Page 79 of Don't Date Your Nemesis

I scoffed. “I’d rather live with you for a year than face her.”

I meant it as a joke, but the words came out bitter.

Because deep down, I was hurt. I’d never in a million years think Diya would betray me like that.

Growing up together, we shared beds, clothes, makeup, and secrets. We fought over stupid things like borrowed sweaters and who got the last gulab jamun, but never anything serious like relationships.

Until Yash.

“Maybe you should give her a chance,” Liam said gently. “Talk to her.”

I pulled my hand back. “How can we ever make up after this?”

He gave me a soft smile. “Ethan, Kiara, and I had a huge friendship breakup once, where we didn’t speak to each other for years. There were misunderstandings and…” He scratched his neck. “I was a stupid dick because I sort of slept with Ethan’s girlfriend.”

I stared at him. “You what?”

I thought he was loyal and would never do that to his friends⁠—

“I kissed Arianna. His girlfriend at the time and made sure he caught us.”

“Why would you… how did Ethan ever forgive you?”

They were inseparable now, more brothers than friends, and even Kiara said they were more bonded than actual siblings.

“He liked Kiara since he was a kid, and their feelings were mutual. Everyone around them could see it except them.” Liam shrugged. “So me being a stupid teenager, decided to kiss his current girlfriend and get caught, and forced him to confront what he actually wanted.”

I nodded slowly. “That’s so dumb.”

“It was, but it worked out. Though Kiara almost murdered me for it.”

I giggled despite myself, imagining my tiny cousin going after six-foot-three Liam.

“Don’t laugh. I was genuinely scared for my life,” he grumbled but smiled. “But months later… years later, Ethan finally listened to me and told me I was stupid and an asshole, and that it was in the past.”

I pursed my lips and looked at the shiny marble flooring. Our feet covered in house slippers, which I had bought for us because the thought of outside shoes at home made me want to Lysol every surface.

I gave him a sad smile. “It worked out for them because they were meant to be together. But Yash and Diya?”

I shook my head. “He’s not a good person and I’m worried⁠—”

I stopped, the words catching in my throat.

I was about to say that I was worried about her. For Diya. Despite everything, she was still my sister.

Liam squeezed my hand. “Talk to her when you feel like it. But don’t be too late.”

I nodded, my jaw clenching.

Liam

The award show was exactly the kind of event I usually hated. It was overcrowded, over-hyped, and full of people pretending to be friends while secretly hoping everyone else would fail.

But watching Deepika on the red carpet made it all worth it.

She glowed under the lights in a silver dress that caught every flash, hair swept up to show her neck, that ring on her finger.

I had asked her and our publicists if I should get her a diamond ring, but Deepika had rejected that idea even though I didn’t mind splurging on her. I wanted to spoil her, but the most expensive thing she had asked of me was the truth, whether I had eaten her Lucky Charms or not.