Chapter 2

Despair came over me like a tide and swallowed everything.

Theo panicked and called every Whitcomb number he had, but each one ended in voicemail or a dead tone.

His eyes were red when he handed the phone back to me. "Ms. Whitcomb, is there anyone else I can call?"

I opened the group chat and saw the notice. I'd been removed. Whatever strength I had left went out of me.

The last message before they cut me out was a family photo from Jocelyn. She was leaning into Miles Corwin with their fingers laced together, both of them smiling like they belonged to each other.

The picture made my eyes ache, and every breath tasted like blood.

As my mind blurred, I saw the little house we lived in when I was a child, full of laughter again.

I was fourteen, riding on twenty-year-old Marcus's back while he ran from room to room.

Mom laughed. "Slow down. Your sister isn't a little girl anymore."

Marcus grinned. "She'll always be my baby sister."

Spencer Whitcomb had a paintbrush between his teeth and a smile for me. "One day I'm going to design you the most beautiful wedding dress in the world."

Nathaniel waved his medical school acceptance letter. "I became a doctor for you. I'll make sure you grow old and healthy."

Miles stood off to the side holding my backpack and scratched the back of his head. "Your brothers are giving you everything. So I'll just be the one who's good to you for the rest of your life."

The memory vanished, and I was standing inside the Whitcomb house the way it looked now.

Marcus stared at me, stern. "You're impossible. Jocelyn's been doing your job as a daughter and a sister. You owe her."

Spencer didn't bother hiding his impatience. "I was designing Jocelyn's bridesmaid dress. I didn't have time for your gown. Don't be so selfish. You owe her."

Nathaniel looked at me without any warmth at all. "Jocelyn doesn't have anyone but us. She asked for that heart, so there was no reason to say no. You owe her."

They closed in around me.

Their voices wouldn't stop.

"You owe her."

"You owe her."

Over and over.

"Stop it. Please, stop."

I covered my ears and screamed until my throat tore.

On the last cry, my eyes flew open.

I was back in my hospital bed with Theo sitting beside me.

Daylight filled the window.

My voice came out raw. "What time is it?"

"A little after noon."

My stomach dropped.

My wedding to Miles was set for noon, and Nathaniel had promised to come get me.

He never came.

Marrying Miles had been the biggest dream I had. Even if nothing came after it, I couldn't stand to lose the ceremony too.

I forced myself upright over Theo's objections, got my feet into my shoes, and limped out of the room while pain burned through my ankle.

Half an hour later, I reached the Glassgarden Hotel.

The moment I walked into the ballroom, I saw Miles on one knee, sliding my wedding ring onto Jocelyn's finger while she stood in front of him in a bridal gown.

I knew Spencer's work the instant I saw it. The layered lace, the fine embroidery, every intricate detail he'd once promised to make for me.

He hadn't been short on time to design a wedding dress. I'd just never been the bride it was meant for.

"Jocelyn, I love you."

Miles said it loud enough for the whole room, and pain drove through my chest as blood came up out of my mouth.

My brothers saw me and came straight over.

Before I could get a word out, Marcus slapped me across the face.

"That's enough. Where'd you learn to bite a blood capsule and pull a stunt like this? Nathaniel said you wouldn't come because we threw Jocelyn a birthday party. So why are you here now? What is it you actually want?"