The Lie That Traps (Lies and Truths Book 1)

42. Penelope

PENELOPE

As I look over at my sister in Gulliver’s lap, guilt hits me like a wrecking ball, making the nausea that I’ve barely managed to keep at bay all night rise up like a wave once again. I’m not really sure what her relationship with Gulliver is, but I can see the spark between them in the way she looks at him and he looks at her when they think the other isn’t looking.

I’m an awful person. I let greed and power and my parents ruin me, but I won’t let them ruin her too. I’ve tried to find an easy way out of this because I’m selfish enough to want to come out of this whole mess unscathed, but I can see that’s not an option anymore.

Izabella deserves her chance at happiness, and to get that, she needs to be here, not on the run with me.

It’s time to stop thinking about myself for a change. I know what I have to do, and I think I know who will help me, but either way, before the night’s over, I’ll be truly ruined. I’ll do what I have to do to break this curse that has tarnished too many years of our lives already.

Maybe this small but significant act will go some way to redeeming myself and making up for three years of being the world’s biggest bitch to my twin. Maybe not, but either way, it will be over.

After that, maybe I’ll spend some time making my parents’ lives as miserable as they’ve made mine and Izzy’s. Because karma is a bitch, and it’s time my parents learned that you reap what you sow.