Prologue

The nightclub was alive with music as I twirled and shook on the dance floor. Surrounding me were my closest friends who all came to my bachelorette party to celebrate with me. I would soon marry Gabriel Moreno, one of Madrid's most eligible bachelors and the dream of many women.

In the middle of my twisting and twirling, rocking to the beat of the DJ, I felt my phone buzz in my purse. At first, I ignored it, I mean I wanted to have fun but the buzzing didn't stop and curiosity got the better of me.

I pulled it out and saw a message from a private number:

Head to Gabriel's house immediately! There's something you must see urgently!

I was confused. Who would send such a cryptic message on my bachelorette’s night? And why would they ask me to check out Gabriel's house? He would certainly be at his bachelor's party so what exactly was going on?

“I'll just ignore it.” I dropped the phone back in my purse and continued dancing. However, the more I danced, the more unsettled my mind was. I kept thinking about that message until I couldn't take it anymore. I needed to see what was happening.

With a heavy heart, I made my decision.

“Hey, guys. I’m sorry, but I need to step out for a moment. There's something I need to check on.” I said at the top of my voice. I mean I had to, otherwise, they wouldn't have heard me with the loud music blaring from the D.J.’s speakers.

“The night is still young. Why are you leaving so early?” Ligia asked as she whined her hips.

“It's urgent. I'll come back when I'm done.” I replied.

"Alright, alright. But could you get back quickly? It's your night babe.” Antonia responded.

I smiled at them and slipped out of the club.  I raised my hand and a taxi screeched to a halt in front of me. I got in the back seat and gave the driver a half smile.

“Calle de Velázquez, 12, Madrid,” I gave him the address.

“El Viso, señorita,” The driver nodded, eyeing me in the rearview.

“Yes, that's right.” I leaned back on the seat and stared at the city lights as they blurred past. Ever since I got that text, I felt a sense of uneasiness. I took a deep breath to calm myself yet I had no idea that my life was about to be turned upside down.

                                                                            Chapter One

JOYCE’S POV

“Gabriel...” I stood at the door to his room and whispered his name. He couldn't hear me. I mean, how could he? He was on the bed, butt naked, having passionate sex with another woman. The shock hit me even more when I realized that was not just any woman. It was my blood sister. Natalia.

Gabriel was naked, his back arched with each thrust as he was inside Natalia…wrapped in her arms. Natalia was also stark naked. Her fingernails clawed at his back as her moans and groans filled the room. 

Tears welled up in my eyes, threatening to spill over as I watched the scene in stunned silence. How could this be happening? The man I was about to marry, and my sister, the two people I trusted the most in this world were having sex with each other right before my eyes.

“Gabriel!” I screamed in anguish. Both of them froze and their heads snapped towards the door in shock.

Gabriel's eyes widened as he saw me standing there. He quickly removed himself from Natalia and got dressed while Natalia scrambled for a blanket to cover herself

“Joyce? What are you doing here.” Gabriel asked as he managed to slip into his boxers.

“What am I doing here? You're seriously asking me this question?” I yelled at him in fury. 

“It's not what it looks like, I promise.” He rushed towards me, trying to grab my shoulders but I wasn't having it. I retaliated with a wicked slap to his face, the sound reverberating through the room.

“Shut up! I just caught butt naked on top of my very own sister and you have the guts to tell me that it's not what it looks like?” Tears stung my eyes as I stared into the eyes of the man I was supposed to marry in a few days.

“If you just calm down and listen to me,” Gabriel said, grabbing my shoulders. His touch previously felt so warm and cozy now made me feel disgusted.

“Leave me alone!” I shrugged his hands off me.

“Leave her alone, Gabby. She's not worth it anyway.” Natalia’s voice came from behind.

I turned my gaze towards her with furious eyes. The least she could have done was to show remorse for her actions, but No. There wasn't a bit of remorse in those eyes. Instead, she lay on the bed with a wicked smirk on her face. 

“You just slept with my fiance and yet you're not even ashamed? How could you do this Natalia?”  I questioned, my voice breaking with despair.

“I’ve been sleeping with Gabby for a while now. You really thought he was all yours?” Natalia's voice dripped with sarcasm.

“Why? Why would you do this to me?” I asked. I needed to know why the sister I loved so much would sleep with my fiance. All of this seemed very unreal to me, like a scene out of a telenovela.

“You want to know why Joyce?” She laughed as she rose from the bed.  “I did it because I was jealous of you. You always had the best of everything when we were growing up. Everyone adored you and all the men only had eyes for you. I was sick of it.”

She walked towards me, hips swaying seductively, and stood. I could see the resentment in her eyes, something I had never seen before from Natalia. She was always a sweet girl who supported me in everything I did. I never knew she hid such bitterness in her heart.

“I always wanted what you had and guess what sis,  it is now mine and there's nothing you can do about it.” Natalia puffed up her chest with pride. 

My eyes widened in realization. “That unknown number. It was you who sent that message.” 

“Well, ell, well. You're not so dumb after all.” She cackled and wrapped her arms around Gabriel. “When you're done bawling your eyes out then leave. You're interrupting us.”

My tear-stained eyes turned to Gabriel, hoping for some support. I wanted him to push Natalia away and come to me. Perhaps I would have forgiven him, perhaps I would have gone ahead with this marriage. But, he remained quiet and averted his eyes away from mine. His silence was more damning than any words he could have said and my heart broke into a million pieces.

Without another word, I turned and fled from the room, the house, and the life I thought I would have. I ran down the street like a crazed woman with no sense of direction.  Passers-by were stunned by the fact that I flew past like a bat out of hell but I simply didn't care, I just needed to get away, as far as possible. Nothing made sense anymore, I felt worthless.

I crossed the street without looking, narrowly avoiding cars that blared their horns angrily as I dashed past. I didn't know where I was going, to be honest. I just ran until my legs ached and my lungs burned. It felt like I ran a 400-meter race.

Finally, my legs couldn't take it anymore and I came to a stop. Gasping for breath, I raised my face and stared at the huge entrance of a very popular casino in Madrid.

Without really thinking, I took a step forward and entered the casino.