"Ma'am, Sir Edward want to see you?"
I pushed the study door open expecting a smile hug or something but instead I froze with what I saw.
Edward wasn't alone.
Cecilia, my stepsister, was curled against him on the sofa and her pale hands gripping his sleeve like she would die if she let go then his arm was around her which made my heart lurched.
"What's going on here?" My voice trembled.
Edward stood slowly, guilt flickering in his eyes. "I need to marry Cecilia."
I blinked. "What?"
"It's her last wish." He glanced down at her fragile figure, his voice softening. "She doesn't have much time left, the doctors...."
Cecilia coughed weakly, leaning into him. "I'm sorry sister, I know this is selfish, but… I don't want to die without ever wearing a wedding dress."
Her words stabbed through me. "And so? You want my wedding? You want my fiancé?"
Edward winced. "Listen, once I marry her and I fulfill this wish… I'll come back to you."
I laughed bitterly, though it sounded more like a sob. "You'll come back to me? Like a secondhand ring? Edward, are you hearing yourself?"
Cecilia's watery eyes met mine. "Please, don't blame him because this is all my fault, just let me have this sister, after I'm gone you'll still have Edward."
Her tone dripped with false innocence, but he didn't see it, he never saw it!
"Six years, Edward," I whispered. "Six years I gave you... my love, my time, my dreams and now you throw me aside like trash?"
He reached for me. "Darling, you're strong, you'll understand."
I slapped his hand away. "Don't call me that! Don't touch me! You've taken everything from me."
Cecilia hid her smirk behind her handkerchief. "Don't be angry… She'll be fine, she always is."
Her words echoed in my ears, cruel and mocking.
I stumbled back, my stomach twisting violently as a sharp pain spread through me, and my hands instinctively pressed against my abdomen.
Edward frowned. "What's wrong?"
"I..." My chest tightened, my knees buckled and the world spun.
Darkness swallowed me before I could say another word.
The last thing I heard was Cecilia's soft, fake whisper near my ear:
"She'll survive because she always does."
Then moment later. "Wake up! Stop pretending!"
The sharp voice cut through the haze in my head and my eyelids fluttered open the first thing I saw was Cecilia's smug smile hovering above me.
"You fainted at the most dramatic moment," she whispered, lips brushing against my ear. "Careful, or Edward might think you're trying to steal my spotlight."
My blood ran cold I tried to sit up but my body felt heavy my stomach twisting painfully then the door opened. Edward rushed in, followed by my stepmother, relief surged through me... until I saw the disgust on their faces.
"Finally awake?" My stepmother's tone was icy. "How dare you cause a scene right before the wedding?"
My lips trembled. "I didn't...Mother, I..."
"Don't call me that!" she snapped. "You're nothing but trouble fainting like some weak little actress, do you want to embarrass this family tomorrow?"
Cecilia clutched Edward's arm, her eyes wide with fake innocence. "Don't scold her please, sister must be upset… because of me."
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him. "Maybe we should cancel the wedding, Edward, I don't want to hurt her."
"No!" Edward's voice was firm, he cupped her face brushing her hair back tenderly. "You deserve this Cecilia don't worry about her."
I stared at him, my chest burning. "Edward, how can you..."
He turned his cold gaze on me. "You'll understand one day that Cecilia doesn't have long time on this earth and this is bigger than your feelings."
My throat closed up. "Bigger than the six years I gave you? Bigger than everything I sacrificed for you?"
He flinched, but his hand never left Cecilia's.
My stepmother sneered. "Ungrateful girl! You should be ashamed, instead of supporting your sister's last wish, you act like a jealous child."
I shook my head, tears blurring my vision. "Last wish? Don't you see she's lying? She's not dying! Can't you see her act?"
Slap! The sting spread across my cheek before I even realized my stepmother had hit me.
"How dare you!" she hissed. "Cecilia's been through so much, and you dare curse her?"
Cecilia whimpered, pressing closer to Edward. "Sister, please… don't hate me, if you hate me, I'll die even faster."
"Enough, Cecilia." Edward's voice softened again, all for her as he glared at me. "Stop this madness! Don't embarrass yourself any further."
I stared at the man I loved, searching for the Edward I used to know but he was gone, replaced by this stranger who looked at me like dirt while holding my stepsister like treasure.
"I gave you everything," I whispered and my voice cracked. "And this is how you repay me?"
He didn't answer but silence said enough.
I swung my legs off the bed, ignoring the pain in my body and my hands pressed against my abdomen instinctively, as if protecting something precious, though they didn't notice and they never noticed.
"If this is your choice," I said through clenched teeth, "then I'll make mine too."
Cecilia tilted her head, smiling faintly though her eyes shimmered with fake tears. "Don't be rash, sister you'll regret it."
"No," I shot back, glaring at both of them. "You'll regret it."
For a moment, there was silence then Cecilia laughed softly, leaning against Edward's chest.
"We'll see."
And just like that, I knew m place in this house was gone.
"Pack her things."
My stepmother's voice was sharp as a whip I froze in the doorway, my heart thudding painfully.
"What?" I whispered.
"You heard me." She crossed her arms, her eyes full of contempt. "You're not staying in this house anymore because we can't have you disrupting Cecilia's wedding."
My pulse raced. "This is my home too!"
Edward's gaze was cold. "Don't make this harder than it has to be, you'll embarrass yourself if you stay."
Cecilia tugged his sleeve, her voice trembling sweetly. "Edward, don't be harsh, sister has nowhere else to go…"
Then she bit her lip, lowering her eyes. "But… maybe it's better, I don't want her to feel uncomfortable at our wedding."
My stomach twisted. "Your wedding? With him?" My voice cracked. "You're really going to marry him right in front of me?"
Cecilia looked away, feigning guilt but Edward squeezed her hand. "It's already decided."
I laughed bitterly, though tears burned my eyes. "Six years, Edward, I gave you six years and all it takes is her fake tears to make you throw me away?"
His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
My stepmother clapped her hands sharply. "Servants! Take her out."
Two maids stepped forward hesitantly their eyes flickered with pity, but they didn't dare disobey.
"Don't touch me!" I snapped, stepping back. "I can walk out myself."
I grabbed my small bag, my hands trembling as I clutched the strap I wanted to scream, to tear this house apart brick by brick but my pride was all I had left.
So I lifted my chin. "Fine! You want me gone? Watch carefully when I leave, I will never come back crawling."
Cecilia's lips curved almost imperceptibly. "Sister… don't be stubborn, you'll regret leaving."
"No." My voice shook, but I forced strength into it. "You'll regret this!"
I turned on my heel and walked out, every step echoing against the marble floor.
Outside the gates, the night air bit against my skin I clutched my abdomen, nausea swirling in my stomach the world blurred, but I refused to collapse again.
A maid ran after me, slipping a small envelope into my hand. "Miss… I...this is all I can give you."
I opened it and it contains few crumpled bills barely enough for food, my throat tightened. "Thank you."
She bowed quickly, glancing nervously back at the mansion before hurrying away.
Alone, I stared at the place I once called home, the windows glowed warmly with light, as if mocking me and inside, my family laughed and celebrated, while I stood outside like an unwanted stray for a moment, despair nearly crushed me.
But then, under my hand, I felt the faintest flutter in my belly, a reason to fight as I pressed my palm harder against my stomach, my vision sharpening.
"They think they've destroyed me," I whispered to the night my voice was hoarse, but steady. "But I'll come back stronger and when I do… they'll kneel."
The wind carried my vow into the darkness and for the first time that night, I believed it.