Entangled (Vice Games) by Alice Cooper

mind.
    ‘Explain yourself,’ Elliot Vice demanded.
    ‘What would you like to know?’ Tristan asked. He turned to face his father directly and I noted how his tone changed with a hint of mockery.
    ‘Why is that ring on her finger?’ Karen asked.
    ‘Oh,’ said Tristan as he picked up my hand and observed the stone under the chandelier light. As he ran his fingers to straighten out mine, a wave of electricity moved through my body. ‘You mean this?’ Tristan placed my hand down on the table and held it in place for all to see. ‘We are engaged,’ he announced.
    I held my breath as my eyes observed the two women opposite me.
    ‘Engaged?’ Karen repeated. The surprise must have been so strong that it managed to show itself. Incredulity covered her normally plastic and unchangeable face.
    ‘Yes,’ Tristan confirmed.
    Lauren seemed to be in shock but quickly found her voice. ‘Is she the reason why you broke it off with me?’
    ‘Yes.’
    Her eyes widened and it looked as if she was about to scream. Her chest heaved furiously as she glared at me with murder in her eyes. Karen placed her hand against Lauren’s arm and kept her from lashing out. It was a good thing the food was not served yet. I was certain that she would most likely throw her knife at me.
    ‘I see you have chosen to have Annabelle return here,’ she said.
    Anna immediately looked past me to question her brother with her eyes. She opened her mouth to speak but I quickly took up her hand. I sensed that Tristan has some sort of plan. He would never let Anna back here, especially when she’s doing so well since being away from this place.
    ‘That won’t be necessary,’ he said calmly.
    ‘But that is part of the agreement. You marry Lauren and she will take care of your troublesome sister while you work.’
    ‘Yes, that is prior to Phoebe’s employment. Father, did we not come to another agreement concerning Annabelle? You said that she may stay with me under the circumstance that I am able to hire someone who has control over her behavior. I am aware that the teachers that come to my house are also employed to witness her taking her pills. The doctors you have assigned to her also confirmed in their reports to you that Annabelle’s behavior and mental stability has also positively increased since Phoebe’s arrival. As you can see now, Annabelle is also not experiencing any signs of a panic attack which often occurs when she is here in this house.’
    Elliot Vice could not deny these facts. I have been in every class that Anna took with the teachers that her father had hired, with the exception of yesterday’s math lesson. I also went with her for her doctor appointments. Although we continued our lies to them as well, it was clear that not taking the pills had a dramatic positive impact on Anna’s sanity. But her father didn’t need to know that and Tristan did not speak a word about it. The only other souls that knew about the ruse were Lorraine and Jace.
    ‘Well, you can’t just simply discard your engagement with Lauren,’ said Karen when her husband did not speak a word.
    ‘It is necessary that I end my relationship with Lauren,’ said Tristan with ice in his voice.
    ‘And why is that?’ Lauren asked; her tone was sharp and deadly.
    ‘ Phoebe is carrying my child.’
    I nearly choked at the announcement and everyone fell into stunned silence. Anna was as shocked as I was to hear this from Tristan. It caught everyone off guard and no one knew how to react. Faking an engagement was one thing but faking a pregnancy was another matter. Tristan squeezed my hand gently, somehow, that is meant to be reassuring.
    ‘Do you have proof?’ Elliot Vice said in a deep low tone.
    Tristan reached into his jacket pocket and produced an envelope. He handed it to his father who opened it and pulled out the letter inside. His glanced over the paper.
    ‘You’re lying,’ said Karen. ‘Elliot, if you’d please.’
    Elliot Vice gave the paper