Chapter 5

Bethany had not texted Hudson for several days, and it made him uneasy.

He asked, “Bethany, I’ve started planning the wedding. How are things on your side?”

Hudson felt nervous. He was afraid that she would say she had changed her mind and that she was not going to marry him.

Bethany took a deep breath and forced herself to sound as normal as possible.

She sniffled lightly and said, “I’m almost done here. I just need to wrap up a few things with work before heading back. Thanks for taking care of the wedding plans.”

Hudson let out a quiet sigh of relief. Still, he could tell something was off.

“Your voice sounds hoarse. Are you feeling okay? It’s been getting cold in Sea City lately. Wear a few more layers when you go out. You’ve always been a bit weak since you were young.”

His gentle voice filled Bethany’s heart with warmth.

“If anything comes up, call me right away. You don’t have to deal with everything alone. You have me now. I won’t let you suffer anymore.”

Bethany said softly, “I’ll take care of myself. Don’t worry.”

After hanging up, she looked out the window. The dark clouds had cleared, and the sky was bright again. Her mood felt better, too.

Shane drove Yelena home. The whole way, he had a bad feeling that something was about to happen.

He said somberly, “Yelena, you can’t keep doing this. No matter what, Bethany’s your future sister-in-law.”

The moment Yelena heard “future sister-in-law,” tears streamed down her face.

She looked at Shane and asked in a shaky voice, “Shane, do I even matter to you?”

Shane could not stand seeing her cry. His heart softened right away. “That’s not what I meant. She’s been with me for six years. If I don’t side with her, people will talk.”

Yelena stopped crying and smiled. She held onto Shane’s arm intimately. “You want to marry her just to stop the gossip? I’m still the one who matters most to you? I’ll always come before her, right?”

Shane distractedly answered in the affirmative, but he felt uneasy.

Maybe he had chosen Bethany out of impulse at first, but over the years, he had seen her sincerity.

He knew she was the right person for him.

In love, she gave him everything without holding back. At work, she could give him all the support he needed.

When she had brought up marriage, he agreed.

But every time Yelena cried, he could not help but give in. They had grown up together, and he could not stand seeing her sad.

He always thought Bethany was stronger, so he chose to comfort Yelena instead.

He kept telling himself that once Yelena got better, he could finally settle down with Bethany.

As time went by, he forgot something. His favoritism toward Yelena was hurting Bethany.

But he was sure that Bethany would never leave him. People who were loved always thought they would never lose it.