
Today? Nope. He kept throwing me dirty looks, whispering mean stuff under his breath, forcing me to stay put like I was his puppet.
In the middle of our argument, a waiter came to our table. He drove a woman who almost gave me a heart attack.
The woman was the one Scott kissed. She owned the account "Miracle1250."
"Here’s your seat, Miss Valerie."
"Thanks so much."
She plopped down like she owned the place. "Hey, babe! I Got off work early, so I figured—why not surprise you here? Bet you weren’t expecting this, huh?"
Scott? Frozen. Just sat there, darting his eyes between me and her like a busted cheater.
"You must be Vanessa, right? Scott’s half-sister?" Valerie said, stretching out her hand with that fake-friendly smile.
I waited for Scott to say something, anything. Like, maybe admit I’m his wife? But no, he stayed quiet, like his mouth was full of marbles
I shook her hand and , "Yes, I'm his half sister. You?"
"Valerie Thomas. Scott’s future wife. We just reconnected after ages, and he already popped the question. Crazy, right?”."
I went limp, hearing the harsh reality that I couldn't escape. I felt like crying and leaving this place right now. Especially seeing Scott like a statue, there was no defense for me.
"Sit down first. We need to talk about the wedding, but at that time, you didn't come, only Scott and his mother."
Valerie's nonsense made the words in my head suddenly disappear altogether. So Scott's mother knew about their relationship, and she kept quiet. I was just here, a fool who knew nothing. I was like a clown. Even though they were the ones who made me lie in the hospital. The woman also looked at me lying helplessly.
"Yes, right, Honey? You said your sister was a shy person. So I was afraid to see her. Unexpectedly, we even met each other at this event."
Scott nodded with a stiff face. His eyes couldn't let go of looking at me. Valerie nudged him, forcing him to speak.
"Y-Yes, she's in the hospital. I..."
"I'm leaving. I'm not feeling well." I get up, not wanting to hear any more jokes from Scott's lips.
Scott had already given me the last excuse to leave immediately. Obviously, he preferred his newly returned love.
Valerie stood up too. She held my hand. "What's the rush? You look well. Could it be that you're upset with me?" She asked with an annoying face, a sad expression made up.
"No. I want to go home."
"Wait here, the event has just started. Look, Clarissa is walking over here."
I felt Valerie's grasp tighten, her sharp nails pressing so hard on my arm that I felt pain and brushed them off reflexively.
The untight movement sent Valerie crashing and bumping into a waiter carrying a tray of glasses filled with juice.
The sound of things breaking filled the room, attracting the attention of the other guests, then Scott helped Valerie up
"Valerie, are you hurt? Show me."
Valerie cried mock-fully as she revealed her hand. "My hand was scratched, she scratched me. Maybe she doesn't like me."
Scott hugged her, then looked at me with anger. "Look what you've done, Vanessa? Why are you making a scene?"
"I didn't injure her. It was she who gripped my hand. My movement was a reflex! SHe overdid it!"
"Enough! You always have a reason. You're guilty and now you're evading it?"
Scott's accusation felt like it slapped me very hard. The pain was palpable. Scott trusted the person who had just returned to him more than I had been there every step of the way, even from his lowest moment.
"What is this mess?" Clarissa came over with a panicked face.
I already opened my mouth, but Scott raised his hand, holding me back. "Clarissa, I'm sorry for this embarrassing incident. Vanessa has ruined this festive party. Vanessa, you have to apologize to Clarissa and Valerie."
I shook my head. "I'll just apologize to Clarissa, but not to that woman!"
"If you still fight back, then you will know the consequences, Vanessa. I'm not playing games this time." Scott instead showered me with threats.
Valerie looked at me triumphantly. She had tears in her eyes that I believed she made up. Her hand grabbed Scott's arm. "Don't force her, Scott, I'm sure she didn't do it on purpose. She does not seem to be able to accept me being your wife. So she doesn't want to talk nicely like I did to her."
Valerie wiped her tears; she had an exaggerated expression and was full of lies. "Even though I just want to get to know her more closely, if she doesn't want to, I can't reply."
Clarissa looked at me sharply. "If you still have shame, then you have to apologize to Valerie, too, she got hurt because of you. You are a troublemaker, Vanessa."
I couldn't take it anymore, so I left them. But my departure was blocked by Scott instead, and Valerie, who held my hand again.
"What else?"
"You haven't apologized, or you'll lose everything, Vanessa, including me," Scott said with a cold face.
