Chapter 2

The next morning, my parents got the news and rushed to the hospital.

I was just about to tell them Les was faking the illness.

But my mother, sitting on the edge of my bed, spoke first.

"Doris, what were you doing painting your nails? You know perfectly well Fern doesn't like things like that."

"Les is mentally fragile. He can't take any kind of shock."

"Until the wedding is over, I'm going to stay right here and watch you, and make sure you act exactly like Fern."

My father stood in the doorway, worn out.

"Doris, just listen to your mother and play Fern's part properly."

"Your brother graduates from college this year, and he'll need Les's help to get a job."

"These past four years, it's thanks to Les that your brother got to study abroad and bring honor to the Winfield name."

I opened my mouth, then swallowed the words after all.

They didn't care about the truth at all.

Even if they knew Les was faking, they'd still make me keep playing the part, because they needed the money and connections in his hands to smooth the way for my brother.

And if they knew I was planning to run from the wedding, they'd stop me by any means possible.

Footsteps came from the doorway. Les.

My father hurried over to greet him.

"Les, my wife and I have already spoken to Doris about yesterday. She won't pull anything again."

Les stepped past my father, his eyes settling with pity on my ten bandaged fingers.

"Fern, how did your hands get hurt?"

Then he raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face.

"It's my fault. I didn't take care of you. I promise you, no one will ever hurt you again."

I looked at his swollen red cheek, at the tears shining in his eyes.

And I couldn't help thinking what a good actor he was.

In four years he had never once slipped, which was why I'd been kept in the dark so long.

Seeing me frozen and silent, Les came closer and crouched down in front of me.

"Fern, rest and get your strength back these next few days."

"I'll handle the wedding. Everything set up just the way you like it."

"I'll make you the most beautiful bride there is."

The burning tenderness in his eyes was almost enough to melt me.

But I knew he was playing me for a fool right now.

"I'll expose her true face in front of everyone at the wedding."

"That slut who killed her own sister and seduced her sister's man—how disgusting, how despicable she is!"

Those words were still echoing in my ears.

I almost wanted to laugh, but the corner of my mouth trembled and flattened into a straight line.

I lowered my eyes and nodded, numb.

"All right."

Seeing this, my parents gave me a pointed look and slipped quietly out of the room.

Les suddenly stood, lifted a corner of the blanket, and lay down beside me.

He slid one arm under my back to pillow my head, and rested the other lightly on my waist.

"Fern, it's still early. Let me sleep a little longer with you."

Fern didn't like sleeping alone.

At home, our mother kept her company; after they started dating, Les did.

Watching his shut eyes, my body went rigid, my heart racing with fear.

The next second, his eyes opened.

"Doris!"

He kicked me off the bed. My forehead scraped the corner of the nightstand, and blood ran down my cheek and dripped to the floor.

As if he'd just realized something, he scrambled off the bed and helped me up.

"I'm sorry, Doris. I had another episode just now."

I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

Two years ago, he'd had too much to drink and pinned me down on the bed, and that night we slept together.

The next day, before I'd even come to my senses, he grabbed my arm and threw me out of the room, tossing me nothing but a towel to cover myself.

He was shaking all over, his eyes red as he glared at me.

"Doris! I'm your sister's man! How could you crawl into my bed while I was drunk?"

"How can you be so shameless?"