Love Hates Me

THE TRUTH UNFOLDS

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

"Taylor, I need to talk to you." I whispered. He raised his eyebrow. "Not here." I said looking at our family. He just nodded. "Is it something serious?" I nodded slightly, helping myself to a drink. "Happy Birthday Em." My cousin, Lisa came and gave me a side hug.

"Oh Lisa. You're here." I said with fake sweetness dripping from my mouth. "And may I know who even invited you?" I said, looking at my family. Lisa and I hated each other. Actually, hate is rather a small word for the way we feel for each other. I received a nudge from Taylor. I looked at him and he gave me a look. I rolled my eyes and turned back to Lisa. "Couldn't I come to my cousin's birthday party? Although I must say I was surprised when I received the invitation." of course she did.

"Oh, didn't you think it was a mistake?" I asked, taking another sip. There is a reason I didn't want this party, it wasn't just because of yesterday's disaster, I didn't want to draw too much attention to me and my family, but no one would understand that.

"Oh you must be the author banging my cousin or was it your brother." Lisa told Cedric. I gave her a dreadful look. Cedric was about to say something but I cut him off, "I don't think it's any of your business, Liz, because last time I remember you were banging my fiance." The look on Lisa's face spread a warmth of happiness through me. When I said fiance I received a lot of reactions which I didn't expect, well who am I kidding, I obviously expected these reactions but who cares. Cedric's head snapped towards me.

Lisa's husband came. He was also invited? Why were these people even invited? It has been ages since I have seen their faces. "Happy Birthday Emma." I smiled at him, fake smile obviously. "Oh hello Charles, we were just talking about you." I told him. "This is Lisa's husband and my ex-fiance." I introduced Cedric. He just smiled and sophistically dragged Lisa away from us.

"I still can't believe you were engaged at some point." Evan said.

"Grandpa's promise." I shrugged. I still remember when my grandpa came to visit us and told me about this whole wedding thing. My first reaction was 'am I a business deal?' but then I thought who cares. I just have to say I do in front of a few people and then live my life as usual. My mom and grandpa were in actual shock when I agreed so quickly. We got engaged in a party organised by their family and our wedding was three months after the engagement party. Around a month prior to our wedding I went to visit Lisa and saw Charles on her bed.

I was in complete shock. I didn't actually care who he fucked or whatever he did but atleast he should have told me. It was not like I was totally in love with him and that is why I couldn't take it. In fact if they had just told me I would have been the one to talk to grandpa. And to be honest, I would have been the happiest person if he just told me all this because it meant my freedom. But doing this all behind my back and lying to me on my face. It was like they used me. And I hated when someone used me or lied to me. I just can't see that person the same way again.

"Emma this isn't the way you treat your guests." Sam said and I rolled my eyes. "It was a really long time back."

"But they lied to me. And I felt used and I can never forgive someone for that." Rachel and Taylor exchanged a glance. The one thing which I purely despise is lies. If you don't like me say it to my face, if you don't want me anywhere near you say it to me and I'll appreciate you for telling the truth. Lying, using me or hiding something from me just frustrates me.

"Good evening everyone." Olivia said, she was standing in the middle of the room. "Firstly I would like to thank everyone for coming today and making my sister's birthday special." Her eyes met mine. "Emma has not only been a sister to me. She has been my support system. Our father died when I was really small, and I don't even remember him." I felt a pang of guilt when she said that. We have been lying to Olivia since childhood. She doesn't even know that her father abandoned her, us. She was just a kid. Me and Taylor also used to think he died but I found out. I don't even remember how. Maybe mom was talking about it and I overheard.

I rushed to Taylor and told him what I heard. I was 15 years old when I found out. Taylor and I went to mom and we confronted her. That is when she told us everything and made us promise to never say a word about this in front of Olivia. I am such a hypocrite, I don't want people to lie to me but here I am hiding such a huge thing from my sister.

I tried tracking him down since then but I couldn't find him. I hired a private investigator. I was just a teenager but I had my own ways of doing things. But it was all unsuccessful. I couldn't find him anywhere. After my mom's death I gave up. The person who left us has no part in our life. And the letter I received that day was from him. He wrote to me for the first time since he left. But I was done with it. I didn't want anything to do with him anymore.

"And because of Emma and Taylor I have never felt his absence." Olivia continued. "They have always been by my side. Emma understood me. She never stopped me from making any mistakes or criticised me for making them because she says mistakes make you who you are. The way I am, it is just because of Emma. I just want to see her happy because I love that ugly smile of yours. So wish you an amazing life ahead. I love you Emma."

I had tears in my eyes. I can't do this to her. I was the one who told her that people make their share of mistakes and I am taking that right from her. I gave her a flying kiss and mouthed 'love you.' Taylor squeezed my shoulder. "Our sister is getting big." Taylor said.

"We need to tell her."

Taylor looked at me with an 'are you mad' look. He understood what I was talking about. And when he saw my expression not changing he realised that I wasn't going to change my decision. "We'll talk about this later." He said.

"Now let's get the cake." Olivia said. I managed to smile at her.