Page 25 of Revelation (Love Isn't What It Seems 3)

I didn’t have to wait long before Livy showed up. I studied her, the exhaustion written all over her face.

“You look like hell,” I told her as I hugged her, kissing her cheek. She might not know she was my sister but we acted like it sometimes. “Is Alexander keeping you up all night?”

She shook her head. “Don’t be silly.” She tried to force a smile on. “You don’t look great either. Are you okay?”

We both sat down, eyeing each other. It seemed we were both tired.

“Of course, I’m alright,” I told her. Hopefully, I sounded convincing.

Looking at the menu, we both sat in silence. It wasn’t an uncomfortable one; more like a tired, resigned silence. The waiter came over and took our order. I met my sister’s gaze, her own hazel eyes slightly bruised from lack of sleep.

“Look at us,” she murmured softly. “We are such a mess.”

She was right. We were a mess. My throat constricted, emotions threatening to overcome me. I hated to feel weak, vulnerable. Look at my grandfather. He had absolutely no emotions, and he was so much better for it. Cruel and mean, but better.

“Layla, if you need anything, let me know. Ok?” Liberty’s voice was soft, a worried look in her eyes. She had enough on her plate and didn’t need my troubles too. She was juggling too much as it was. I wanted her to find her happiness and the love she deserved. Alexander might be an arrogant, possessive asshole but he loved her. He’d give her the world if she only asked for it.

I nodded and went to answer her when a man’s voice had me turning my head.

“Hello, Liberty.”

An older man that resembled Maxim Caldwell stood in front of us. Was it his father? I never remembered him from the wedding or even mentioned anywhere.

“Mr. Caldwell,” Liberty greeted him in surprise.

The man glanced between two of us, disbelief in his eyes. If I wasn’t in such a tired state, I might have even laughed.

“You two know each other?” he questioned. His voice was hoarse, full of angst. He looked anxious, almost sad.

“Yes, this is Layla,” Livy replied calmly, smiling at him. “Do you know her, Mr. Caldwell?”

I shook my head. I most certainly didn’t know him. I had never seen him in my life. Who was this man? There was something about this very moment that made me uneasy. It was the moment the birds stopped singing, wind stopped howling; that eerily quiet moment before the downpour would start.

“I know of Layla Cambridge,” the man responded. “I didn’t realize you knew her.”

“We’ve known each other forever,” Livy replied in a soft tone.

“I thought you said your sister was killed in an accident?” The man’s eyes darted between Livy and me. I was so confused. What the hell was going on? “And yet, your sister is here, alive and well.”

And the storm commenced. In my mind, it was downpouring, washing Livy away from me; the last bit of a good thing in my life.

“What the hell is going on here?” Livy spat out in anger. Her eyes flashed with annoyance and hurt, her voice shaking. “If you think this is funny, it is not. I told you my sister, my adopted sister, died a month ago in a car crash. Layla isn’t my sister.”

Oh my God!This man knew. He knew Liberty and I were sisters.How?

My heart raced in my chest, adrenaline rushing through my veins.

“You don’t know?” His voice was peculiar, as if he let something slip too soon.

“Don’t know what?” Livy’s voice was high-pitched, evidence her nerves were teetering on the edge. “You are not making any sense.”

She glanced at me in confirmation and fear of losing her grew with each breath I took.Please don’t leave me, Livy.

“I knew Lily,” he started explaining. “Lily Glasgow was your mother.”Yes, this man knew. He will take the last bit of what I had good in my life away from me.

Liberty shook her head. “No, Lily Smith.”

“She changed her last name when she moved to the States.”

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