Chapter 2

I expected him to blow up in my face. Instead, after a pause, he replied, "Alright. See you tonight."

Three years ago, Edward and I had created a haute couture fashion house, The Edwardian Taylor. By this point, it had become a massive success.

Edward financed the operation while I was the principal designer. Honestly, he was the one winning without lifting a finger—especially considering its net worth now.

It could easily be traded publicly, making even more money, and yet he would give The Edwardian Taylor away for his beloved Maddie.

Talk about true love…

After getting up, I scanned the wedding preparations in my room, and the sight stung my eyes. I would have loved to burn them all.

I called a packing company to handle everything related to him.

God, I felt lucky that I had insisted he could only have me after we were married. I would never want anything of his inside me.

Once the house was cleaned up, I changed into my clothes and applied my best makeup. It was then that I heard car engines from outside.

Well, well. Edward had come, along with his mother, Sally Brown. Was she worried that her son would get the shorter end of the deal?

"Oh, you're back," I called from my seat on the couch, glancing at Sally. "You're here too, Mrs. Kennedy."

Sally forced an awkward smile. "I thought you'd call me 'Mom,' dear."

I stretched my lips wide. "My mom's been dead for a while."

Sally's expression froze before becoming wooden.

Edward's face darkened. "Don't take it out on my mom, Taylor."

"I see this as a parenting failure, Ed. Maybe I should take it out on your dad, too," I taunted.

"Taylor!" He raised his voice in anger.

I pursed my lips and shrugged.

Sally pulled him by the arm.

"Enough," she said quietly. "Let's not fight."

Edward sat on the single-seat couch next to me, placing a document on the table in front of me. "The business is all yours, as you wanted. In return, our wedding is canceled."

I flipped through the pages.

"What about my gown? You'll pay for that, right?" I asked.

He frowned. "How much?"

"137,000 dollars after the discount."

Sally was stunned. "Are you insane?"

I leered at her. "Are you? You should ask your son what the fashion world thinks of my work."

They fell silent.

"Besides, you don't have to buy the gown." I shrugged. "But I'm sure Maddie's the one who insisted on having it. Mr. Kennedy will buy anything for her, won't he?"

Edward looked at me in surprise.

I knew it!

Maddison had always been like that—she would do anything to steal whatever I liked.

Edward could have easily bought any bridal gown with his money, so why was mine the one he chose? It could only be Maddison's demand, right?

As expected, Edward hesitated briefly before agreeing. "Fine."

Sally stared at him in incredulity. "Have you lost your mind?! You might as well burn your money!"

"Don't meddle, please," he replied, then turned his attention back to me. "Maddie has been so sick that she can't pick the jewelry and accessories for the wedding. Since you've already done that, just let her have all of them."

I thought I was mentally prepared, but hearing his words still threw me off. I was bewildered.

I sneered. "My God! Are you going to do everything she demands, Edward? Will you hire a hitman after me if she asks for my life?"

"No! Maddie isn't like that. You've misunderstood her. It's just a pragmatic arrangement—she's too sick to do her own shopping, and you no longer have any reason to use yours. It's a win-win."

I smirked. "Edward Kennedy, do you even remember what you swore to me?"

Edward met my eyes nervously.

He had promised he would never betray me because I had saved his life. He had sworn he would love me and only me forever.

"Listen, Taylor. I do love you, okay?" Edward protested weakly.

"What I feel for her is just... sympathy, okay? She's so young—she's younger than you by two years—and she's contracted an incurable disease.

"She's your sister, Taylor! You know she's going to die soon. Don't you feel sad about this?"

I remembered how Maddison had damaged my clothes with scissors when we were kids. She would throw waste on my bed just to hear me scream in fear. She'd laugh too.

Naturally, I had my revenge. I had grabbed the same waste and chased her down to shove it into her mouth. She had run down the stairs just to escape.

For my efforts, my father and stepmom had punished me severely.

I had been enraged, so I also cut their clothes into pieces with scissors when they weren't home.

That had been my life for years. I didn't have a good time living with them, but I could say the same for them, too. I lost only because it was one against many.

I didn't think anyone could possibly understand how much I hated my stepmother and Maddison. How was I supposed to feel sad about Maddie dying in a few months?

"Aww, she's so young, too!" I lamented sarcastically. "My stepmother will be so, so sad. Aww!"

They were somehow too stupid to catch the mockery in my tone. In fact, they joined in with genuine sadness.

"Exactly!" Sally said, her eyes welling up. "No parent could possibly be okay with seeing their daughter dying at such a young age. They would all wish it were them!"

"Mom… please calm down. Your heart's weak, remember? The doctor said you shouldn't exert yourself emotionally," Edward said, trying to soothe her.

He turned to me, his voice softening. "Here's the plan: I'll marry Maddie first so her last wish can be fulfilled. Then… one day, I'll marry, you and we'll throw an even grander wedding."

I was baffled. What the hell?!

"You're thinking of marrying her and then me after she's dead?!" I asked incredulously.

I might not be the favorite at home, but Taylor Jones was still one of the best socialites and elites in this city!

My looks, talents, education, and business were all top-tier! How dare he humiliate me with such an insulting proposal?!

I could choose any guy in this city who was superior to him in every way, and he would only say yes!

The shock on my face made Edward even more nervous, but he continued his disgusting pretense. "You're the woman I love the most in the entire world. You're my one and only wife! Don't twist my good intentions, okay?"

I gagged, snatched up the agreement, and signed my name.

"You want my jewelry? Fine! That's another 137,000 dollars. Transfer the money to my account, and I'll deliver the jewelry to the hospital."