Chapter 4

When I woke up again, I was in the hospital.

Outside the door, my parents' voices carried in clearly.

Mom sighed.

"That night three years ago, I saw Gertie sitting in the kitchen with a knife, and it scared the life out of me."

"She hated Livvy so much back then—how could we dare keep Livvy at home? All we could do was send Livvy abroad to study first."

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling.

So the whole cutting-ties thing had just been an act put on for me.

Mom went on:

"I thought after three years Gertie would be better. Who knew she'd still try to hurt Livvy yesterday, in front of all those people?"

"Livvy's about to marry Daniel, and she's pregnant, so of course she has to stay with us."

Dad was silent for a moment.

"Then the only thing left is to send Gertie away."

"But she'd be all alone. I can't be easy about that."

Mom hesitated.

But Dad said:

"Then let her marry that man. That way someone will look after her for the rest of her life."

My fingertips went ice-cold in an instant.

"Back then he was fooled too—Livvy used Gertie's photos, so he thought Gertie was his girlfriend all along. That's why things blew up the way they did."

"When you get down to it, you can't put all the blame on him."

And Mom actually murmured her agreement.

It was as if every ounce of strength had been drained out of me, my fingertips digging hard into my palms.

That evening, the nurse said someone had come to see me.

Daniel walked into the room, his expression cold.

"I hear your uncle and aunt are planning to marry you off to that guy. My advice is, be good and agree to it! Get married, and soon!"

He looked at me and said, word by word:

"That way you'll settle down from now on, stay away from Livvy, and stop clinging to us."

I said nothing the whole time, but my silence seemed to enrage him.

"Gertrude, how long are you going to keep making trouble?"

"Livvy's about to be my wife, and she's carrying my child."

"Are you going to go on with your depression and your suicide threats, and only stop once you've ruined everyone's happiness?!"

Before he left, he threw out one cold line.

"No matter how much trouble you cause, I'm still going to marry her."

"Gertrude, I'm begging you—if you don't want to live, then go die. Just let us go, okay?!"

I watched his retreating back and said softly:

"All right."

He seemed to hear it, but his steps didn't slow.

When my parents came again that evening, I had already changed my clothes and combed my hair.

I was sitting at the edge of the bed, glowing, all smiles.

My mother took my hand, surprised and delighted.

"Gertie, are you... are you really all better?"

I nodded gently. "I'm better."

Right then, my sister came in with that man.

He was holding flowers, and my sister was smiling, her face full of expectation.

"Sis, he wants to propose to you."

"Daniel and I have set our wedding date too. Why don't we get married on the same day?"

My parents watched me nervously.

Mom was about to talk me out of it, but I was already smiling as I spoke.

"Sure."

Everyone froze.

I said it again.

"I'll marry him."

Mom's eyes reddened at once.

"That's wonderful."

"From now on, our whole family can start over."

On the wedding day, the two hotels were only a street apart.

My sister stood beside Daniel in her wedding gown, my parents beside her, every face full of smiles.

And looking at them, I found my heart didn't hurt at all anymore.

When it was my turn to leave, my father placed my hand in that man's.

Behind him trailed a group of leering groomsmen.

My mother adjusted my veil, and at last a flicker of reluctance passed through her eyes.

"Gertie, have a good life from now on."

But I suddenly turned back and took one last look at them.

"Dad, Mom, goodbye."

For some reason, Daniel's chest went suddenly tight.

He watched as that group led me away, and more than once he couldn't help turning to look, instinctively wanting to ask my sister:

"That man... is he really dependable?"

But the next second, he tugged the corner of his mouth in a self-mocking twist.

Why should he care what I did? Whether Gertrude had a good life or not, she'd brought it on herself.

The wedding went on, and the officiant had them exchange rings.

Daniel had just picked up the ring that had once been part of my dreams—

when a huge crash came from across the way.

Screams broke out downstairs.

"Something's happened!"

"The bride at the hotel across the street jumped!"