Bound to my husbands enemy

(MARIANNA'S POV)

I froze in the doorway of the ballroom, unable to process what I'm seeing.

Tyler, my Tyler, is down on one knee in front of my sister, holding out a diamond ring that catches the light from the chandelier.

"Sophia Kingwicke," he says, his voice carrying across the suddenly silent room, "will you marry me?"

My sister's hands flew to her mouth in a practiced surprise. The guests which included our family friends, business associates, the eight families are all watching with bated breath.

This can't be happening.

Before I realize what I'm doing, I'm striding across the polished floor, my heels echoing in the silence.

"What the hell is this?" My voice cracks like a whip.

Tyler's head whips around, his expression shifting from adoration to annoyance in an instant. "Marianna. This is not the time."

"Not the time?" I laugh, the sound brittle and harsh. "When exactly would be the right time to tell me you're proposing to my sister?"

Sophia steps forward, placing a protective hand on Tyler's shoulder. "Marianna, please. You're making a scene."

"A scene?" I move closer, trembling with rage. "Six years, Tyler. Six years I gave you everything you ever wanted. I helped you start your company. I paid off your family's debts. I sacrificed my reputation to be with you when everyone said you were just using me for my connections." I sobbed "Only to get this from you. Betraying me"

Tyler stands, slipping the ring into his pocket. "That's enough, Marianna."

"Did our relationship mean nothing to you? Was it all just a way to get close to my family? To Sophia?"

The room is deathly quiet now, everyone watching our drama unfold.

"We grew apart," Tyler says stiffly. "These things happen."

"Grew apart?" I laugh again. "I saw you three days ago! You told me you loved me!"

"Marianna," Sophia interjects, her voice honeyed with fake concern, "you've been so busy with work. Tyler and I... it just happened. We didn't mean to hurt you."

The betrayal is so profound I can barely breathe. My hand moves before I can think, slapping Sophia hard across her perfect cheek.

Gasps echo through the ballroom.

The sting in my palm is satisfying for exactly two seconds before Tyler's hand connects with my face, sending me stumbling backward.

"Don't you ever touch her again," he growls.

I hold my burning cheek, staring at him in disbelief. "You hit me."

"You hit my fiancée."

"Your fiancée is my sister!" I scream. "My sister who knew exactly what she was doing!"

I turn to my parents, standing at the edge of the crowd. "Mom? Dad? Are you just going to stand there?"

My father steps forward, but not to defend me. "Marianna, you need to leave. Now."

"Me? I need to leave?" I asked "This is my birthday. They're the ones-"

"This behavior is unacceptable," my mother says, her voice cold. "Sophia and Tyler have our blessing."

The room spins around me. "Your blessing? You knew about this?"

No one answered, but their silence is confirmation enough.

Sophia, emboldened by our parents' support, approaches me.

"It's not just Tyler, Marianna." Her voice is low, meant only for me, but carrying just enough to be heard by those nearby. "The eight families and the company have shifted their support."

There are actually ten families that were our exclusive partners. Eight of those families kept supporting us, me especially, unlike the remaining two. Who would have thought they had ulterior motives.

"I think the vote of confidence has already started." she uttered, smirking" So soon, everything you ever held dear will be mine. Luckily, grandpa isn't here to save you."

I stared at her, uncomprehending at first, then with growing horror. "I have done everything for the company. Sacrificed so much to make the company what it is today"

"And I thank you for helping me with that," she corrected, her smile vicious. With a sudden shove, she pushed me, and I stumbled backwards, losing my balance and fell hard to the floor.

Looking up at her from the ground, I saw a stranger wearing my sister's face.

"Did you really think you deserved that CEO position?" she asked. "Everyone knows I've always been the smarter one. The beautiful one that should have been the face of the company. You just had Grandpa's favor."

She is only talking like this because I trained her personally when she started as an intern. She followed me to meetings, stayed at my office to see how I operate and even helped with errands just to incorporate herself with the daily tasks.

Her first time closing the deal was because I was beside her. Everything she did first, I was beside her to guide and direct her. It was only recently she began doing things on her own.

"Get out, Marianna," my father says, stepping forward. "Don't embarrass us further."