Freya's POV
The wire transfer notification chimed on my phone as Jasper and his mother left. Two million dollars. The most expensive dress and jewelry set in history.
I watched their car disappear down my street. Pug trotted over and sat beside me, tail wagging.
"What do you think, boy? Should we go visit Lila?"
His ears perked up at the word 'visit.' He always did love car rides.
I grabbed my purse and the jewelry boxes from my safe. The Cartier set sparkled under my hallway light. Diamonds and pearls worth more than most people's annual salaries.
If Lila wanted to play bride, she could have the full experience.
My phone rang as I started the car. Dad's contact photo glared at me from the screen. I almost declined, then reconsidered. This conversation would be entertaining.
"Hello, Father."
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Waylon Colby's voice exploded through the speaker.
"Going for a drive. Beautiful day, isn't it?"
"Don't get smart with me. Jasper's mother called. Two million dollars for a dress and jewelry? Are you insane?"
I pulled onto the main road, taking my time with the turn. "I prefer 'business-minded.'"
"You're embarrassing our family."
"Our family?" I laughed. "Which family would that be? The one where you cheated on my mother? The one where your wife tried to poison me? Or the one where my sister steals my fiancé?"
"Lila is sick. She doesn't have long."
"So everyone keeps telling me."
"Show some compassion."
"I showed compassion for years. I gave blood transfusions to save Jasper's life. I took care of everyone but myself."
"And now you're acting like a spoiled brat."
"Now I'm acting like a woman who knows her worth."
Waylon's breathing grew heavy. "If you cause problems at the hospital—"
"You'll what? Disown me? Lock me in the basement again? News flash, Dad. I'm not a child anymore."
I hung up and turned off my phone.
The hospital parking garage was nearly full. I had to circle twice before finding a spot. The jewelry boxes felt heavier with each step toward the elevator.
Fifth floor. Oncology ward.
The smell hit me immediately. Antiseptic and false hope. I'd spent too much time in places like this, watching Jasper recover from his treatments.
Lila's room was at the end of the hall. The door stood slightly ajar.
"—such a vindictive little witch. I always knew she had a cruel streak."
Cecilia's voice carried clearly into the hallway.
I paused outside the door, listening.
"Poor Jasper looked devastated," my stepmother continued. "Two million dollars for a dress and jewelry. Can you imagine? She's always been greedy, but this is beyond the pale."
"Now, dear, don't work yourself up." Waylon's voice. Of course he'd come running when his precious Lila needed comfort.
"I hope she chokes on that money. After everything we've done for her."
Everything they'd done for me. Like locking me in closets. Like forcing me to give up my college fund for Neil's gambling debts. Like making me work multiple jobs while Lila got weekly shopping trips.
I smiled and pulled a string of firecrackers from my purse.
The gift shop downstairs sold the strangest things. Who knew a hospital needed party supplies?
I pushed the door open wide and stepped inside.
"Hello, family."
Lila lay propped against her pillows, looking pale and fragile in a designer nightgown. Jasper sat beside her bed, holding her hand.
Cecilia stood by the window, her face immediately twisting with rage. "What are you doing here?"
"Visiting my beloved sister, of course." I held up the jewelry boxes. "I brought her wedding gift."
Jasper started to stand. "Freya, maybe this isn't the best time—"
"Nonsense. This is the perfect time."
I walked to the center of the room and set the jewelry boxes on the rolling tray table.
"Now, before we get to the presents, I have a little surprise."
I pulled out the firecracker string and my lighter.
"Freya," Waylon's voice carried a warning.
"What are those?" Lila asked weakly.
"Firecrackers. I thought we should celebrate your upcoming wedding."
I flicked the lighter.
"Are you insane?" Cecilia lunged toward me.
Too late.
I lit the fuse and tossed the entire string onto the floor.
The first explosion made everyone jump. The second sent Lila scrambling backward in her bed. By the third, Jasper was shouting something I couldn't hear over the noise.
Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.
The smoke detector shrieked. Red lights flashed. Then the sprinkler system activated.
Water rained down on everything.
Cecilia screamed as her silk blouse soaked through. Waylon swore and tried to shield his phone. Jasper jumped up, dripping, and stared at me in shock.
Lila pulled her blankets over her head, sobbing.
Only I remained dry, standing under the single sprinkler that had malfunctioned and never been fixed.
"Surprise," I said sweetly.
Hospital staff burst through the door. Nurses, security guards, someone with a fire extinguisher.
"Everyone out," a large security guard commanded. "Now."
My family stumbled toward the exit, soaked and furious.
"You're crazy," Cecilia hissed as she passed me. "I'm calling the police."
"Make sure to mention the part where you wished me dead," I replied. "I'm sure they'll find that very interesting."
We were herded down the hall to a conference room while maintenance dealt with the sprinkler situation. Lila was moved to a new room on the same floor.
I followed the procession calmly, jewelry boxes still in my hands.
Lila's new room was smaller but just as sterile. She sat on the edge of the bed in a hospital gown, her designer nightgown presumably ruined.
"Here." I set the jewelry boxes on her bedside table. "Wedding gifts from the bride-to-be."
Lila opened the first box with trembling fingers. The diamond necklace caught the fluorescent light.
"It's beautiful," she whispered.
"Fifty thousand for the necklace. Thirty for the earrings. Twenty for the bracelet."
Jasper stared at me. "You're actually giving them to her?"
"She's paying for them, remember? Part of your two-million-dollar wedding budget."
"Our what?" Lila looked at Jasper with wide, innocent eyes, though I caught the flash of calculation behind them. She knew exactly what he'd paid.
Jasper's face went pale. "Freya, don't."
"Don't what? Don't tell her about our business arrangement? Don't mention that you're buying her a wedding with blood money?"
"What is she talking about?" Lila's voice got stronger, her performance flawless.
I pulled up a chair and sat down. This was going to be good.
"Your fiancé just paid me two million dollars. One million for the dress you're wearing. Another million for the jewelry you're about to put on."
Lila looked at Jasper with perfectly feigned shock. "You paid her?"
"I had to. She was going to keep everything otherwise."
"Keep everything that was already mine," I corrected. "The dress I made. The jewelry I chose."
Tears welled in Lila's eyes, right on cue. "Jasper, you didn't tell me about any payments."
"Because I knew you'd feel guilty."
"I should feel guilty. She made that dress for herself."
"And now you get to wear it. Isn't that what matters?"
I leaned back in my chair, enjoying the show.
"There's more," I said cheerfully. "Tell her about the rest, Jasper."
"What rest?" Lila's voice was barely a whisper.
Jasper looked like he wanted to disappear. "The wedding arrangements. Your condition is getting worse, and we don't have time to plan everything from scratch."
"So?"
"So we're going to use the plans Freya already made. The venue, the flowers, the menu. Everything's already booked and paid for."
Lila stared at him. "You want to give me her entire wedding?"
"It makes sense. Why waste all that preparation?"
"Because it's not my wedding. It's hers."
I felt a flicker of something unexpected. Respect? For Lila?
"Exactly," I said. "It's my wedding. My planning. My dreams. My work."
Jasper turned to me, desperation creeping into his voice. "But it shouldn't go to waste. You put so much effort into making it perfect."
"For me."
"But now it can be for Lila. Keep it in the family."