The Long-Lost Sister Who Shattered Our Love and Stole My Future

After being away for work for three long months, I was eager to see Ryan. I had so many visions of this moment—appearing out of the blue and seeing his face light up.

My parents picked me up at the airport, and after their warm hugs and chatter, I convinced them to drop me off at Ryan’s.

"I know you are thrilled to see him," Mom remarked with a knowing smile.

I nodded. “It’s been a while. I missed him.”

Ryan had said that his quick calls were due to his heavy workload while I was away. However, I was eager to surprise him since I trusted him. When I imagined seeing him, my pulse raced.

The entrance door was slightly open when I got to his apartment. My heart skipped a beat. Had he hurried out? Was he anticipating a visitor?

After a moment of hesitation, I entered.

“Ryan?” I called softly. No answer.

The home was abnormally silent, with the exception of faint sounds from the bedroom. I frowned. Was he watching TV? But something did not feel quite right.

I left my suitcase at the entrance and moved in the direction of the noise. I felt my heart race with anxiety.

“Ryan?” I called again, a little louder this time.

I barely pulled open the bedroom door before freezing.

Ryan was on our bed, but he was not alone. A woman with long dark hair that fell down her back straddled him. Her fingers traced circles across his naked chest as she laughed gently.

My chest tightened. I was unable to breathe. unable to think. She was not just any lady. It was Lena. His supposed long-lost sister.

I wanted to yell, to charge in and demand an explanation, but I was stuck to the ground. My hands shook as I held onto the door frame for balance, my head reeling at the treachery unfolding before me.

As if the universe had not already broken me, Ryan sat up abruptly and put his hands carefully over Lena's face. He moved from the bed to one knee, and I felt my breath catch in my throat.

"Lena," he whispered, his voice quivering with passion. He had never sounded like that to me. "I will do whatever it takes to marry you. Regardless of what occurs. I love you. Will you marry me?”

The ring box in his palm was recognizable. It was the one he had promised me he would choose for me.

Lena exclaimed, "Yes! Yes!" as tears streamed down her face.

Something broke inside of me. I felt the betrayal and the weight of his falsehoods like a freight train. To avoid making any noise, I bit my lip. They were unaware of my presence, and I had no intention of letting them see my breakdown.

I retreated quietly. Tears clouded my eyes as I staggered out of the flat, my hand fumbling for the door. Even though the air outside seemed oppressive, I was unable to stop. It was impossible for me to think.

How could he? How could Ryan, the man who had given me hope for the future, treat me like this? Memories flashed back, including his excuses about being busy, the times he did not answer my calls, and how he had casually presented Lena as family.

"Family," I said angrily, wiping my face as I hailed a cab.

The ride home was a blur. I sat there, holding my suitcase, as the driver complained about traffic. I could hardly hear him above my heartbeat pounding in my ears. Ryan and Lena raced across my mind—his hands on her, the way he looked at her, the words he spoke.

After arriving at my flat, I staggered inside and fell onto the couch. The tears I would keep back erupted, uncontrollably and raw. I continued to shake.

I thought we were creating a life together, so I had been looking forward to seeing him for months. I trusted him when he referred to Lena as a sister, and I waited for his calls when he claimed to be busy. How blind had I been?

My phone rang, I was startled by its sound. I looked at the screen and wiped my face. It was Ryan. I kept my finger on the decline button as I gazed at his name.

He was not worthy of a response.

The doorbell rang. My heart stabbed me in the throat as I froze. Who could it be?

I moved cautiously over to the door and looked through the peephole. I felt uneasy. It was Ryan. And Lena.

I swallowed the wave of rage that threatened to explode and clinched my hands. They actually showed up at my door after what I had just seen?

I inhaled deeply before opening the door with a neutral look in spite of the internal turmoil.

"Stacey," Ryan spoke in a kind yet forceful voice. "Your parents informed me that you had returned." I assumed you would like to see me.

I leaned against the doorframe with my arms folded. “And you brought her?” I questioned, my voice icy as I pointed at Lena.

Lena smiled softly and moved closer to Ryan. “I told him to let me stay behind, but he insisted,” she said, her voice dripping with fake concern.

Ryan's eyes narrowed as he warned, "Be mindful of the way you talk to her. Your parents thought you would give me a warm welcome, but instead..."

I chuckled bitterly and interrupted him, moving away to make room for them. "Ryan, what do you want?"

He blinked, obviously surprised. "What is the matter with you? Did the trip go badly? Why are you acting like this?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I’m just tired.”

Ryan frowned, clearly unconvinced, but before he could press further, Lena placed a hand on his arm, giving him a soft smile. His face softened quickly as he gazed down at her.

I could not help but chuckle, the bitterness oozing through. Ryan glanced up, his face displaying a hint of shame.

"You seem… close," I said, staring at their entwined hands.

Ryan swiftly withdrew his hand, but the harm had already been done.

"Stacey, let us not do this," he replied in a frustrated tone. "I care about you, which is why I am here."

With the weight of everything I could not say pressing down on my chest, I gazed at him. "Ryan, you would not have brought her here if you truly cared about me."

Tension crackled in the room like static electricity, and the room became quiet. I drew back to the couch as Ryan and Lena looked at each other.

I was not interested in hearing any justification they had to provide.