Page 9 of The Devil's Canvas

Bella hums in agreement. We both know what that means.

Silence stretches for a second, but not the uncomfortable kind. The kind where I know Bella’s about to say something I don’t want to hear.

"So, let me guess," she says, tone lighter but laced with understanding. "Dad made it sound like you have no choice?"

I scoff. "What else is new?"

"And you’re going, aren’t you?"

"I don’t know yet," I lie.

"You do," she corrects, amused. "You always do."

I rub my temple, sighing. "Yeah, well. It’s not like I have a real excuse."

"Not one he’d accept, anyway."

"You okay?" Bella asks. She gets it. She always has.

I hesitate. Just long enough for her to notice. Just long enough for me to almost say something real.

But I don’t. "Yeah. Just tired."

She lets it slide.

"If Melanie’s already planned every second of this, why does Cassius want us to call her?" I ask, changing the subject. Because that’s the last thing I need—to think about any of this longer than necessary.

"Probably some power move," Bella says. "You know how he is—he needs to make sure we acknowledge how important she is. Like we haven’t spent our whole lives being reminded."

"Or maybe he just enjoys making us suffer," I mutter.

"That too," Bella says. "But you know what’s weird? He made it sound like it was urgent, like we were supposed to check in with her. As if Melanie doesn’t already have everything planned down to the last second."

I sigh. "She probably planned this too. Maybe we’re supposed to beg her for instructions so she can feel even more important."

"Obviously," Bella scoffs. "She probably has an itinerary, including the precise angle the cameras should catch her from at all times."

"And a breakdown of what emotions to display," I add.

"Right," Bella says. "Shock and delight at the ring. Graceful amusement at Dominic’s jokes. Deep, contemplative love during the vows. All carefully rehearsed."

"Nothing about this is real," I mutter.

"Of course not," Bella says. "It’s a production. And we’re the extras in her perfect, award-winning love story."

"Maybe if we lay low, we can avoid being in too many scenes," I suggest, though I don’t believe it.

Bella snorts. "Yeah, good luck with that. You know how she is," she pauses, voice hitching slightly. "You sure you're okay?"

I exhale slowly. "Why wouldn’t I be?"

"Because this should’ve been you," she says softly.

My stomach clenches.

"Bella—"

"You and Dominic were together for years," she continues. "You were going to get married. And suddenly, he’s with Melanie. Engaged after, what? A few months?"

---