A week later, my parents took both of us to a reception hosted by the Channing family.
The party was incredibly boring. I didn't know a single person, so I huddled in a corner thinking about new mystery plots from my writers' group.
My parents used their status as the Channings' future in-laws to network with everyone.
Lucy came over with Alex on her arm. I glanced at them once, then went back to eating and puzzling through my plot ideas.
Alex called to me reluctantly, “Hey, Nina."
I paused with my fork midair and looked up at him.
Lucy pouted and tugged at his sleeve. Alex cleared his throat, "Lucy's still young. Please be more understanding when she makes mistakes."
"But you can't get physical with her. Your temper is too volatile—you really need to work on that."
I set down my plate and laughed coldly. "She's older than me.”
Alex's face froze. He said, displeased, "Nina, I know you're upset.
"But seeing you sisters fighting over me doesn't feel good either."
Feeling nauseated, I replied, "Funny, I never realized how narcissistic you were before.
"My grandmother told me about the tradition of corsets to bind the waist, but today I've had the privilege of witnessing brain binding.
"Don't flatter yourself."
After my string of insults, both their faces darkened.
Lucy was about to curse me out but remembered she needed to maintain her image in front of Alex. So she whimpered and leaned against him, ”Alex, now you see how vicious my sister is?
"She's been bullying me since we were little. I'm so scared and hurt."
Alex held Lucy protectively while glaring at me, his face ashen, "Nina, what happened to you? I'm so disappointed in what you've become!"
I was just about to fire back when a voice—familiar yet strange—came from nearby,” My girl doesn't need your disappointment."
A man with tousled hair sat up from the couch behind us.
He held a glass of red wine, eyeing Alex with a sideways glance. "Talking to your future aunt this way? Where are your manners?"
Alex gasped, "Uncle Lucas?”
Uncle?
Lucas Channing!
