Chapter 13 Vanessa sat on the velvet couch in the center of the living room, arms crossed and lips tightly pursed. Her fingers drummed against her thigh while her gaze darted between her untouched phone screen and the clock ticking mockingly above the fireplace. It was already past 3 p.m. The food tasting had been scheduled at noon. He didn't show up. Again. When the front door finally creaked open, Vanessa stood immediately. Her heels clicked sharply against the tiles as she stormed to meet Troy, who looked like he had just come out of a ten-hour meeting-tie loosened, coat slung over one shoulder, face tired. "Troy," she said through clenched teeth, "you forgot." Troy blinked at her, confused. "Forgot what?" Vanessa scoffed, throwing her arms up. "The food tasting! The one I scheduled a week ago? You promised you'd be there." "Vanessa, I had meetings. The launch date got moved-everything's a mess right now.' "You always have an excuse," she snapped. "If it's not a meeting, it's a client call. Am I not a priority anymore?" Troy sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, but I've been thinking… with how hectic everything's been, maybe we need to postpone the wedding. Just for a little while. Until I can focus on it properly." Vanessa went still. "Postpone?" she echoed, voice icy. "It's just-there's too much going on. I want the day to be special. Not rushed." Her eyes narrowed, voice dangerously low. "Is this really about work? Or is this about Taylor?" Troy stiffened. "What? No. Don't be ridiculous." 'Then look me in the eye and tell me she hasn't crossed your mind even once." Troy didn't answer right away. And that was enough. Vanessa's chest heaved as she took a shaky step back. "I knew it," she muttered, voice cracking. 'You're still thinking about her." 'Vanessa-" 'I gave up everything for this," she hissed. "You think I came back here to play second choice?" Troy didn't know what to say. His silence only fanned the flames inside her. So, she did what she always did best-she played her trump card. Her eyes rolled back slightly. Her face turned pale. She pressed a hand to her forehead and swayed dramatically. "Vanessa?" Troy stepped forward. "I-I feel sick-" she whispered, before collapsing into his arms. "Vanessa!" he shouted, lowering her gently to the floor. "Travis! Van!" Within seconds, her brothers came rushing down. "What happened?" Travis asked, crouching beside her. "She fainted," Troy said. "She said she was feeling sick." "She's burning up," Van said, touching her clammy skin. "We need to get her to the hospital. Now." Vanessa stirred just enough to whisper weakly, "I don't want to die…" Troy carried her to the car himself, panic settling into his chest. Despite everything, despite all the doubt, the thought of her dying terrified him. She was sick. Fragile. And she needed him. When they reached the hospital, Vanessa was immediately taken in. Just like she had planned, the doctor she had paid off delivered his rehearsed diagnosis. "She's under immense stress," the doctor told them solemnly. "Her condition has worsened. I this continues, her immune system will fail. We might be looking at a fatal turn if she isn't stabilized." Troy's face went pale. Van and Travis exchanged worried glances before standing closer to he bed. Vanessa opened her eyes slowly, fake tears glistening. 'I-I didn't want to say anything," she whispered. "But I haven't been feeling well lately. I didn' want to ruin the wedding preparations. I wanted everything to be perfect." 'You're so selfless," Van murmured, brushing hair from her forehead. 'You should've told us sooner," Travis said. "We wouldn't have let you plan anything." 'I just wanted to be a bride… before I…" She broke off in a sob. 'Don't say that," Troy said, squeezing her hand. "You're not going anywhere." Vanessa sniffled. "Promise me… promise me you won't cancel the wedding. It's the only thing