Chapter 3 There Was No Future for Us

Everything in the bedroom that I had loved was gone.

The blue decor had been replaced with pink. The photo of Brandon and me had disappeared from the nightstand. A woman's pajamas that didn't belong to me were draped over the couch.

My feet felt like they were made of lead. I couldn't take another step.

When Brandon heard the noise, he rushed over. "Eleanor, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

I stared blankly ahead as tears slipped down my face.

Following my gaze, he looked into the room and immediately understood.

"Eleanor, Hannah isn't well. She needs a place to recover, and our bedroom gets the most sunlight. Don't get the wrong idea. She only asked me to take our picture down because she was afraid it might fall and hit her."

A bitter smile crossed my face. "Really? Then, you'd better take good care of her."

I pulled my hand free, walked into the guest room, and locked the door behind me. I leaned against it and began to sob uncontrollably.

Brandon kept knocking, calling my name over and over. Then, Hannah called for him, and the knocking stopped.

…

That night, Hannah knocked on my door.

The moment I opened it, she looked around my room with a smug smile. "This room really isn't as nice as the other one."

"What do you want? You're not welcome here." My voice was icy.

"Eleanor, how did it feel watching the man you love fuss over another woman?"

The color drained from my face.

She leaned close enough to whisper in my ear. "I arranged for the people at the proposal to be there. The bullet never hit me. All it did was hit the blood pack I prepared. If it weren't for you, I'd already be Brandon's real girlfriend."

Her eyes filled with venom. "You should've made yourself scarce."

I was still reeling from her cruelty when she suddenly grabbed my hand and shoved herself backward with all her strength. She tumbled down the staircase beside my door.

"Hannah!" I reached out to catch her, but my ankle twisted. So, I crashed onto the floor.

Brandon came running. The panic on his face when he saw Hannah lying there looked exactly like the expression he used to wear as a boy whenever I scraped my knee.

However, he only glanced at me despite the fact that I was prone on the floor before his eyes turned cold. "Eleanor, you shouldn't have done this. She only came to apologize to you."

Then, he scooped Hannah into his arms and left.

I sat on the cold floor for a long time. By then, my right ankle had swollen badly. I refused the maid's help and limped back to my room, gritting my teeth as I weathered the pain.

The moment I sat on the bed, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Brandon.

"Hannah's wound opened up again. I'll be staying at the hospital to take care of her for the next few days. You should make some time to apologize to her."

I gripped my phone so tightly my fingers hurt. My heart clenched over and over until the pain became unbearable.

'Brandon, we are never going to make it to the altar.'

I never replied. I cried myself to sleep, still dressed in the same clothes.

…

Early the next morning, Brandon yanked me out of bed. "Come with me and apologize to Hannah. She cried all night and has been blaming herself."

I stumbled and answered coldly, "I'm not going."

Only then did Brandon notice my swollen ankle. "What happened to your foot?"

The irritation on his face gave way to a flicker of concern.

"That's none of your business. Go take care of your dear Hannah."

My refusal made him lose his temper.

"Eleanor, Hannah got hurt because of you. She's been worried this whole time about coming between us. If it weren't for you, I would've been with her already to make up for everything I owe her. Isn't that enough for you?"

The moment the words left his mouth, I stared at the man I'd grown up with. I refused to let my tears fall.

Brandon seemed to realize what he had just said. "Eleanor… you've been throwing too many childish tantrums lately. Think about what you've done. We'll talk when you've calmed down."

Then, he turned and hurried out.

I covered my face as tears streamed through my fingers. 'Brandon, we have no future, not anymore.'