Chapter 1

The night before my wedding, I came across a post on Grace Miller's social media: [After William passed, his brother moved me into their new home to wait for the baby. It turns out someone is still waiting for this little one.]

In the photo, she sat on the sofa, one hand resting on her baby bump, her eyes red-rimmed. The background was blurred, but I recognized it instantly. It was Edward Lane's and my new house.

The half-frame wedding photo on the wall was one Edward and I had hung last month.

The comments section was buzzing with well-wishes.

[That's what family means. The brother passed, but the younger brother is still watching over his wife and child.]

[The younger brother is so responsible. The baby will be so loved when it arrives.]

[Some bonds run deeper than romance. He's honoring his late brother's wishes.]

I stared at those words for a long time, my thumb pressed against the screen, zooming in until only Grace's cream-colored loungewear was visible.

That outfit was mine. I'd hung it in the master bedroom closet of our new home.

After the ceremony the next day, I'd planned to change out of my wedding gown and wear it back to the new house with Edward.

My phone buzzed. It was a message from Edward: [Grace isn't feeling well tonight. I won't be coming over.

[For the wedding tomorrow, could you let your parents know for me?]

*****

I sat on the edge of the bed in the hotel suite, my wedding dress for tomorrow laid out beside me. The white veil spread across the bed, and the light fell on it like a quiet layer of snow.

Before the makeup artist left this afternoon, she smiled and said, "Ms. Reed, you're going to look absolutely stunning tomorrow."

I nodded, looking at myself in the mirror. Edward and I had been together for seven years, and finally, we were about to have a home of our own.

However, in the home that was supposed to be ours, another woman was sitting there.

She was wearing my clothes, lounging against the pillows I'd picked out, right beneath our wedding photo, broadcasting to everyone online that she finally had somewhere to wait for her baby.

I called Edward.

He didn't pick up the first time.

The second time, I heard water running and soft sobbing in the background, as if someone had just finished crying.

"Olivia," Edward said, his voice low. "You're still up?"

I asked, "Is Grace in our new house?"

There was a brief silence on the other end.

"She got back from the hospital today and said the hallway outside her apartment was really dark, and she felt scared being there alone.

"I thought it'd be for tonight, and we could sort it out after the wedding tomorrow."

"She posted something online."

His breath caught for a second.

I continued, "She said you brought her into our new house to wait for the baby."

"She's been really emotional lately because of the pregnancy. Maybe she needed somewhere to vent," Edward said, rubbing his forehead, sounding exhausted. "I'll have her delete it later."

I stared at the post, watching the likes keep piling up, and suddenly it all felt so absurd. "That was supposed to be our home."

"I know," Edward said, his voice softening. "Olivia, I know you feel wronged. But she's carrying my brother's child. I can't let her be out there alone and risk something happening to her."

"You could rent her a place, hire a caregiver, or have the Lane family arrange for someone to look after her," I said. "But why does she have to stay in the house that was meant for us?"

From Edward's end, a soft female voice spoke up, "Edward, don't fight with Olivia. I'll leave right now."

Then I heard slippers dragging across the floor.

Edward quickly moved the phone away, his voice sharper. "Sit down. Don't move around."

I gripped my phone, listening to how he instinctively tried to comfort her.

After a while, he spoke to me again, "Olivia, she said her belly feels tight again. The doctor said she really can't handle any stress right now."

I looked down at the hem of my wedding dress, where my mom had pinned a tiny pearl this afternoon. "So what?"

Edward was quiet for a moment. "Let's get through the wedding tomorrow, and I'll handle everything else. Don't let a single post mess with your mood."

I let out a bitter laugh.

Messing with my mood? Seeing another woman sitting in my wedding house, claiming it as hers and her baby's place, only counted as a mood swing.

I asked, "Are you coming to the hotel tonight?"

He paused for a moment before replying, "Grace is here all by herself, and I'm worried she might have another rough night.

"Just get some sleep, okay? I'll come straight to the hotel first thing in the morning."

I heard myself ask softly, "Edward, tomorrow's our wedding."

"Of course I know." His voice finally sounded urgent. "Olivia, you know how much I've been looking forward to this day, don't you?

"I can't leave tonight. Grace is carrying my brother's only child, and you know what he was like to me when he was alive."

Of course I knew.

The day William Lane died, Edward spent the whole night in the hospital corridor, his knuckles bloodied from clenching his fists.

Edward and his elder brother shared a deep bond.

William once took the fall for Edward's investment scandal and later took all the pressure from their parents onto himself. Edward always felt like he owed William a debt he could never repay.

When Grace got pregnant, Edward said he wanted to take care of her, and I never stood in his way.

I went with him to the hospital.

I bought Grace a pregnancy pillow.

I helped her book a nutritionist.

Even when she was scared for her first prenatal checkup, I took half a day off to stand in line with her.

Back then, I thought taking care of William's widow was something we could do together, something good.

But I never thought my kindness would be the very reason she got to move into the home that was meant for us.

"Don't be late tomorrow," I said.

Edward let out a sigh of relief, as if he thought I was finally being reasonable. "I won't be late."

Before hanging up, he added, "Olivia, tomorrow, can you cover for me with your parents? And don't mention anything about Grace to them yet."

I didn't say anything.

He waited for a moment, probably thinking I was tired, and then said quietly, "Goodnight. See you tomorrow."