Between Us

Chapter 48

I bite down on my lip as I stare at the text messages Max has been sending me all morning. I should be finalizing the model lineup for my upcoming show, but I keep daydreaming about my wife. Being with her has been better than I ever could've dreamed of. Everything I thought I'd never have is within reach now.

It makes me wonder if my suspicions about Crystal and Max were true. She never seemed happy around her—not the way she is with her family. I thought it'd just been my own wishful thinking, but maybe it wasn't.

When she rejected me, I thought that was it for us. I was certain I'd never have another chance, and I'd have to watch her have her happily ever after with my sister. I never thought that'd only be the start of our story.

Max: Do you know what the best thing is about your wife being a supermodel?

               Alianna: ...working out together?

Max: Last night's workout definitely was intense...🥵

Max: But no, that's not the best part. It's all the pictures of you in lingerie that I don't even have to sneakily take.

             Alianna: You do realize everyone can see those photos, right?

Max: Damn it, Ali. Don't remind me of those creepy pervs that are always perving on you. The fact that you're even thinking of them pisses me off. Seems like I didn't fuck you hard enough last night, huh? I'll make sure you won't be able to think of anyone but me by the time the sun rises tomorrow.

I chuckle. I can't help it. Max has always seemed so level headed, so watching her lose her mind over me is just... it's oddly heartwarming. I love how she keeps posting photos of us together every time she gets pissed off about me appearing at an event with another man. She's giving me the freedom to have my career without making me feel guilty about it, yet she's reminding the world that I'm her in the cutest way possible.

            Alianna: Pervs be perving, my love. I'm not convinced that half those accounts aren't actually just secret fan accounts you've created to stalk me with, though.

Max: To be fair, that's a pretty good idea. I should make a few more and drown them all out. Brb, I have something really important to do. Love u, babe :)

            Alianna: Love you, too!

A soft giggle escapes my lips, and I press my lips together. She's crazy, and she's the exact same woman I once fell in love with. The one I thought I'd lost over the years.

"Alianna?"

I sit up at the sound of Crystal's voice, my smile melting away. She walks into my office, her expression unreadable. She hasn't sought me out since she asked me to speak to Max on her behalf, but I should've known the premiere would force her to come to me. I didn't intend for it to be, but she would've seen it as a declaration of war. Everything is always a battle for Crystal.

"What can I do for you, Sis? Do you need a dress for an event?"

She stares at me as she sits down opposite me, her expression chilling, "Why are you acting like I only ever come to you when I need something? There's no one here, Alianna. You don't need to pretend to be the good girl, the aggrieved sibling."

I tense as I suppress the hurt I feel at her words, "I'm sorry, what?"

She crosses her arms, "Is that why you fucked my fiancée? Because you wanted revenge for the way I've treated you over the years?"

"I... I..." I clear my throat and wrap my arms around myself, my heart racing.

"Why did you show up at all, Alianna? Why did you show up on my wedding day? You know as well as I do that Abuela Lim never would've let your company fail, not even if Mom and Dad took away your funding. You never had anything to lose. If you'd just stayed away, they'd have had no choice but to reschedule the wedding. Why did you do this to me?"

I look away, unsure of what to say. I knew we'd have to have this conversation eventually, and I've gone over it in my head so many times... but now that I need them the most, I can't find the words I need.

"You know as well as I do that Max values duty and loyalty above everything else. Do you think she's suddenly in love with you? So quickly? After the years she spent with me? Or do you think she's making the best of a tough situation and getting laid while she's at it? You're her wife now, so she feels she needs to make you happy, no matter what that means for her own happiness. She'll pretend till the very bitter end if it makes her family happy—which, in her mind, now includes you."

She chuckles and added, "Do you know why we grew apart, Alianna? It's because I've always seen the way you looked at Max. What kind of woman would lust after her sister's fiancée the way you did? It always disgusted me. Did you know Max and I used to joke about your little crush on her? She used to think it was childish, but cute. She never once even saw you as a woman. But let me guess... you wore her down by seducing her?"

My thoughts turn to the various outfits I wore around the house in an attempt to make her notice me, the things I said and did.

"Crystal," I murmur, my voice soft, "What do you want? What does it all matter? I'm married to Max now."

She smiles at me and lifts her hand to her chest, twirling around the ring on her ring finger. My blood runs cold when I recognize the ring she's wearing. It's her original wedding ring. The one Max put on my finger the day we got married.

"Not for long," she tells me, "You might be the one she's married to now, but once her duty to you is over, she'll come straight back to me. I will always be the one she truly wants, the one she wishes walked down that aisle. And you, my darling sister? You'll always be my replacement, the one she was forced to settle for. You chased after her knowing exactly what kind of damage you'd cause, but you failed to account for the damage it'll cause you in the end. No matter what you do, you will never be me, Alianna. Not only will you eventually lose Max... you lost me, too. I hope your marriage to her is worth it, because it'll cost you everything."

I bite down on my lip in an effort to control my emotions, "Where did you get that ring?" She grins, "Like I said... I will always be the one she wants. She'll never let you have anything that's mine. Not for long, anyway."

"Max gave it to you?"

She nods, "She did. I told her I wanted my ring back, so she said she'd get you a new one. We spent so much time picking our rings out together... I can't imagine how hard it must've been for her to see it on your finger. I didn't think she'd give it to me so easily, you know? I thought she'd be angry and spiteful, but she's just the same Max I've always known and loved. She'd never deny me anything, even if she has to take it away from her supposed wife. But then again... you already know that, don't you? You know better than anyone else that she loves me with all she's got. After a love like that, how much could possibly be left? How could anyone else ever measure up?"

She rises to her feet and throws me a hard look, "I will never forgive you for what you did, Alianna. You might think things are going well with Max, and that you made the right choice in doing what you did... but mark my words. You'll regret marrying her one day, and she will come back to me. She always does."

I bite down on my lip harshly as she walks out of my office, leaving her venom sinking deep into my soul, poisoning every shred of hope I've held onto.

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