Our Vows Were Fake, Theirs Were Real

Chapter 2

My heart sank, disappointment tightening its grip until it turned into a dull, numbing ache. Timothy stood frozen, glancing uneasily at Mia.

"I only found out a few days ago," he started, voice low. "When Mia left, she was pregnant. She didn't want to force me to choose between her and my family. She lost the baby… and she's been through a lot these past few years."

He looked back at Mia with guilt and pity clouding his eyes. "Now she doesn't have much time left. Her last wish is to have a real home, even if it's just for a little while."

He added quietly, "You lost your parents young, you know what that kind of pain feels like."

My chest tightened.

So just because I loved him, I deserved to be betrayed? Because Mia's dying, I'm supposed to step aside and give up the man I gave ten years of my life to?

It felt like I was sinking into an icy ocean, every breath colder than the last, the weight pressing down on me so hard I wanted to curl up and disappear.

I looked at Timothy, voice trembling with fury. "Did it ever occur to you how it looked when I was left standing at the altar, alone? Did you ever stop to think about what that made me? What people would say? What my grandfather would feel?"

Timothy flinched, then asked in a panic, "Your grandpa… is he angry? Evie, just talk to him for me, okay? I'll go apologize in person."

I stared at him, blinking back the sting in my eyes.

"You won't get the chance."

I turned and walked toward the bedroom to start packing. Before I could reach the door, Mia, who'd been silent all this time, stepped forward and grabbed my sleeve.

"Evie, I never wanted to come between you two," she said softly, her voice full of sorrow. "It's just… I'm dying. I don't want to leave this world with regrets. I love Timothy. I just want to spend the little time I have left with him."

She looked up at me, pale and trembling, but in her eyes was something else, something that wasn't sorrow. It was pride. Victory.

"I'm sorry, Evie. Please… don't be mad at Timothy. This isn't his fault."

I yanked my arm free.

"Mia, you don't need to play the victim with me. I'm not the one who made you sick. I'm not your mother. I don't owe you anything."

I stared her down. "Don't even try to guilt-trip me. That act might work on Timothy, but not on me."

Tears welled up in her eyes. She looked away, her voice low, like a secret meant only for me. "Evie, are you blaming me? How could you say that to me? Didn't you use your grandfather to guilt Timothy into marrying you? So who's really playing the victim here?"

She leaned in slightly, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "Why are you pretending to be noble now?"

My blood went cold.

You can insult me all you want. But don't you dare speak a word about my grandfather.

Smack!

Before I even realized it, my hand connected with her face. The sound echoed through the room.

Timothy rushed forward, stepping between us and shoving me back.

"Evie Joe, what the hell is wrong with you?!"