“It will be.” I’m not even thinking about what I’m saying anymore. The words flow out of me like I’m a robot. I feel numb more than anything else. I’m still angry, but it’s cooled to a simmer. It has to since I can’t spend the entire day full of fiery, murderous rage. I’m still going to have to play nice and pretend to be part of a happy family today.

“This is it. This is the start of our new life. Finally, I’m going to get what I deserve.” I turn away from her, looking out the car window as the driver takes us the rest of the way to the venue. I know better than to correct her. Besides, she didn’t make a mistake. She’s only thinking about herself, as usual. She doesn’t care about what I deserve.

At least I have an excuse to separate from her once we get inside, where guests are already filing in through the front door while we sneak in through the side. “You’ll sit up front,” she tells me before pausing so the photographer can get a shot of her—without me in it, of course.

“I’m not walking down the aisle in front of you?”

“No,” she says with a laugh, looking at me like I’m out of my mind. There I was, thinking I was her bridesmaid or something. There I go again, assuming the best from her. “You’ll sit in the front row, but you’re not going to stand up with me. Nobody is going to steal the focus from me today.” If anything, this is preferable to standing up in front of everybody so they can see me, the girl who got raped by her stepbrother last night.

And here he is, taking a seat in the front row across the aisle separating us. He and Nix both look impressive in their fancy tuxedos. They might even be able to fool people into thinking they’re decent. I won’t let myself look at them. I won’t give them the satisfaction.

As usual, I have no choice in the situation. “Ew. Look at her. She’s barely wearing anything.”

My body goes stiff, my blood turns to ice, and my skin pebbles with goose bumps. I would know Deborah’s voice anywhere. “She can’t even help but be trashy today of all days. I can’t believe you were ever friends with her. I swear, sometimes I still wonder about you, Piper.”