The Billionaire My Sister Wanted Is Mine Now

Serena's POV

I remember the exact moment my life ended.

The champagne in my hand tasted slightly bitter, but I ignored it.

After all, tonight was supposed to be the happiest night of my life.

The ballroom of the Vale Estate glittered with golden lights, crystal chandeliers reflecting across the polished marble floors. The laughter of guests filled the air, soft classical music drifting from the orchestra in the corner. Everyone important in the city was here tonight.

Because tonight, Adrian Kingsley had proposed to me.

Even now, as I stood on the balcony overlooking the endless skyline, the diamond ring on my finger sparkled under the lights. It was huge, easily the kind of ring people would gossip about for weeks.

"The future Mrs. Kingsley."

That's what they had all been calling me tonight.

The thought made me smile faintly.

Not because of the wealth or the title.

But because I had truly believed I was finally going to have a happy life.

I leaned lightly against the balcony railing, letting the cool night air brush against my face. My long chestnut hair moved gently in the wind as I stared at the city below.

Twenty-eight years.

That was how long I had lived.

Twenty-eight years of trying to be the perfect daughter.

The perfect sister.

The perfect fiancée.

And tonight was supposed to be the reward for all that effort.

Behind me, the doors to the ballroom opened.

I didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Sister."

The voice was soft and sweet.

I smiled before turning around.

"Lily."

My stepsister stood in the doorway, looking exactly the way everyone always described her-beautiful and delicate, like a porcelain doll that needed protection.

Her blonde hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, and her pale blue dress made her look even more fragile than usual. People always said Lily looked like an angel.

And for most of my life, I had believed it too.

She walked over to me slowly, her eyes immediately falling to the ring on my finger.

"Wow," she said quietly.

Her voice sounded almost breathless.

"So it finally happened."

I laughed softly.

"Yeah. I guess it did."

Lily reached out and gently took my hand, lifting it so she could examine the ring more closely. The diamond caught the light beautifully, scattering reflections across the balcony walls.

"You're so lucky," she murmured.

I shook my head.

"You'll find someone too."

For a moment, Lily didn't respond.

Then she let go of my hand and leaned against the railing beside me.

"Of course," she said.

"But it probably won't be someone like Adrian Kingsley."

There was something strange about the way she said his name.

Something sharp.

But before I could think too much about it, she smiled again-soft and innocent.

"Have you been drinking?" she asked.

I lifted the champagne glass in my hand.

"Just one."

"Well, that's not enough," Lily said lightly. "You just got engaged. You should celebrate properly."

She nodded toward the glass.

"You should finish it."

I hesitated for a moment.

The champagne did taste a little strange.

But that was probably just my imagination.

I raised the glass and finished the drink.

The bitterness was stronger this time.

I frowned slightly.

"That tastes weird," I said.

Lily didn't respond.

I turned to look at her.

And that was when I noticed the change in her expression.

The sweetness in her eyes had disappeared.

Her lips were curved in a small smile-but it wasn't the warm, gentle smile she always showed everyone else.

It was colder.

Sharper.

My chest suddenly felt tight.

"Lily...?"

A strange burning sensation spread through my stomach.

Within seconds, it climbed into my chest like fire.

My fingers loosened around the empty glass.

It slipped from my hand and shattered against the marble floor.

The sound echoed sharply in the quiet balcony.

My legs gave out.

I collapsed to my knees, clutching my chest as pain shot through my entire body.

"What...?"

My voice came out as a weak gasp.

Something was terribly wrong.

The burning sensation spread faster, crawling through my veins like poison.

My vision blurred.

I looked up at Lily, panic rising in my chest.

"Did you...?"

The words barely came out.

Lily crouched down in front of me.

And then she laughed softly.

It was the first time I had ever heard her laugh like that.

Calm.

Cruel.

"You finally noticed," she said.

My heart dropped.

"No..."

But the truth was already clear.

The bitter taste.

The burning pain.

My body slowly shutting down.

"You poisoned me," I whispered.

Lily tilted her head slightly, studying my face.

"I prefer to think of it as correcting an unfair situation."

My breathing became shallow.

Every breath felt harder than the last.

"Why...?" I managed to ask.

Lily sighed as if the answer should have been obvious.

"Because you had everything."

She began counting on her fingers.

"The inheritance from grandmother."

"Father's trust."

"The perfect reputation."

"And now..." her eyes flicked to the diamond ring still on my finger, "...Adrian Kingsley."

My hands trembled.

"But you... you're my sister."

Lily smiled again.

"That's exactly the problem."

She leaned closer to me, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"You were always better than me."

My vision darkened around the edges.

"I gave you everything," I said weakly.

"The university... the opportunities..."

"Yes," Lily said calmly.

"And that's why everyone believed I deserved more."

Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

"You made it very easy."

Footsteps suddenly echoed inside the ballroom.

Someone was approaching.

Lily stood up quickly.

Then, right in front of my fading vision, her expression changed.

The cruelty vanished.

Her face twisted into panic.

"Oh my God!" she cried loudly.

"Sister! What happened?!"

She knelt beside me again, grabbing my shoulders.

But this time it was only an act.

"Someone help!" she shouted toward the ballroom. "My sister collapsed!"

Voices filled the air as people rushed toward the balcony.

My hearing faded in and out.

The last thing I saw before darkness swallowed my vision was Lily's face.

Still pretending to cry.

Still pretending to care.

But I could see the truth in her eyes.

Victory.

And as the world slowly faded away, one thought filled my mind.

If I could live again...

If I could go back...

I would never sacrifice myself for her again.

Never.

Then everything went black.