Chapter 6

Edward's face darkened, his expression contorting into a death glare. "If anything happens to her, Taylor, you'll pay for this!"

He took her in his arms and left.

I stood there, stunned.

He had sworn to love me forever back then—the same man who had bared his fangs at me because of Maddison.

The irony was agonizing.

When did it happen? When had he started falling for her? Why hadn't I noticed?

Pain gripped me. It wasn't until Cherry came into my room and asked if I was okay that I finally snapped out of it.

I should not be feeling hurt over a bastard who didn't care about me!

I returned to work.

-

By noon, my phone rang.

Seeing it was from Cameron, I ended the call without picking it up.

A while later, it rang again. This time, it was from my father.

I started to wonder if Maddison had finally died. Hesitating for a moment, I answered.

Unfortunately, the first thing I heard was my father's verbal abuse at a volume that could have made my ears bleed.

"Taylor Jones, you heartless witch! You hit her knowing she's frail and sick! You even shoved her to the ground!" he snarled.

I set my phone aside and let him rant.

When he was finally done, I picked it up and replied, "I have a surveillance camera in my office. You could have just asked for the truth."

Not that it would change anything. They'd find a way to blame me anyway.

As expected, my father roared, "The hell with your 'truth!' The real issue is how ruthless and heartless you've been despite your sister's condition!

"You can't even show a human's worth of sympathy and empathy! You just can't let her have anything good, can you?!"

I didn't try to argue. It would be a waste of time.

My silence seemed to cool some of his rage. He stopped for a moment and finally lowered his voice. "Maddison wants you to be her wedding witness. You're free that day, so just help her out."

"If you're not worried I'll ruin everything, sure."

He fell silent, then suddenly said, "If you go and be her wedding witness—no sabotaging, no scheming—then I'll give you the shares to the company that should have belonged to your mother."

I was shocked. I had worked for years to secure those shares and never succeeded in getting even 1/10 of them.

And now he was willing to give all of them to me?

"I want half of them under my name now," I said.

I had to make sure he didn't pull anything funny after I fulfilled my end of the bargain.

"Once the wedding is over, you can transfer the other half," I added.

He hesitated for a moment.

"Fine, damn it!" he growled, gritting his teeth. "Greedy as always, just like that mother of yours."

"Better than being a disloyal, cruel man like you," I retorted.

-

That fall had worsened Maddison's condition. She could barely walk until the day of her wedding.

The gown had been tailored for me. On a frail, thin girl like Maddison, it looked far too loose.

Cameron stared at the result in contempt. "You keep boasting about how many international awards you've won, and yet you can't even make a dress that fits her!"

"That's because it fits me, genius. What's a thief doing complaining about the stuff they stole not fitting them?" I shot back.

"Why you—"

"Enough, Mom," Maddison said weakly, tugging at her arm. "Don't blame her. It's better to have it loose. Easier to get out of it."

She grinned sweetly at me. "Thank you, Taylor, for helping me make my dream come true."

I wanted to gag right in her face. I really wanted to leave the room.

Unfortunately, as I made my way out, Edward walked in, dressed in his tailor-made suit.

He looked so handsome, exuding an air of royalty. The crowd couldn't help but stare at him.

I had designed that suit for our day. Seeing him wear it now felt like a slap in the face.

"Taylor," he said softly.

I ignored him, rolled my eyes, and turned to leave.

But then I heard my father. "Where do you think you're going? The wedding's about to start. Your sister's too weak to walk on her own. Help her out!"

I turned around in disbelief. "I'm supposed to help her walk?!"

"You're the witness and her sister! What's wrong with that?" Cameron retorted.

I was enraged.

Before I could respond, though, Edward chimed in, "Taylor, you shoved her to the floor and made her condition worse. The bridal gown is beautiful, but it's heavy for her. It's—"

I couldn't bear to hear him finish.

I stormed back into the room toward her.

Maddison raised her arm like a queen, as though I were her servant.

When I caught her arm, she grinned. "Thank you!"

That smile was a gloat. But fine. I could almost imagine the Grim Reaper grinning beside her, too. I'd treat this as a good deed I was doing to please God.

The wedding began. "Here Comes the Bride" echoed through the gilded hall.

The church door opened slowly and ceremoniously. The spotlight pooled on the bride's silhouette.

It illuminated Maddison and me.

I gritted my teeth as the pain in my chest grew. I could hear the crowd whisper.

"Wait, what's going on? Isn't the bride supposed to be Taylor Jones? Why is Maddison the one in it?"

"Did they confuse who the bride should be?"

"The bride's become the bridesmaid! Is this a prank?!"

I forced myself to weather the humiliation and led Maddison to the stage.

Edward stood tall and dignified. His face showed emotion, and for a moment, I thought I saw tears in his eyes—but he wasn't looking at me.

He was gazing at Maddison with rapt attention. Those tears weren't for me.

A sharp stab of pain pierced my chest, spreading through my body. I couldn't believe this was the man I had loved for eight years!

He said he was doing this to fulfill Maddison's wish. So why did it seem like the one he really wanted to marry—the one he truly loved—was Maddison all along?!

I didn't even notice my eyes watering. I just knew the world suddenly blurred when I instinctively passed Maddison to Edward.

He gently took her arm and placed his hand on her waist. They gazed deeply into each other's eyes as they ascended the stairs.

I returned to my seat in the front row.

I thought my heart had grown cold and numbed by the drama. I thought I could watch this like it was a circus. But I failed. I was in pain.

Suddenly, a lean, refined hand stretched toward me, holding a handkerchief.

I didn't turn to look. I took the handkerchief and croaked, "Thanks."

"You're welcome," a low, cool voice replied.

It pierced through the hubbub around us. "That man has no idea how rotten his luck is to have given you up."