My Billionaire Fiancé Slept With His Adopted Sister

Elena opened the front door before I reached the top step. She'd run my house for eleven years.

"Miss Vivienne. You're back early."

"I need the gallery room."

Her brows rose. "The art room? The one your father had built?"

"That one."

My father had designed it for private showings. One whole wall was smart glass. From the corridor, you could see every inch of the room. From inside, the glass looked like a plain mirror.

Elena followed me down the hall. "It hasn't been used since the Rothko sale. Is something being displayed?"

I pressed my palm flat against the cool glass. Our reflections stared back at us.

"Something very special."

"May I ask what?"

"You'll see it on Valentine's night."

She studied me for a long beat. Then she gave one small nod, the way she used to when I was twelve and had decided something she couldn't talk me out of.

"Tell me what you need."

"A party. Valentine's night. I want every heir and heiress in the city on the guest list. The Kerrigans, the Delacroix twins, the Osbournes. All of them."

"That's very short notice."

"Mark it 'Vivienne Marlowe's Valentine Surprise.' They'll come."

Nobody in our circle ever skipped a party with the word *surprise* on it. Gossip was the only currency they spent faster than money.

"And for this room?"

"Make it look like a lounge. Velvet couch. Soft lights. Roses." I tapped the side table by the door. "And put a bucket of Krug Clos d'Ambonnay right here. Two glasses."

Elena paused. "That's Miss Sloane's favorite."

"I know."

"Miss Vivienne..." She lowered her voice. "Has something happened with the Vale family?"

I turned away from the glass. "Nothing that wasn't already happening, Elena. I just finally noticed."

---

By evening, the invitations were out. My phone lit up every few minutes.

*Wouldn't miss it, babe!*

*A surprise from Vivienne Marlowe? I'm clearing my calendar.*

*Is it an engagement thing? Are you two moving the wedding up??*

I left that one on read.

I carried an armful of red roses into the gallery and started trimming the stems myself. Snip. Snip. The sound filled the quiet room.

It reminded me of the theater two years ago.

---

"Adrian, I saved you a seat." I'd patted the chair next to mine, popcorn in my lap.

Sloane slid right into it. "Ooh, perfect, thanks, Viv!"

"Actually, that's for—"

"Sit across the aisle, babe," Adrian said, already settling in beside her. "Sloane gets scared during horror movies. You know how she is."

I sat across the aisle. Alone. For two hours, I watched her bury her face in his shoulder every time the music swelled.

I'd thought it was sweet.

---

Snip. A thorn pricked my thumb. A bead of red welled up. I stared at it and kept going.

The memories kept coming, faster now. Like they'd been waiting behind a door I'd finally unlocked.

---

Fifth Avenue. Last spring. Sloane walking between us, her arm hooked through Adrian's.

She'd slapped his butt right outside Cartier. Hard enough to make a woman turn around.

"Sloane!" I'd laughed, a little uneasy.

Adrian grinned and shrugged. "She likes to mess around. Always has."

"He's got a cute butt, Viv," Sloane said, winking at me. "You're a lucky girl."

And I'd laughed again. Because what else did a good fiancée do?

---

I set the scissors down. My hands had started to shake.

The next memory didn't arrive softly. It hit.

---

Thanksgiving at the Vale estate. I'd stepped out to the terrace for air and found them against the stone railing. Sloane's hands in his hair. His mouth on hers. Tongues. No mistaking it.

"Adrian?"

They broke apart. Sloane wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

Adrian didn't even look startled. He looked annoyed.

"What, Viv?"

"You were... you were kissing her."

"She had something in her eye. I was checking it." His voice went sharp. "Jesus. What kind of dirty mind thinks about a man's sister like that?"

Then Sloane's chin wobbled. Her eyes filled with tears so quickly it was almost impressive.

"Why would you say that?" she sobbed. "He's my brother. Why are you trying to ruin our family?"

The terrace doors swung open. Mrs. Vale stood there in pearls, her mouth a thin line.

"What on earth is going on out here?"

"Vivienne thinks Adrian and I are..." Sloane couldn't finish. She collapsed against Adrian's chest, shoulders heaving.

Mrs. Vale's eyes found mine. Cold as the marble floors in her foyer.

"Vivienne. You will apologize to my daughter. Now."

"Mrs. Vale, I saw—"

"Apologize."

Guests had followed her outside. Aunts. Cousins. Adrian's business partners. All of them watching.

My eyes burned. My throat closed up.

"I'm sorry, Sloane." My voice cracked in front of everyone. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

Sloane sniffled. Then she hugged me. Over my shoulder, I could have sworn she was smiling.

---

A rose stem snapped in my fist.

I looked down at the broken flower and started to laugh. Quietly at first. Then harder, until I had to sit on the velvet couch and press my knuckles against my mouth.

Elena appeared in the doorway. "Miss Vivienne? Are you all right?"

"Do you remember when I had the flu last October? And I drove to Adrian's anyway because he said he was sick too?"

"I remember."

"Sloane came out of his bedroom wearing his shirt. Only his shirt." I wiped my eyes. "And Adrian said, 'She was worried I'd get worse in the night. She slept in the chair.'"

Elena's face tightened. "Did you believe him?"

"I brought them both soup, Elena." I shook my head. "I brought them soup."

She crossed the room and took the broken rose from my hand. Her fingers were warm.

"Then this time," she said, "you bring them something else."

---

My phone buzzed at nine.

*Adrian.*

I let it ring twice. Then I answered.

"Hey, babe." His voice was easy. Smooth. The voice that had promised me forever over a candlelit dinner. "Listen, about Valentine's. I was going to come over early and help you set up, but I'll have to skip that part."

"Oh?"

"Sloane's freaking out about her dress for your party. Says she has nothing to wear. She asked me to take her shopping that afternoon."

In the background, I heard a giggle. Then a soft, muffled sound, like lips against skin.

"Is she with you now?"

A tiny pause. "She stopped by to borrow a charger. You're not mad, are you? You know how she gets."

"I know exactly how she gets."

"So... we're good?"

I looked at my reflection in the mirrored glass. Calm face. Dry eyes. A woman I hardly recognized.

"Of course we're good," I said. "You two have fun."

Another pause. Longer this time.

"Viv? You sound different."

"Just tired. Planning." I smiled, even though he couldn't see it. "Make sure she picks something red. Red silk. She'll look stunning."

"You're the best, you know that?"

"I know."

I hung up first. For once.

Then I stood and walked the room one more time. The couch. The roses. The champagne bucket by the door, two crystal flutes waiting beside it.

I stepped into the hallway and looked back through the glass. Every corner of the room was perfectly clear.

Inside, I'd hidden one more thing. A small black lens tucked between the roses, its tiny light blinking green.

I pulled out my phone and opened the live feed.

The couch filled the screen.

"Ready when you are, Adrian," I whispered.