Chapter 4: The Name on the Guest List
The name on Daniel’s phone made my chest tighten.
I didn’t recognize it.
But Vanessa did.
Her entire body went still.
“Who is that?”” Daniel asked.
She didn’t answer.
“Vanessa.””
Still nothing.
I looked at the screen from where I stood.
A name.
A phone number.
And a note from the wedding planner:
*Added by Vanessa yesterday. Confirmed for the reception dinner.*
Daniel looked at her.
“You told me the guest list was finalized two weeks ago.””
“It was.””
“Then why was someone added yesterday?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“It’s complicated.””
Daniel shook his head.
“That’s becoming your favorite answer.””
She looked hurt.
But this time, I noticed something.
Her hurt always appeared when she was caught.
Not when she hurt someone else.
“Who is he?”” Daniel asked.
Vanessa looked at me.
Then away.
That small movement told me everything.
She didn’t want Daniel to know.
And she didn’t want me to know either.
“Vanessa,” I said softly.
She glared at me.
“Don’t.””
“Who is he?””
She took a deep breath.
“His name is Ryan.””
The name meant nothing to me.
But Daniel reacted immediately.
“You said you never talked to him again.””
“I don’t.””
“Then why is he coming to our wedding?””
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
“Because he needed somewhere to stay.””
Daniel stared.
“You invited another man you supposedly don’t talk to because he needed somewhere to stay?””
“He’s not like that.””
“Then what is he like?””
She had no answer.
The back door opened.
A few guests walked outside, laughing and carrying coffee.
The moment they saw our faces, they became quiet.
Everyone could feel something was wrong.
Vanessa noticed them watching.
Her expression changed.
Suddenly, she wasn’t angry anymore.
She was embarrassed.
“Can we not do this here?””
Daniel looked around.
“This started here.””
Her voice dropped.
“Please.””
For a second, I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
Because I remembered the sister I used to have.
The one who taught me how to ride a bike.
The one who stayed awake with me during thunderstorms when we were kids.
The one who promised she would always protect me.
But then I remembered her hands pushing me.
And her laughter while I struggled in the water.
Daniel walked inside.
“Find Ryan.””
Vanessa’s face went pale.
“What?””
“Find him.””
“Why?””
“Because I want the truth.””
She followed him.
“Daniel, you’re ruining everything.””
He stopped.
“No, Vanessa.””
He turned around.
“You ruined it when you decided protecting your image mattered more than protecting your sister.””
Those words stayed with me.
Because for the first time in years, someone had said out loud what I had been feeling.
I went upstairs to pack my things.
I didn’t want to stay.
Not after everything.
As I folded my clothes into my suitcase, I found something tucked between my bags.
A small envelope.
At first, I thought it was one of my medical documents.
But when I opened it, my hands started shaking.
Inside was a printed bank statement.
My name was at the top.
The amount transferred was clear.
Eight thousand dollars.
But below that was something I didn’t understand.
A second transaction.
The same day Vanessa asked me for money.
The money had been transferred somewhere else.
Not to wedding expenses.
Not to her mother.
To an account with a name attached.
Ryan Carter.
My breathing stopped.
The same man whose name was on the guest list.
I grabbed my phone and took a picture.
Then I heard footsteps outside my door.
“Emily?””
It was Vanessa.
I quickly folded the paper.
“What?””
The door opened slightly.
She looked different.
Not angry.
Not confident.
Scared.
“I need to talk to you.””
I stood there silently.
She closed the door behind her.
Then she whispered:
“Daniel can never find out what happened between Ryan and me.””
My heart started pounding.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at me.
May you like
And the next words she said changed everything I thought I knew about my sister.
“Because Ryan is the reason Daniel and I are getting married in the first place.””
