Part 3The Diary Dare That Changed Everything

Liam practically fled my room.

At over six-foot-two, he stumbled out with all limbs flailing, tripping over himself.

He didn't even notice me hiding by the door observing him.

He dove straight into the bathroom, turning the sink on full blast and aggressively splashing his face with running cold water.

I waited until the sound of the water stopped before walking over to ask:

"Liam, what's wrong?"

The noise inside came to a dead halt.

After a long moment, his shaky voice finally sounded:

"Nothing..."

I let out a casual "Oh" and said, "I'll go back to my room then."

"Wait!"

The door was yanked open.

Liam stood in the doorway, water dripping from his chin, looking at me with a heavily conflicted expression, hesitating to speak.

"Harper, do you... is there someone you like recently?"

I purposely frowned in confusion.

"No? I've been busy applying for internships. I don't have time to think about dating."

Liam went silent.

He studied me with a grave expression, making sure I wasn't lying, before he breathed a massive sigh of relief and wiped the water from his face.

Right. The "brother" in the diary wasn't necessarily him. It could be some older guy I looked up to at school, or a celebrity crush.

It's fine, it's fine. The sky hasn't fallen, the family isn't ruined, my sister is still my sister.

I suppressed a smirk.

"If there's nothing else, I'm going back to my room."

I turned around.

I pulled a paperback manga out of my backpack and "accidentally" dropped it on the hardwood floor.

It made a loud smack in the empty hallway.

Liam instinctively looked toward the sound.

On the cover, in bright, bold letters: "From Sister to Wife."

"..."

Liam stopped breathing.

Then, he shakily pinched the bridge of his own nose to keep from passing out.