Chapter 1

NINA'S POV

The clock on my office wall ticked past seven as I shoved the last stack of papers into my drawer. Shit. I was running late.

"Come on, come on," I muttered, fumbling with my bag. My fingers brushed against the smooth surface of Lisa's birthday gift – a bottle of her favorite perfume. A smile tugged at my lips. My little sister was turning twenty tomorrow. When did she grow up so fast?

The stadium lights pierced the darkness as I jogged towards the entrance, my heels clicking against the pavement. The roar of the crowd swelled, sending a shiver down my spine. This was it – the big game. Justin's game.

I squeezed through the packed stands, muttering apologies as I stepped on toes and bumped elbows. The smell of beer and hot dogs filled the air, mingling with the electric tension of the match. My eyes scanned the field, searching for that familiar number 15 jersey.

There he was. Justin, my Justin, a blur of motion as he darted across the field. God, he was beautiful when he played. Every muscle taut, eyes blazing with determination. I felt my chest swell with pride.

"Come on, Justin!" I shouted, my voice lost in the sea of cheers.

The game was a nail-biter. Back and forth, neither team giving an inch. Then, in the final minutes, Edison – the fly-half with a reputation for clutch plays – broke through the defensive line. The crowd held its breath as he sprinted towards the try line, Justin hot on his heels providing support.

"Go! Go! Go!" The stands erupted as Edison dove across the line, ball in hand. Justin was there in an instant, helping him up, both of them grinning like madmen.

We'd won. We'd actually won.

The final whistle blew, and the stadium exploded. I let out a whoop, hugging the stranger next to me in pure joy. This was Justin's moment, and I couldn't wait to share it with him.

I pushed my way through the crowd towards the locker rooms, Lisa's gift bouncing against my hip. The corridor was a maze of sweaty bodies and exuberant voices. I stood on my tiptoes, trying to spot Justin's sandy hair above the sea of heads.

And then I saw him. But he wasn't alone.

“Hey, what if someone sees?” He whispered.

Lisa stood before him, her golden hair catching the fluorescent light. When had she even gotten here?

“Who? That runt that calls herself my sister?” I heard Lisa say.

I opened my mouth to call out, but the words died in my throat as Justin leaned down.

Their lips met, and my world shattered.

The perfume bottle slipped from my fingers, exploding on the concrete floor in a spray of glass and fragrance. The sound cut through the noise like a gunshot.

Justin's head snapped up, his eyes widening as they met mine. "Nina?" His voice cracked. "Oh god, Nina, I can explain-"

"Explain?" I spat the word out, tasting bile. "Explain how you're kissing my sister?"

Lisa turned, her face a mask of cool indifference. "Oh, calm down, Nina. You're making a scene."

"A scene?" I laughed, the sound harsh and foreign to my own ears. "You're right, how silly of me to be upset about my boyfriend and my sister-"

"There's more," Lisa cut in, her voice sharp. "Tell her, Justin."

Justin paled, shaking his head. "Lisa, don't-"

"I'm pregnant," she announced, her chin tilted up in defiance. "It's Justin's."

The world tilted on its axis. I staggered back, feeling as if I'd been punched in the gut. "What?"

Justin reached for me, his eyes pleading. "Nina, please, I didn't know-"

I jerked away from his touch. "Don't. Just... don't."

The smell of Lisa's shattered perfume filled my nostrils, cloying and suffocating. I needed to get out of here. Away from Justin's desperate eyes and Lisa's triumphant smirk.

"We're done," I choked out, backing away. "Both of you – we're done."

I turned and ran, ignoring the stares and whispers. The cool night air hit my face as I burst out of the stadium, but it did nothing to ease the burning in my chest.

How could they? How could they do this to me?

As I stumbled into the parking lot, sobs wracking my body, one thought echoed through my mind: Nothing would ever be the same again.

I stumbled towards the bus stop, tears blurring my vision. The few people waiting there averted their eyes, pretending not to notice my distress. When the bus finally arrived, I climbed aboard, sinking into a seat near the back.

The ride home passed in a haze of pain and disbelief. As I fumbled with my keys at the front door, I tried to compose myself, knowing Hannah would be inside.

"Nina? Is that you?" Hannah's voice called from the kitchen as I entered.

I stepped into view, and her eyebrows rose. "Good Lord, what happened to you? You look absolutely dreadful."

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out.

Hannah sighed, shaking her head. "Well, you'd better fix yourself up before Lisa gets home. And don't forget, tomorrow's her birthday. We can't have you looking like this for the party."

Just then, the front door opened. My heart plummeted as Lisa walked in, followed closely by Justin.

"Nina," Justin said, his voice low and urgent. "Please, can we talk?"

Something snapped inside me. With a wordless cry, I lunged at him, my fists pounding against his chest. "Get out!" I screamed. "Get out, get out, GET OUT!"

"What on earth is going on here?" Hannah demanded, her voice shrill with alarm.

I whirled to face Lisa, fury and pain coursing through me. "You want to know what's going on, Hannah? Why don't you ask your precious Lisa? Go on, tell her!" I spat. "Tell her everything!"

Lisa's face paled, her triumphant smirk from earlier nowhere to be seen. "Nina, don't-"

"No!" I cut her off. "You made your choice. Now deal with the consequences."

Hannah looked between us, confusion and anger warring on her face. "Will someone please explain what is happening?"

I locked eyes with Lisa, my voice dripping with venom. "Go ahead, sister dear. Tell her how you've been sleeping with my boyfriend. Tell her you're pregnant with his child. Tell her how you destroyed everything!"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Hannah's confusion fell upon Lisa. "Lisa, what is Nina talking about?"

"Mama, I love Justin."

Before Lisa could utter more, our mother stormed forward and slapped her across the face.

"You fool! Do you understand the repercussions of what you have done? You're practically betrothed to Tony Wade, and here you are tarnishing our family's good name! An alliance with the Wade's is paramount, and you knew it! We will pretend this night never happened." she paused, taking a deep breath before facing Justin. “And you, leave this house. I never want to see you around my daughter anymore.”

It was not what I was expecting. My foster mother completely left me out of the picture. It was almost like I wasn’t even in the narrative. Lisa wasn’t chastised for her vile behaviour. She was chastised because what she had done went against Hannah’s plans for her.

"I have to get out of here," I murmured, pushing past Justin, but my foster mother, Hannah, intercepted me.

"Nina, you cant leave just yet. We have to talk about this.” She began. “You heard your sister. She's pregnant with Justin child. I promised a daughter to the Wades and it took me a lot of sacrifices to make it happen. Now that Lisa's disappointed, it's up to you to uphold our family's honor. The Wades will be visiting in a few days, could you take your sister’s place?"

I halted and turned to face my mother. She was adjusting to her daughter’s whims. Lisa was the one sleeping with my boyfriend. Lisa was the one who got pregnant out of wedlock despite knowing the plans that her mother made for her. Yet I was the one who was supposed to step up?

"Why should I do that?" The words were loud and clear.

Hannah seemed stunned by my defiance. I'd always been the obedient one. To refuse was a novelty for her.

"Why should you... Nina, I took you in as my own when you were orphaned or have you forgotten your roots so easily? Is this how you repay me for opening our home to you and raising you?"

The reaction I knew would follow was one of the reasons why I had never defied my foster mother. She was no angel but the family did do me a favor taking me in after I lost my parents. If it were anything else, I would have bent the knee. But the prospect of marriage were serious. I wouldn't let the need to obey define my future.

"I am not marrying a stranger, mother. Especially when it is to cover up my sister's waywardness."

Mother stood in front of me with rage burning in her eyes. The force of the slap echoed through the room, leaving my cheek throbbing with pain. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. I held my stinging cheeks firmly, as my resolve hardened.

“Did you just call my daughter a slut?” she yelled.

“If the shoes fits.” I spat back.

"Silence, you ungrateful brat! How dare you speak to me in such a manner? I took you in when nobody else would. You should be grateful for the roof over your head and the food on your plate."

I took a deep breath, mustering the courage to stand up for myself. "I am grateful for the shelter you provided me after I lost my parents, but that doesn't give you the right to control my life. I will not be pawned off to some stranger as a solution to Lisa’s mistakes!"

She snarled, her face contorting with anger. "You think you're so high and mighty, don't you? Well, let me remind you of your place, girl. You have nothing without my guidance and support. Refusing me is not an option for you either."

“I should go,” I managed to force out.

“Don’t you dare walk out on me? We aren't done yet!”

For a moment, I stood still. I still relied on them for many things. Walking out of them could as well mean that I was on my own. But I couldn’t stand being in the house any longer. I needed an escape from my mess of a life, a place where people sought solace from their sorrows. So I forced my legs to move even if my brain said otherwise and I walked out on my foster mother, ignoring her screams for me to stay right where I was.

Stepping into a dimly lit bar was my desperate escape from the drama. Seated at the counter, I ordered a cocktail, hoping it could alleviate the weight of expectations suffocating me. When the drink arrived, I downed it in one go.

"It's a cocktail, not whiskey. If you want to get drunk, order something harder."

The voice opposite me pulled my attention. Edison Crawford. Who didn't know him? Captain of the rugby team and trouble wrapped in a leather jacket. His smirk spelled mischief, and his eyes promised adventure. Tattoos peeked from beneath his shirt sleeves, hinting at untold stories. His magnetic face drew gazes; he was a renowned playboy.

An idea sparked within me, one that might not have been the smartest or noblest choice. Nevertheless, I was determined to pursue it especially if it could stop my foster mother from shoving the Wade's marriage proposal down my throat.

"Whiskey sounds nice, Edison Crawford," I replied, meeting his gaze. "Care to buy me a shot?”