Page 1 of She will Always be Mine

Chapter One

NYRA

Secrets have a way of coming out when you least expect them to.

Or at least, at the worst possible time.

We think we are in control, but it’s only an illusion. A false sense of security. It hides the truth that we are merely fooling ourselves. We don’t realize until it’s too late.

In a blink of an eye, we’re caught red handed without an escape. Just like I am.

Still as a statue.

Barely breathing.

I always imagined what it would be like if my worst fear ever came to light. I would feel the ground shaking beneath my feet, feel the crash of falling as it spiraled into me while my heart would thunder inside my chest.

Tonight, I realize I was dead wrong. It was only a silly nightmare of a little girl because the reality is much worse. Daunting. Heartbreaking.

Instead of hearing the roar of chaos, the dead silence greets me while my entire world crumbles into pieces around me.

Instead of feeling the wild beating of my heart, I feel the numbness soaking deep in my bones.

There’s no crashing or trembling, but the heavy sound of time standing still as I stare into my mom’s eyes while her hand flies to her mouth. It was only a matter of time until my dirty, forbidden secret came out, but I never expected it to be like this.

Shock spreads across my mother’s face as she staggers back on her feet. I recognize that haunting look on her face.

It speaks volumes of my mom’s worst fear becoming reality. Not mine. It’s her heart thundering out of her ribs after finding me in the arms of my cousin.

Meanwhile, I can only watch the play of emotions on her face like the roll of a dice.

Disbelief.

Horror.

Disgust.

And finally… a mixture of shame and anger.

It cuts me to imagine what she must be feeling, catching me kiss Riaan, my much older cousin, who may as well be my own brother in her eyes.

Because that’s how close our families used to be. No person, let alone a mother, will want to see their daughter in the arms of a man who couldn’t be more wrong for her.

Not just wrong, but forbidden in every sense.

I’m disappointed that a little part of me hoped she might accept us. Help us. But seeing the look on her face, my hope crushes and dies a slow death.

It doesn’t hurt any less even though I expected it. I no longer see the adoring and loving look she used to greet me with. There’s a shadow in her eyes, put there by her own fucking daughter.

Everything happens in slow motion, like an ugly train wreck. Riaan is yet to completely let me go.

My hands are still twisted in his shirt, holding on to him like an anchor. I know I should shove him away, put some space between us and try to control the damage, but my body isn’t cooperating with my head.

It seeks the comfort, the safety only he can provide, and that thought brings another wave of agony.

Besides, what difference will it make?

“I said let her go, Riaan,” my mom commands in a steel voice.

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