The Stepsister’s Secret

Prologue

What the hell have I done?

I force down an avalanche of panic and bile as I stare at the body sprawled out on the floor.

I will a hand to twitch, the familiar eyes to open, a groan of life to escape from the firmly closed lips.

But there is nothing. I’m trembling, my eyes blinking rapidly as the enormity of the situation hits me.

Kneeling, I hold the limp wrist, feeling desperately for a pulse even though I know it’s impossible. No one could survive this.

I scramble to my feet and wipe the back of my hand across my forehead, it feels cold and clammy.

Sweat is pouring down my face. My heart is thumping against the walls of my chest as if it will burst out any minute.

I want to scream, wail, protest that I didn’t mean this to happen but there is no time, I have to get away.

No one will suspect me. No one knows I’m here.

After everything that’s happened they will suspect she did it.

I hope they blame her. If it wasn’t for her this would never have happened. She drove me to it.

If only I could unwind time, go back to this morning. Stay at home, not answer the phone. Better still, rewind to before the wedding. No, long before that, when she came into our lives and wrecked it. But there is nothing I can do.

‘I’m so sorry!’ I whisper, my eyes drawn again to the body. ‘I didn’t mean for this to happen.’