Chapter 3 I stayed in the hospital longer than I thought I would-partly because of the pain in my fractured ankle, but mostly because no one came to get me. No one, except Scott. Scott, who used to be my friend in college. Who once confessed his feelings, and whom I turned down gently-because I had already given my heart to someone else. To Troy. And now, he was the one holding my hand as I healed. He brought me food I could actually eat. Sat beside me as I cried without questions. He never asked for more than I could give. The day I was about to be discharged, he wheeled me out into the sunlit garden behind the hospital. We sat in silence, the hum of wind and rustling leaves filling the space between us. "I meant what I said," Scott finally said, looking at me carefully. "You don't have to stay in that house. If you want to leave with me… I'll make sure you're okay." I stared at my hands. They were thinner than before. Trembling slightly. So many decisions, and all of them had brought me here-empty, discarded, grieving alone. "Give me five days," I whispered. "I need to settle some things. But after that… I'll His smile was small, sad. "I'll be waiting." go with you." When I got home, it was already past noon. The sun was too bright, the world too cheerful for the kind of storm brewing in my chest. I clutched the cane the hospital gave me, limping toward the front door. Each step was a gamble. Choosing Scott, a man I once rejected, felt uncertain… but it was better than living in a house where I was invisible. I opened the door. Laughter. I froze. Inside the living room, I saw them-Troy, Travis, Van, and Vanessa. Sitting comfortably, drinks in hand. Vanessa's head resting on Troy's shoulder. My husband. My sister. My brothers. They looked up at once. Their smiles disappeared. Like they'd seen a ghost. 'Oh," Troy said, blinking. "Sorry. I forgot you were coming home today. How are you?" Forgot? I want to laugh at them. They never visited me! Before I could speak, Vanessa was already standing, rushing toward me with a bright smile. 'Sister! I missed you. I'm so sorry we didn't visit. I've just been so sick, but I'm better now. What about you? Feeling okay?" stepped back, disgust crawling down my spine. 'I'm not okay," I said sharply, voice cold. Her smile faltered. She blinked, then reached for me again. "Taylor-" pushed her away. "Don't touch me." 'Hey!" Van snapped, rising from the couch. "Why would you push her? You know she's sensitive right now." My Husband Faked Our Wedding 2:54 pm Travis followed. "She's been through so much. You can't act like this." "What about me?" I said, my voice rising. "I was in the hospital. I got hit by a truck." Troy rolled his eyes. "Because you were being stupid. Running in the middle of the road. But Vanessa-she has cancer, Taylor. She's fragile." "She's also my sister," Vanessa added sweetly, eyes glassy. "Please don't fight with me. We're both sick… we should be helping each other, not-" I shook my head. "I'm hurt too. But you never came. None of you did. I even lost my baby…: Suddenly, Vanessa clutched her stomach and stumbled slightly. "Oh no," Van gasped. "She's vomiting again." They rushed to her side instantly-Troy lifting her carefully, Travis getting a towel, Van patting her back. I stood there. Alone. Again. They didn't even hear what I said. I thought of shouting at them, making them hear me, but I was so done. How could I put myself in a place that no one wants me? I turned and walked slowly to our bedroom. But when I opened the door, my breath caught. Everything was gone. My clothes, my photos, even the small trinkets I had placed on the nightstand. It was all replaced with Vanessa's. Her perfume. Her makeup. Her dress hanging near the mirror. I backed away, the cane nearly slipping from my fingers, and when I turned around-there she was. Vanessa. Smirking. She didn't even bother to hide her true nature anymore. Not even the fake sweetness she once wore like perfume. "You know," she added, tilting her head slightly, "I used to be nice. I really did. But being nice never got me anything. You took everything while I was gone-my place, my man, even my brothers' affection. Now, I'm just doing what I should've done five years ago. Taking back what's mine." Her smile was laced with venom. "But don't worry," she said with a mock-pitying glance, "I'll give you a few days to figure out where you'll go. I wouldn't want you to end up in the streets. That would be bad for our image." I stared at her. "Are you really sick?" Her eyes narrowed. "Of course I am." But I remembered. How Vanessa used to fake fainting spells for attention. How she manipulated our parents with imaginary headaches and tears to get out of chores. "You're accusing me of faking?" she said louder now, almost as if she wanted the others to hear. I said nothing. But it didn't matter. Travis and Van came running. 254 pm 2 DDD "She's doing it again, Vanessa cried. "Accusing me. She thinks I'm faking my cancer." "You really are the bitch in this family, Van snapped. "No wonder no one liked you growing up." Travis stormed forward. He ripped the necklace from around my neck-the one he gave me when we were teens. A promise that no matter what, he'd always be on my side. "You don't deserve to wear this anymore." I stood there, silent. Numb. They left the room one by one. And I sat on the floor, clutching my side from the pain of standing too long. But I stayed quiet. Because in days, I'd be gone… and they would surely regret it.