Vanessa stepped into the club where she would be meeting Tristan for his birthday party.
Being the youngest son of the Devereaux family, he could do whatever he wanted and have his party wherever he wanted as well.
And the one place he had chosen was a club.
A mere club.
Everyone was dancing and drinking, kissing and practically eating each other’s faces.
Vanessa wasn’t bothered by them.
The only person she wanted to see was Tristan.
Earlier, she had told him she wasn’t coming just so she could surprise him.
The club was already too loud, making her wonder even more why he would choose such a place to celebrate his birthday.
She tapped a man on the shoulder and asked, “Where’s Tristan?”
The man looked shocked to see her there.
He was one of Tristan’s friends, and he certainly didn’t look happy to see her.
“Well…”
“Vanessa, what are you doing here?
We weren’t expecting you to…” the second man started.
She cut him off and repeated her question.
“Where’s Tristan?
I plan to surprise him, so where the fuck is he?” This time, she was slowly running out of patience.
The two friends, Dexter and Luca, shared a nervous look with each other.
Vanessa ignored them and quickly put Tristan on the phone.
He wasn’t responding.
She called him several times, but he didn’t pick up.
She turned to Dexter.
“Call him now,” she ordered.
“My phone is dead.”
She turned to Luca.
“Mine too.”
Vanessa was done with both of them.
She was going to find Tristan herself.
She ventured deeper into the club, bumping into a few people along the way.
If Tristan was around, why didn’t they just tell her where he was?
Unless…
Unless he was doing something he shouldn’t be doing.
She dialed his number one more time as her eyes continued scanning the crowded club for him.
Then she caught sight of him with someone familiar.
Tristan was leaning against someone, practically sandwiching her between the walls.
“You should pick up your phone.
I’m sure it’s Vanessa calling again,” Noelle said in a sweet voice, which always made her sound cute and innocent.
She was only four years older than her, and yet she sounded like a damn child.
“So what?
It’s not like she’s coming,” Tristan replied, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“It’s a good thing she isn’t coming.
That way, we can have the whole night to ourselves.”
He then captured her lips in a kiss while Noelle giggled.
Vanessa watched her entire world come crashing down.
For a moment, she was tempted to rub her eyes just to make sure she wasn’t seeing things.
Maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her.
Maybe this was some horrible misunderstanding.
But when she opened them again, they were still there.
“Tristan!” She yelled.
Immediately, both of them separated from each other, their heads snapping toward her with shock written all over their faces.
“Vanessa!” Tristan quickly took two steps away from Noelle as if she were a contagious disease.
“It’s not what it looks like at all.
I promise you.”
“You’re cheating on me with my sister?” she questioned, still unable to believe what she was seeing.
This was supposed to be a surprise for Tristan, but apparently, she was the one who had been surprised.
Noelle looked shocked for a second, but that expression quickly morphed into something else as she linked her arm with Tristan’s.
“What, sister?
Are you surprised?” she asked, a triumphant grin spreading across her lips.
“We’ve been doing this behind your back for years, and you’re only finding out now.
You’re such a stupid girl.”
Vanessa was beyond stunned now.
She stared at Tristan, waiting for him to say something, anything, but he remained silent.
The world around her started spinning as the loud music slowly faded into the background.
She couldn’t hear anything anymore.
She had been a fool this whole time.
At home…
Vanessa strode into the Voss family mansion, her steps heavy and filled with tension.
She found her parents sitting on the couch, watching TV with smiles on their faces.
“Mother!
Father!” she called, trying to get their attention.
“You won’t believe what…”
“Mum!
Dad!
Vanessa slapped me earlier!” Noelle quickly accused, rushing into their mother’s arms with tears streaming down her face as if she had truly been slapped.
Their parents immediately snapped their heads toward Vanessa, rage written all over their faces.
“What did you do to your sister?” her mother questioned.
Vanessa didn’t want to waste time entertaining Noelle’s lie, so she immediately said, “I didn’t slap Noelle.
You know what?
I wish I had.
Noelle has been sleeping with Tristan for God knows how long.
Tristan and I were supposed to get married next week, and yet she decided to pull such a stunt.”
“So what?” her father questioned.
Vanessa was immediately taken aback by his words.
“So what if they’re sleeping together?
It’s a sign that they love each other.”
Vanessa was beyond dumbfounded.
She watched as Noelle smiled smugly while still wrapped in their mother’s arms.
“You guys knew,” she stated, her eyes stinging with tears.
“You watched me love a man who was sleeping with my sister.”
Her mother took a step forward.
“You’re yelling as if she did something terrible.”
Vanessa’s eyes twitched as she watched Noelle grin even harder.
This was how it had always been in this house.
Noelle was the favored daughter for some reason.
Their parents always took her side, even when she slept with her younger sister’s fiancé.
“I don’t want to get married to Matteo, Father.
I’ve told you for a long time that I don’t want to,” Noelle said, tears streaming down her face as if she were the one being hurt.
“I want to marry Tristan.
He’s the one I love.”
Their father placed a reassuring hand on her back.
“I’ll have that arranged.
I’ll speak to Matteo and have…” He paused, his eyes moving toward Vanessa, who was still standing there in shock at what was happening before her eyes.
“I’ll have Vanessa replace you so you can marry Tristan.”
Noelle smiled like she had just won.
“Father…”
“Go to your room,” the old man barked.
“We’re done here.”
Vanessa was clearly hurt.
Her heart felt like it had stopped beating.
But surprised?
She certainly wasn’t.
She just hadn’t expected them to support Noelle to this extent.
Somewhere…
A man received a phone call.
He took a huge puff of his cigarette and slowly blew the smoke into the air before responding.
“Boss, you were right.
Tristan has been sleeping with your arranged wife, Noelle.
The younger sister caught them kissing at the club.”
‘The nerve of that boy,’ Matteo thought.
“Contact the Voss family and rearrange my marriage with the younger sister.”
The caller was slightly stunned by his quick decision.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Matteo quickly hung up.
Matteo took a picture from his drawer.
He stared at it, his eyes filled with hatred.
“Vanessa Voss.”