Chapter 4
When I came to, I was in a hospital bed.
The person beside me wasn’t Alston-it was Mrs. Emma.
“Oh thank God,” she said, anxiety etched across her face. “I made that milk this morning, and I swear to you, I didn’t put any soybeans in it.”
closed my eyes, feeling tears leak down my temples. “I know.”
Mrs. Emma had prepared my breakfast as she did every morning. I trusted completely that she hadn’t used soybeans. Yet she believed me when I allergy, and
ushed me to the ER.
But Alston? The man who promised to love me forever had left me on the floor to die.
lla’s room was just next door.
When I got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night, I saw Alston sitting at her bedside.
le used to do that for me when I was sick. Despite being one of the busiest executives in London, he’d drop everything when I got sick. He’d camp out in my ɔom for days, making soup, gently coaxing me to take medicine…
he memories made my chest ache.
ow had that man who loved me most turned into this?
Alston,” Ella’s voice drifted through the wall. “I’m dying. Before I go, please tell me, did you ever feel anything for me? Even a little?”
Iston didn’t respond for several seconds.
ust a tiny bit would be enough, I don’t expect your whole heart. Just a crumb of real feeling would be enough for me to die in peace.”
ooking at her tear-streaked face, something seemed to break inside him. He pulled her tightly against his chest.
Of course I have feelings for you, Ella. I can’t say I love you. I have Alani already, and I won’t betray her like that.
But if Alani didn’t exist… you’d be the woman I loved most in this world.”
ly heart felt like someone had punched a hole through it.
touched my face, surprised to find it wet with tears.
d convinced myself that Alston and Ella were just physical-just for sex.
ut there was no denying what I’d seen. When she collapsed, his face had shown real fear. When she’d violated my bracelet in that disgusting way, he hadn’t ven been angry.
he scales in his heart had tipped long ago.
turned to leave when my phone buzzed with a notification.
A video from Ella-[I have got everything you had.]
pressed play. A wedding ceremony filled my screen.
I recognized it immediately-the same venue where Alston and I got married.
Not just the location-everything was identical. The flowers, the decorations, the layout. For a moment, I thought I was watching footage from my own wedding.
Ella appeared in a wedding dress.
“Ella honey, Alston told me everything-twins!” In the video, my mother-in-law clutched Ella’s hands, practically glowing with happiness.
“I’m thrilled! You’re exactly what this family needed!”
Even if you can’t legally marry him, I promise-whatever Alani gets, you’ll get too. And better!”
As she spoke, Beverly’s mother slipped off the Pearl necklace she always wore.
This necklace goes back centuries in the Wilson family. It once belonged to royalty-worn by a queen.”
There’s only one, and only passed to the true wife of the Wilson heir.”
she clasped it around Ella’s neck. “You’re the Mrs. Wilson I’ve ever wanted!”
