Chapter 3

I threw the agreement in his face, leaped to my feet, and started showing them the door. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a beauty nap to take. Get out of here and remember to take your trash with you."

I couldn't believe it took me eight years to realize who Edward really was. I had liked him since I was 16!

I guess I had Maddison to thank for that. I was this close to marrying a snake!

Sally was upset. "This is what I don't like about you, Taylor. You have the temper of a tyrant!

"Look at Maddie—she's gentle, docile, soft-spoken, and reasonable. She's so considerate of me, too!"

I forced the disgust in my heart down and commanded my pet dog, "Bullet, get them!"

Bullet barked at them incessantly.

Sally's face turned pale. "You! How dare you!"

Edward had to hold her hand as they backed away.

He shot me a cold glance. "This is too much, Taylor! How could I have been so wrong about you?!"

I smirked as I could say the same about him!

Edward and Sally left in a hurry. They even forgot to take Edward's things.

I frowned—it looked like all of it would have to be sent directly to the garbage dump.

-

The next morning, I received the money in my bank account.

Indignant and righteously furious as I was, I still wouldn't say no to money.

I prepared the jewelry and got ready to visit Maddison so I could happily watch her die.

My father, Harry Jones, called me while I was on my way. "You've never come to visit your sister since she was hospitalized! How lacking in conscience are you, huh?"

I'd grown accustomed to his verbal tirades.

"Should I buy some fireworks while I'm at it?" I asked.

"What the hell?!"

"You know, to celebrate the occasion," I explained.

"You bitch! You're just like your mot—"

I ended the call before he could finish. I imagined how enraged he must have felt, and I laughed.

I hadn't slept well last night, so I spent the whole time wondering if Maddison's cancer was just divine punishment. Her parents had been terrible people their whole lives, after all.

The way I saw it, it felt like the most perfect divine judgment ever.

I was about to knock on the door when I overheard the conversation inside. It was another round of slander.

Cameron sobbed. "She's definitely congratulating herself over this. She's hated Maddie's guts since she was a kid! Always tormenting her siblings like a little tyrant.

"I bet she couldn't sleep last night because of how happy she was!

"Why is this happening to me? Why isn't Taylor the one who's being punished? Why my precious daughter?"

I pushed the door open and found my father embracing Cameron. How lovely.

The sound of the door smacking against the wall attracted their attention. They stared at me.

Edward was the first to speak. "Taylor, you're here."

He approached me with a soft smile, but I ignored him.

I took out some sparkler candles and stuck them into a cake I brought.

My father knew what was coming. "How dare you—"

I lit the candles and dropped the cake at his feet.

I lit more candles and dropped them around the room.

The sounds and sparks scattered the crowd. It really looked like a circus.

I would have done more—fireworks, maybe—if it weren't for the other patients on the floor.

Somehow, the fire alarm was triggered. The sprinklers went off, and the whole ward turned into a shower room.

I could hear Cameron shrieking while Maddison called out to her mother.

I was standing right outside the area, so I wasn't drenched. The others, though, were dripping wet.

The doctor and nurses came rushing in.

The corridor was filled with concerned onlookers as Edward, Harry, and Cameron bolted out of the ward.

The doctor, learning what had happened, erupted into a lecture at them.

Indignant, Cameron pointed at me and shouted, "It was her! She's the one who did this! We should call the cops and arrest her!"

The doctor ignored her. The healthcare professionals knew the most important thing was to ensure the patient's stability.

He ordered the nurses, "We'll move her to a new room."

Maddison, drenched in her hospital uniform, was hugged by Edward for warmth. Once a new room was prepared, he carried her inside.

Cameron was still angry with me, but her concern for Maddison took priority. She entered the ward before she could start another rant.

Harry wiped the water off his face and scowled at me.

"You'll pay for this!" he snarled.

I was unfazed. The point of my visit was done. I was about to leave when I remembered the jewelry.

I went back inside.

Maddison had changed into a new set of clothes. She shot me a wary look but didn't do anything else. Maybe she was trying to put on a brave face for Edward.

Cameron came out of the bathroom and immediately raised her voice. "Why are you here again?!"

I presented the jewelry box to Maddison. "Congratulations on your last wish fulfilled. Now you can die in peace."

"You bitch!" Cameron shrieked.

Well, I was telling the truth, wasn't I? It was what Maddison had wished!

Maddison didn't explode. Instead, she looked at me tearfully. "Thank you, Tay-Tay. Thank you for letting me marry Eddy. I know you're mad at me, so I don't blame you for what happened. I'm sorry…"

She started to cry.

I smirked. "You've never been the type to be the bitch you really are in private, Maddie. I guess that little girl has grown up. Now you know you've got to put on a show in public—especially when 'Eddy' is around, huh?"

"I was just a kid back then, Tay-Tay. Sometimes, children are mean because they don't know any better.

"You're better than me at everything! And I came later—I was living like a plus-one! I was jealous and had a massive inferiority complex… I acted out of those feelings, okay?

"But I guess you wouldn't understand, would you?"

I shook my head.

God, she was so good at this! She'd been living like a precious princess since she joined our family, while I—the actual Jones heiress—was treated like a maid!

Not that I was interested in refuting her.

"Wow, so I guess all the torment and abuse I received were imaginary after all. You don't really know what it's like to live as a plus-one, girl.

"But that's okay. Instead, you're going to learn what it feels like to be dying in a few months!" I remarked.

"Taylor, that was uncalled for!" Edward chided.

"How could you say this to her?! Divine punishment might get you next, you witch!" Harry thundered.

I turned to my father. "Trust me, you don't want me to die too soon either. Because once she's outside your protection, she can't beat me. I'll make sure she suffers, even in death, if I can help it."

I watched their faces turn red with rage, but none of them could argue back.

I dropped the box on Maddison's bed. "Keep it. Your darling paid for it."

Edward froze as Maddison looked at him.

"So, when's the wedding?" I asked, feigning concern.

I thought they were only going to throw a ceremony after she was a little better.

"Well, it's… the day you and Eddy were supposed to be married," Maddison answered softly.

I frowned.

So that was the plan all along! They hadn't just robbed me of my husband, gown, and jewelry. They were going to take over my wedding too!

Cameron saw the shock on my face and beamed. "Your wedding preparations are already completed, right? You've even sent out the invitations. Canceling it would be such a waste.

"So why not use what's already prepared?"

I turned to Edward to read his face.

I had spent half a year preparing for our wedding.

The planning, the details—everything was my work. I chose our door gifts, sewed my gown, and flew abroad to buy my jewelry.

And now, all of that was going to be handed over to this pick-me bitch?!

Edward avoided my gaze. He tried to take my hand, but I slapped it away.

"I know you put your heart and soul into this wedding, Tay-Tay. That's why we shouldn't let it go to waste.

"Maddie is your sister. She's family. Is it so bad to let one of your own enjoy the fruit of your labor? I thought it's quite…" He trailed off when he saw how stormy my expression had become.

I clenched my fists to stop myself from slapping him. "So you agreed to this, then? That's it?"