How do you tell the truth without telling too much?There are things about that night that neither Angelica nor myself want everyone to know about. Secret things. Sister things. [Flashback--the day before the wedding]Angelica didn't want to marry Atlas. She was forced to do so by our parents. Or I should say, "heavily encouraged." They made it conditional for her to receive her trust fund so that she seal the deal with Atlas Steele. "When you marry into that family," they promised, "We will save Greyson Mills and your inheritance.When Angelica voiced her concerns and second thoughts, they scoffed. "You liked him enough to say yes to his proposal, you can like him enough to walk down the aisle. You just need to stay married to him long enough to bear him a son. Then you can divorce him. You just need to make it through the 5 years required by the prenup to continue the merger arrangement." She was a contract bride. Atlas thought he was in love. Angelica pretended pretty well. But i
Looking out at the sea of reporters, photographers, videographers, bloggers, and content creators, I felt like I was in the center of a cage hanging above a pool of angry sharks.Angry sharks that each wanted a pound of flesh.I freeze. I've done small publicity events for Greyson Mills, and I've stood by Atlas' side at big events, but I have never had so many hostile eyes focused on me.Eyes that are convinced that I have committed evil against another person. They all think I killed my sister's baby and that her accident wasn't an accident at all, but attempted murder to steal Atlas' love for myself. I take a deep breath. Whoever came up with this story is a sick, twisted individual. Thank god my parents never thought of that or I'd have been in prison instead of marched down the aisle.I take another deep breath. "Like I said," I surprise myself with my steady voice although my hands, tightly gripping the podium, are shaking. "Atlas has always been the man of my dreams. Look at h
[Cordelia] I'm in the hospital. Again. "You know, Cordelia, we need to stop meeting like this," Dr. Bennet chuckles as she checks my vitals. Since I woke up in this bed she's had someone come and check my levels every hour. "You're staying overnight this time." She grumbles telling me that I need someone to force me to relax because when left to my own devices I schedule news conferences and reality TV shows. By now everyone in LA knows that I collapsed at the press release earlier today. What had started as positive publicity ended up becoming an inquisition. I'm sure the internet is abuzz with gossip. I wouldn't know, since I’ve been banned from looking at any social media. Frowning, I listen while Atlas just outside my door. He's been on the phone all day. Occasionally I'll hear him say something like "You need to get to the bottom of this right away!" or "Find out who leaked this information to the media and press charges." But none of those earlier conversations bother
[Cordelia]When I woke up the next morning, Atlas was gone. I could still smell his fresh scent in the air after he was gone, so I know he stayed all night. "I'll be back to take you home around lunchtime," a small note on the table next to me read. The word home was underlined three times, so I knew he meant our real home. Shortly after I awakened, a nurse came in and took my blood again for the kidney replacement for Angelica. "Now that she is awake, we wanted to make a move on getting her that new kidney." "Why do you need my blood," I asked. Curious. "I already gave blood."The nurse explained that the results had been "inconclusive" and "unusual" and that they needed to run them again "Just to make sure." She did have good news, however--the results will be available later today, just in time for me to leave. The nurse said I can take a little walk as long as I take my IV with me, so with some help I'm moving around very slowly. Now that Angelica is awake I want to peek in an
[Angelica] My parents came by earlier today, not to see how I'm doing, but to tell me about Cordelia's little "incident" at the press conference. It seems that she is so delicate and frail that she can't even speak with a group of reporters without fainting. Personally, I think she's being a little melodramatic. She's probably not as frail as she seems. She's a Greyson, after all, and we're all very tough, hardy people. Birthing one baby shouldn't be so difficult, and she still has almost three months to go. They were happy, of course, that I was awake, but I almost wondered if they'd have preferred it if I stayed asleep. The longer I was asleep, the better sympathy they garnered, or at least that was the message I received from them, albeit indirectly, during their visit. On the plus side, however, it looks like our story has gained so much attention that potential kidney donors from all over California have come forward to donate. The doctors want to try local first, but it is
[Cordelia] When Atlas came to pick me up this afternoon, a small green velvet box sat on the seat of my wheelchair, waiting for me to discover it. I raised a single eyebrow and he laughed, giving me the excuse that I needed "something to cheer me up," because I "had not been feeling well." "Atlas, you can't buy me jewelry every time I'm sick," I laugh as I open the box and find a beautiful diamond-encrusted charm bracelet worth more than some people's cars. A single green gemstone hangs from a loop with my initial, C, emblazoned on the surface in white gold. "I don't see why not," he smirks as he wheels me out of the room towards the main part of the hospital. We had to take an indirect route to Angelica’s floor. Atlas' security detail was able to secure a way for us to all gather in her room, but it took some tricky methods to make sure that the press was nowhere near when we heard the news about Angelica's kidney donor. "We tested everyone's blood," the doctor starts. "As we
[Cordelia]Nobody said anything in response. We all just watched the blonde nightmare waltz into the room expectantly, as if waiting for applause. "Sydney?" Atlas is confused, not quite seeing what is obvious to everyone else in the room. "Why are you here? This is a private family matter.""I was invited," her eyes go wide, innocent, a look that has always suited her in the past. "Unless you don't need me anymore, Doctor Jones?"We all look to the doctor, who looks at all of us. "Do you all know one another?"I can't help it, I start laughing. "Cordelia," My mother scolds me. "This is not at all humorous. Why are you laughing?""You're right, Mother." I continue to laugh, my chest heaving."This is the opposite of funny. This is a freaking nightmare. Don't you recognize her? That's Sydney Bryant!"My father goes very very still. "Bryant? As in the daughter of David and Chrissy Bryant."My mother goes very still next to him. "What are the odds," she says under her breath as she looks
[Cordelia]Atlas left me alone like I asked and I was grateful, for once, that he listened to my words. I am also sad. It feels like he gave up too quickly. I know I pushed him away, but why didn't he push back?I miss him. Especially now, waking up alone in my bed when I have grown used to the smell of his skin and the way his hair curls in his sleep. Why did I let myself fall in love with Atlas Steele? Will loving him ever feel easy?While I was resting, my mother left three messages on my phone, but none of them were about me or my well-being. It's almost as if she has forgotten I am her daughter too.All she talked about was Sydney. Phrases like "Aren't we lucky?" and "You should be nicer to her," were sprinkled here and there as she went on for several minutes about "Sydney this" and "Sydney that."It was bad enough when I had to hear all about "Angelica this" and "Angelica that", now I have to listen about her double as well. Offering her kidney has somehow granted her saintho