Chapter 04

Bella's POV

"Ruby, what happened? Wake up!"

Logan pulled her into his arms. Her head fell back against his shoulder. Her eyes stayed closed.

Danny found a folded paper in her hand. He opened it, and his face went white.

"Dad, she tried to kill herself!"

Logan grabbed the note and read it out loud, his voice shaking.

"Logan, I wanted to marry you. But Bella is back. It's time for me to go."

The room went silent.

Then Sophia burst into tears. "Aunt Ruby, why did you do this? Why?"

"Ruby, hold on." Logan lifted her off the floor. "I'll take you to the hospital right now. Come on. Stay with me."

He rushed past me. The kids ran after him, crying.

A thin red line ran across Ruby's wrist as Logan carried her out. It didn't drip. It didn't smear on his shirt. It just sat there, bright and neat.

A little red dot was left on the carpet where she had been lying. I bent down and touched it. It was dry and smelled sharp.

Paint.

Such a cheap trick. And she didn't even have the guts to make it look real.

**********

The next morning, my family came home in a very good mood.

Danny walked into the kitchen holding a plate with a small chocolate cake on it. Frosting was all over his fingers.

"Mom, you've been through a lot in the past five years. I made this cake for you. Have a taste."

Before I could say anything, Logan set a velvet box on the table and opened it. A yellow diamond sparkled inside.

"You love diamonds, right? This one is worth a cool million."

Then Sophia came close with a small tube of cream. She looked at my bandaged wrists.

"Does it still hurt, Mom? Put this on. It won't leave a scar."

Three gifts. Three smiles. Not one of them reached their eyes.

"What do you want?" I asked.

They looked at each other. Danny cleared his throat.

"Mom, we don't know when Ruby started having feelings for Dad. But she's kind. She didn't want to steal him from you, so she did something stupid."

"Dad and us talked it over," Sophia said quickly. "We came up with a solution that works for everyone."

"Which is?"

Logan took my hand. "Ruby and I are going to have a fake wedding. It's just a show, so she can let it go and move on with her life." He squeezed my fingers. "Bella, you've got to believe me. You are the only one in my heart."

I pulled my hand back slowly.

"Mom, we're both women," Sophia said. "You should understand how she feels. Besides, she raised us. She taught us everything."

"Yeah, Mom, it's just an act," Danny added. "We only want to make her dream come true. You always say a mother's love is selfless, right? Can't you do this one thing for her?"

They all waited for me to scream. To cry. To throw the cake at the wall.

"Sure," I said. "I agree."

Logan's shoulders dropped with relief. "Thank you, Bella. I knew you'd understand."

"You're so considerate, Mom," Sophia said. "Thanks."

Danny gave me a thumbs-up. "Good work."

Good work. Like I was a dog who finally did a trick.

***********

That evening, Ruby came home from the hospital. She sat on the living room sofa in a soft white sweater, looking weak and sweet, like an angel who had suffered.

Danny knelt in front of her and held out a wooden box.

"Mother, I made this music box for you. Look." He lifted the lid. A tiny bride and groom spun around in a circle while a soft song played. "The little figures are you and Dad. I hope your love lasts forever, just like the music."

"Oh, Danny." Ruby pressed a hand to her heart.

"And I picked out your dress!" Sophia jumped beside her. "I told the designer to sew in ten thousand sapphires. You're going to be the most beautiful bride ever, Mother."

Logan sat down next to Ruby. "You always wanted a castle wedding, right? I booked the place. The day after tomorrow, you'll be my bride."

Ruby's eyes filled with tears. "You shouldn't have gone to all this trouble. I know it's only for show."

"Who cares if it's for show?" Danny said. "For me, you've been my mother for a long time."

I stood by the stairs and watched.

A music box. A custom gown. A castle wedding.

When Logan and I got married, we didn't even have a ceremony. We signed papers at city hall on a rainy Tuesday and ate burgers in his car. I told him it didn't matter. I told him love was enough.

Ruby looked up and found me. She wiped her eyes gently.

"Bella, I know it's a fake wedding. But I was still hoping for a perfect night." She bit her lip. "Would you let Logan and me have a wedding night?"

The room went quiet. Logan turned to look at me, ready for me to explode.

"As long as you're happy," I said.

Logan stared at me. His mouth opened, then closed. A deep line formed between his brows, like he was trying to solve a puzzle.

"No," he muttered under his breath. "I'm just overthinking this."

"Dad, come on, be a gentleman!" Danny laughed. "Carry Mother upstairs!"

"Get a room! Get a room!" Sophia sang, clapping her hands.

Logan hesitated for one second. Then he smiled. "All right."

He picked Ruby up in his arms and carried her up the stairs. The kids followed, giggling.

I went to my room and pulled an old box from under the bed. Inside were my wedding photos. Love letters Logan wrote me in college. Drawings the kids made for every Mother's Day. A pair of my first ballet shoes.

I carried the box outside and dropped everything into the trash bin by the gate.

They had been with me my whole youth. Now, I could finally let them go.

**********

The next night, Logan knocked on my door.

"Bella, about yesterday. That was just to keep Ruby calm." He stepped inside. "Don't worry. Even if we're in the same room, nothing's going to happen. You're the only one in my heart."

I kept folding clothes on the bed. "Is this all you want to talk about?"

"No." He rubbed the back of his neck. "You and Ruby are best friends. She wants you to be her bridesmaid tomorrow night."

I stopped folding.

"I want you there too," he said. "I'll only have peace of mind if you're there."

Tomorrow night.

The wedding. And the day Evelyn would come for me.

I looked up at the husband I once loved more than my own life.

"Fine," I said. "I'll be there."