Page 24 of The Wrong Husband

Emilia Winters Wrecks Sister's Home

Emilia Winters, Who Is She?

Damian and His New Bride in Vegas—all the details

This was not good. They'd managed to get a photograph of mine from university. I wasn't on any social media. I knew I should get on some to promote my art, but I hated all the media attention surrounding my sister, especially since she started dating Damian. I also didn't have the courage to take selfies and post them. I didn't exist on the Internet—only as an addendum to Bianca on her Wikipedia page.

I felt miserable with the world hating me and by the time Dr. Pradhan came to check up on me later in the day, I was just about ready to burst into tears.

He did his thing and made soothing sounds while he worked because everything hurt. My heart hurt. My head hurt. My life felt like it was over.

As a neglected child, I'd found ways to be happy. I knew how to take care of myself. I was an optimist by nature and always took the path that led to peace and contentment and away from conflict. But now with my family gone and everyone looking at me like I was the vilest woman on the planet, the darkness was hard to keep away.

"Thanks for coming and checking up on me, Doctor Pradhan."

"Call me Doc. Everyone else does. "

"Well, thank you, Doc."

We were sitting in Damian's family room. It was beautifully decorated with antique art. But it felt impersonal and fake, just like my reasons for being here. "How are you holding up?" Doc asked.

I leaned back on the couch. "I'm good."

He chuckled. "Your sister gave you a concussion. The media is calling you…well…."

"A homewrecking whore?"

He smiled tightly now. "So, Emilia, I'll ask you again, how are you holding up?"

"By a very thin thread." I looked him in the eye. "But I know how to take care of myself. Been doing it all my life."

"No doubt. Sounds like your family dropped you like a hot potato."

"Wouldn't you if someone in your life did what I did?"

He narrowed his eyes. "And what did you do?"

"I married my sister's boyfriend."

"Enh! Your sister and Damian were always fighting. If they'd ever married, they would've lasted maybe five minutes."

Well, buddy, Damian and I by that measure are gonna last a nanosecond.

"They love each other and…." I shook my head. "You won't tell anyone about our conversation, will you?" I added, suddenly scared now that he'd talk to the media and make it all worse.

"I work with high-end clients like the Archer family, Emilia. My business is keeping my mouth shut."

"Good." I licked my lips and let out a deep breath. "They really love each other. And now I've ruined it."

"No," Doc said emphatically. "I don't know what you ruined but it wasn't their relationship. I know both of them; and I can tell you one thing, Damian loves the idea of Bianca. She's so much like him that he can't see straight."

"And I'm the opposite of Bianca. She's pretty, smart and successful."

"And you are?"

"Plain, dumb and invisible."

"Wow, your family didn't just now drop you, looks like they've been doing it all your life."