“Or had you already decided…”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“…and simply never planned to tell me?”
No one spoke.
The room became painfully quiet.
Then Ethan’s phone vibrated.
He reached for it immediately.
But he was too late.
I saw the screen.
A message.
From Linda.
The preview contained only one sentence:
Has everything been taken care of?
My blood ran cold.
I looked at my sister.
She immediately released Ethan’s hand.
“Linda?”
She didn’t answer.
“What does that mean?”
“It’s not what you think.”
I almost laughed.
“Then tell me what it is.”
She looked at Ethan.
Ethan looked at her.
That tiny exchange told me they had rehearsed this moment.
But they hadn’t expected me to survive.
I slowly pushed myself higher against the pillows.
“My mother-in-law shoved me into a pool because she thought I was faking my pregnancy.”
My voice was weak, but every word was clear.
“Ethan knew I was pregnant with twins.”
I looked at Linda.
“And now I find out the two of you have been talking behind my back.”
Linda began crying.
“Ava, please…”
“No.”
I raised my hand.
“Don’t call me that like we’re sisters.”
She froze.
“You were my sister.”
Her face crumpled.
“What happened?”
Linda wiped her tears.
“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Then what did you mean?”
