Sister-in-law
BELLA
"Do I really have to?" Cyrus argues over the phone.
"You’re being a child."
"And you’re not giving me what I want, so when I get there, I’m going to be a spoiled brat."
That made me laugh.
"Cyrus, imagine you're performing a service. Just think of her as any member of the Irish Mafia. If she dies, the truce dies. Worse, we make a new enemy. So think of this as you creating peace between empires."
"Jesus, Bella, you’re scarily good at making me do everything you want."
"Because I’m your princess," I answered sweetly.
"Yes, you are. Alright. See you in ten or fifteen minutes."
"I love you."
"And you know nobody loves you like I do."
I hung up laughing. Then I turned back to the crowd. I mingled, I danced with my father-in-law, and I laughed at half-hearted flattery and veiled compliments. I was enjoying myself... until I realized I hadn’t seen Cullen in a while.
Was he even still here?
I looked at the time. It had been nearly half an hour. Cyrus should have called back already. I called him. Once. Twice. No answer. I was reaching for the phone a third time when I spotted Cullen.
"Hey," I said.
He was sitting alone in one of the private lounge seats tucked away from the noise. I slid in beside him.
"What’s going on? Why aren’t you celebrating?"
He didn’t look at me.
"What’s there to celebrate when everyone won’t shut up in my ear? Where’s your new wife, Cullen? I haven’t seen your new wife. Where’s the Irish girl? On and on...." He sighed. "I’m just sick of everyone talking about her...including you."
"Including me?" I asked.
"Especially you. And Mom. Can’t believe even Dad asked about her. Said it wasn’t a good look that she wasn’t here."
"Because it’s not," I told him. "She should have been here..."
" Or she shouldn’t have shown up drunk off her ass like a drunk bitch."
"Don’t call her a drunk bitch." I immediately snapped.
I didn’t know what to say after that, so we just sat in silence.
I reached for my phone again and tried Cyrus for the third time. No answer.
A pit started forming in my stomach. I called again. No answer.
"What’s wrong?" Cullen asked.
"It’s Cyrus. I told him to take Sarah home and look after her… but he’s not picking up. Oh my God, I told him to make her a bath. What if she drowned? What if she’s dead?"
Cullen stared at me, then burst into laughter.
"Why the hell are you laughing?"
"Just your face," he said. "She hasn’t drowned. Nothing bad has happened. You know Cyrus.... he probably dropped his phone somewhere. You’re panicking over nothing."
"You’re right," I muttered, trying to shake the worry off as I grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter.
We sat there, people-watching, until I saw Cyrus weaving through the crowd and I instantly knew he was looking for me. The second he locked eyes with me, I knew something was wrong.
He looked... Not himself
Not injured but his hair was a mess, his tie crooked, and he carried this frantic, nervous energy. My heart dropped. All the worst possibilities rushed into my head. And I just... froze.
Cyrus walked toward us and said, “Cullen, would you excuse us?”
“You're excused,” Cullen replied casually, still sipping his drink.
“Could you leave us for a second?” Cyrus asked again, more firmly.
“Why don’t you take a hike?” Cullen shot back.
Cyrus looked like he was about to lose it. And the last thing I needed was for them to start something here. I stepped in quickly.
“Let’s just go outside,” I said to Cyrus, grabbing his hand.
He kept glaring at Cullen, who was glaring right back, but finally let me pull him away. We stepped outside.
“What is it?” I asked, my heart racing. “What happened? Please don’t tell me she’s dead.”
“It would’ve been better if she had died,” Cyrus muttered through clenched teeth.
I frowned. “What happened?”
“Look, Bella, I just want you to know... I didn’t do anything. I didn’t give her any signal that it was okay. I didn’t encourage it. I did everything you told me to.”
“Okay…” I said slowly, confused. I still didn’t understand what he was trying to say.
“I’m just... I'm telling you because I don’t want any problems. I can’t even sit with it. I feel like it’s....”
“Cyrus, just tell me what the fuck happened. Is she alive?”
“Yes, she’s fucking alive.”
“Then what the hell happened?”
He looked like he was struggling, running a hand over his face. Then he finally looked at me and said, “I don’t know how you’re going to react if I tell you this.”
“Just fucking tell me,” I snapped.
For reasons I didn’t even fully understand, I was already mad. Really mad. Something inside me was boiling over.
“She came on to me.”
I blinked. Then I laughed. Actually laughed.
Cyrus looked at me, completely thrown.
“What?” he asked.
“She came on to you?” I repeated and burst out laughing even harder.
“I’m serious, okay? She tried to kiss me. She pulled me toward her, put her lips on mine and.... yeah, you get the picture.”
“Are you serious?” I asked, finally sobering up.
“Yes. I am serious.”
I shook my head. “No. You can’t be serious right now.”
“I am. She came on to me. She was wearing this silk nightgown... but I never looked at her.... not that way..... then later she just... took it off. And she was wearing this....this lacy thong.”
I rubbed my eyes, suddenly feeling nauseous. “You didn’t look, huh? But somehow you know she was wearing a lacy thong?”
“I’m just telling you what happened.”
“She’s your sister-in-law. She can’t come on to you,” I snapped. “I know for a fact she’s never been with anyone else. Why would she throw herself at you?”
“I don’t know, okay? Why are you asking me like I planned this? Maybe you should ask her.”
I turned around, trying to walk away, but Cyrus grabbed my arm.
“Wait, wait.... what are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?” I said sharply. “Why do you have to be so goddamn handsome? Why does every woman I bring into my life end up throwing themselves at you?”
His face twisted in disbelief, hands raised like he was surrendering. “What? You think this is my fault?”
“Yeah, kind of,” I said bitterly. “I can’t believe this. Please...please tell me you’re joking. This better be a joke.”
And suddenly, my anger turned cold. “I swear to God, I’m going to fucking kill her.”
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