Prologue

As I stepped out of my room, my heart skipped a beat to see Cara heading down the hall. We were both so deeply lost in our own thoughts that we didn't notice each other until we accidentally collided.

Our eyes locked. In that fragile moment, the rest of the world completely faded away. Without a single word, Cara stepped closer. Before I could process what was happening, her arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a warm embrace as she pressed her lips to mine in a breathless, heartfelt kiss.

This was only my second time kissing anyone, but Cara was the very first girl I had ever held like this. The sheer magic of the moment left my mind racing, wondering why a touch so forbidden could feel so undeniably, wonderfully right.

I could feel the desperate hunger in the way her lips moved against mine, and deep down, I couldn't deny how much I craved it. It compelled me to kiss her back. The taste of her completely broke my defenses, trapping me under a quiet, intoxicating love spell.

Why? Why did it feel like I was being cradled on a soft cloud?

Part of me knew I should push her away, but my body utterly froze. The back of my mind screamed a protest, reminding me that this was entirely wrong, but my traitorous heart surrendered, refusing to let the moment end.

When her hand gently squeezed my waist, a sudden jolt of electricity surged straight through me. I loved it. And that realization was absolutely killing me.

Why am I longing for her like this? Her touch only made me ache for more.

"We can't do this... This is wrong," I whispered breathlessly. Forcing every ounce of my willpower, I disentangled myself from her embrace and gently pushed her back.

Our tearful eyes met.

"This is wrong, Cara," I managed to say, my voice a strained, low whisper even though I was screaming on the inside. "Your brother is my husband. It's completely messed up for us to do something we’ll both end up regretting."

"Do you honestly think I don't know that?!" Cara cried out, her eyes blazing as she focused her gaze entirely on me. "Do you think I'm completely numb, Daphne?! You have absolutely no idea how hard I’ve tried to fight these feelings..." She choked on her words, pausing to stare at me.

"I barely even come home anymore! I spend almost all my time outside, trying to go anywhere your presence can't reach me. But damn it! You're like a permanent fixture in my mind, lingering in my heart and soul wherever I go. I can't get you out of my system. What exactly do you want me to do?!

I feel like I'm drowning, Daphne... so deep that it’s far too late to back off. I love you. What about you? Do you love me too? What do you actually feel for me? You're always so incredibly kind to me, always caring for me. And I hate it because that’s exactly how I fell for you!"

For a long moment, the air left my lungs. I was completely speechless, unable to find the words to answer her. I couldn't even answer the question myself: What is Cara to me?

I was utterly confused. I couldn't bear to see her hurting and breaking down like this, but Craig's face immediately flashed through my mind. I needed Craig, too.

"What? Why are you staying quiet?" Cara pressed, her eyes wide and pleading as she fixated on me. "Do you love me? Or do you love my brother more? Or do you somehow love both of us? Please, Daphne, just give me an answer!"

I felt entirely helpless under her gaze.

"I am going completely crazy wondering why this is happening to me," she continued, her voice trembling. "Why do you have this kind of hold over me? It's pure torture, Daph. And I know you felt it too. I know you played a part in making me fall for you.

Am I right? There is no way I’m the only one agonizing over this, tormented by these suffocating feelings. People don't just suddenly fall in love for no reason. So please, tell me... Do you love me? Or at least tell me if you feel something too..."

Cara's words felt like a bomb dropping right in front of me, shattering the fragile silence between us without warning.

My thoughts were a chaotic mess, threatening to burst under the weight of a thousand unanswered questions. I truly didn't know anymore.

"That's enough! Please..." I begged, my own tears finally spilling over. "I don't have an answer for you... I don't know what I'm feeling anymore. I don't know what's real and what isn't! I should have never let myself get tangled up in this. I shouldn't have agreed to this marriage setup in the first place!

You pushed me into it, Cara. And now... now I don't even recognize the person looking back at me in the mirror. Is that enough of an answer for you?! Please... just leave me alone. I need to think. I just need to breathe."

She turned away from me, her shoulders shaking as she wept, and it felt as though someone had physically gripped and crushed my heart.

The terrifying realization that I might never see her again hit me like a physical blow. Tears streamed down my pale cheeks. Watching her slow steps as she began to walk down the hallway, my heart suddenly felt completely still, as if it would stop beating entirely at any moment.

My legs trembled, urging me to do something reckless, but this time, my mind didn't fight back. Every single part of me wanted the exact same thing.

I snapped.

Running after her, I threw my arms around her waist, pulling her flush against my chest from behind. I held her so tightly, terrified that letting go meant losing her forever.

I heard a soft sob escape her as our bodies pressed together. "Don't go, Cara... please," I begged, my entire life hanging on every syllable. "I don't know what I'll do if I can't see your face anymore. Can you please just stay?"

Slowly, she turned around to face me. Our eyes met once more as we held onto each other for dear life. Cara caught her breath, her gaze dropping to my lips as she leaned in close.

When our lips touched again, my eyes closed automatically. We tilted our heads, losing ourselves in a deep, profound kiss that stole the very air from our lungs.

"What the hell is going on here?!"

A furious shout shattered the moment. We bolted apart, completely paralyzed with shock at the sudden appearance of Craig standing at the end of the hall.

We both froze, staring at him in absolute terror.

"I love her, Craig," Cara spoke up, her voice shaking but resolute. "And Daphne... I know she feels it too. I know she loves me."

God help me, Cara was entirely right. I loved her. The thought of losing her made me sick to my stomach, but looking at Craig, I knew this would drive him away forever. How was I supposed to survive that? I loved him too, and our marriage had only just begun.

Panicking, I abruptly stepped away from Cara, desperately moving toward my husband.

"Listen to me... it's not what it looks like, my love," I pleaded, searching his angry eyes as my voice cracked. "It was a mistake. We... we weren't in our right minds. I can explain everything, I promise..."

But as the words left my mouth, I saw Cara out of the corner of my eye, silently turning to walk away for good.

In that exact moment, I felt completely destroyed. My entire being was violently ripped apart, leaving me stranded in an impossible dilemma.