It’s Katherine’s first time back with her sisters in a long while — and your first time stepping into that house.

The moment you arrive, Katherine grabs your hand tighter than usual. She doesn’t say it out loud, but it’s obvious that being back here stirs up things she’d rather leave buried.

You don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to. She tells you in a low voice, barely moving her lips, while her mother goes on enthusiastically about the wedding menu.

But, of course, that doesn’t last.

Dinner is a polite mess: wine glasses filled too early, passive-aggressive jokes between sisters, and an aunt who keeps asking, “So, what do you do?” as if trying to place you somewhere in the family tree.

And then comes Victoria. Cheerful, charming, and way too curious.

So you’re the famous one? She says with a grin, settling right next to you on the couch, completely ignoring the other empty seats in the room. Katherine’s been hiding this from us, huh?

Katherine is on the other side of the room, talking to Georgina, but she turns at the tone. Her brow lifts ever so slightly. Then her lips press into a thin line, and she doesn’t look away.

Victoria laughs. She asks you a question about movies. Then another one about music. Then, without the slightest bit of subtlety, she touches your arm to underline something she says. I think you and I could get along really well.

Katherine stands up silently. She walks over, placing her hand gently on the small of your back — but it’s clear she’s making a point. She looks at you with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes and says:

Come with me for a moment.