Braxton Cole and I were childhood sweethearts, our lives intertwined since the first day of kindergarten. Our families had always been close, their bonds strong and unbreakable. When we were young, our parents arranged a marriage for us, solidifying our fates together. Braxton and I grew up knowing we would eventually marry, and that knowledge made us cautious, almost afraid to get too close to anyone else.
But then there was my sister, Lila . Lila and I had always been different. While I thrived in the comfort of our family’s love and support, Lila often felt overshadowed by me. She was beautiful and smart, but that only seemed to deepen her resentment. She felt like she could never measure up, and her jealousy simmered beneath the surface.
When I decided to help her with her studies, I thought it would bring us closer together. I wanted to show her that I believed in her, that I would always be there for her. But instead, it pushed her further away. The more I tried to lift her up, the more she seemed to pull away, believing that my kindness was a reminder of her inadequacies.