Chapter 5

Hurried footsteps sounded at the door.

Edward pushed the door open, his face still showing the fatigue from rushing around at the hospital.

He didn't look at me first. Instead, he turned to Grace. "Why do you look so pale? Is your stomach still hurting?"

Grace shook her head, her voice choked with emotion. "I'm fine. Olivia came to get some things. Don't blame her."

Only then did Edward turn to me. "Why didn't you answer your phone?"

I looked at him. "Do I need to answer your call before coming back to my own place?"

He frowned. "That's not what I meant. Things are already a mess today. Why did you have to bring Olivia over and upset her?"

Sophie stepped forward, her anger flaring. "Edward, you ran out of the wedding today, and now you're blaming Olivia for upsetting her?"

Edward's face darkened. "This is between Olivia and me."

"And it's also about her wearing Olivia's clothes, living in Olivia's place, and hanging up her own pregnancy photos," Sophie shot back.

Grace immediately shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "Stop arguing. It's all my fault. I'll leave right now. I shouldn't have stayed."

After saying that, she actually headed for the door.

Edward caught her arm. "Grace."

He blurted out her name so fast that he actually stopped himself for a second.

I watched as his hand was still on Grace's arm, and she instinctively moved closer to him, tears clinging to her lashes, but she didn't take another step toward the door.

I pointed at the pregnancy photo on the wall. "Where are my wedding photos?"

Edward's eyes flickered. "They've been put away for the time being."

"Who did it?" I pressed.

He didn't answer.

Grace spoke up softly, "I asked the housekeeper to help put them away.

"Every time I see those wedding photos, I can't help but think about how William never got the chance to give me the wedding I deserved. I can't handle it."

Sophie let out a bitter laugh. "So, because you can't handle it, you had someone else's wedding photos taken down?"

Edward said in a low voice, "Sophie, that's enough."

I walked over to the bed and picked up Edward's sleep mask. "Did you sleep here last night?"

He swallowed hard. "Grace wasn't feeling well all night, so I stayed up in the living room. I was so tired that I slept here for a bit."

"So, you ended up sleeping in the master bedroom?" I pressed.

Edward looked embarrassed. "Olivia, do you really have to bring this up at a time like this?"

I let out a bitter laugh. At a time like this? On our wedding day, he ditched me for Grace.

When I came back to our place, I saw my things boxed up, my wedding photos taken down, and someone else wearing my loungewear.

I asked him where he slept last night, and he said I was making a fuss at the wrong time.

I walked over to the closet and dragged out the two boxes.

Grace blurted out, "I haven't finished sorting those yet. Some of them might be a mess."

I turned to her. "You were sorting through my things?"

She bit her lip. "I can't stand the smell of perfume. My morning sickness is really bad."

I opened the box. My perfume bottle was wrapped in tissues and stuffed all the way at the bottom.

On top were my pajamas, skincare products, the slippers meant for after the wedding, and two brand new bedding sets my mom got for me.

One of the bedding sets had been opened. I picked it up and got a whiff of that same sweet, cloying scent from the skincare oil.

Sophie took a deep breath, her voice trembling. "Olivia, don't bother with this. Let's call a moving company."

Edward walked over. "Just leave your stuff here for now. I'll have someone sort it out and send it to you."

I looked up at him. "Send it where?"

He paused. "Go back to the hotel and get some rest. I'll talk to both families about the wedding, and we'll reschedule the ceremony for another day."

"Reschedule?" I echoed.

Grace immediately lowered her head.

Edward finally seemed to realize how harsh his words sounded, and his tone softened. "I'm sorry about today. Once Grace is feeling better, we'll redo the wedding. I'll make sure everything is taken care of."

I picked up my wedding photo. The frame was sitting by the door of the storage room, the glass covered in a layer of dust. I wiped it off with my sleeve.

In the photo, Edward was standing behind me, looking down at me with a gentle gaze that felt so real that it was hard to believe it was a picture.

I used to love this photo the most. But at that moment, holding it in my arms, I felt it was heavy.

"Edward," I said, "is your way of handling things to push me out of here?"

His face went pale. "I didn't."

I glanced at the boxes, then at the pregnancy photo on the wall. "So, what am I supposed to make of all this?"

He couldn't answer.

Grace sobbed, "Olivia, don't give him a hard time. He's been so worn out lately. Ever since William passed, he hasn't slept well. He's trying to take care of the baby and me for his brother's sake."

I looked at her. "If he's doing all this for his brother, why is he using my wedding home?"

Her crying stopped for a moment.

Edward stepped in front of her. "That's enough."

I hugged the photo frame tighter. "How many times have you said that to me today?"

He froze.

I didn't wait for him to answer.

I hugged my wedding photo to my chest and hauled the box out.

Sophie quickly picked up the other box to help me.

As the elevator doors closed, I caught a glimpse of Edward still standing at the master bedroom door.

Grace was leaning against him, one hand on her belly, her eyes rimmed with red as she stared at me.

Behind them, the pregnancy photo hung in the spot where my wedding photo once was.

And in that moment, it hit me. I wasn't here to pick up my stuff. I was here to see what was left of me.