Chapter 7
When I rushed home, my dad was slumped on the couch, his face pale and ashen.
My mom stood nearby, crying as she rummaged through the medicine cabinet.
My dad said, "What do they know? Our daughter was left at the altar, and they still call her cold."
I crouched in front of my dad, taking his blood pressure. "Dad, please, don't say anything."
He took a few shaky breaths, still wanting to curse. "Where's that bastard Edward? Did he come to apologize?"
I pulled my sleeve down to cover the red mark from the ring. "No."
My dad looked at me, his eyes darkening.
My mom covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face. "Olivia, let's not get married."
When my mom said that, her words hit me hard. My nose burned with emotion.
She used to really like Edward. Whenever he came over, she'd make soup ahead of time, claiming it was for me, but she'd always sneak the biggest rib into his plate.
She once said, "Edward's so attentive. If you marry him, I'll feel relieved."
Standing in the living room with her eyes swollen and voice shaking, she said, "Olivia, let's not get married."
I lowered my head. "Okay."
*****
That night, I accompanied my parents to the hospital.
The doctor said my dad's emotions were all over the place, and we needed to get him a thorough checkup right away.
When I went to pay, I opened our joint account, ready to transfer some money out.
The balance on the screen made me freeze. There should've been 130,000 dollars. However, there was over 40,000 dollars left.
I stared at the numbers for a long time before calling Edward.
This time, Edward picked up almost instantly. "Olivia, are you home? How's your dad doing?"
I cut him off. "Where did the money in our joint account go?"
He went quiet for a few seconds. "I was about to talk to you about that."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "What did you use it for?"
"Grace had some bleeding today. The doctor said she needs a full checkup at a private hospital.
"I paid the deposit and put down a payment for a maternity nanny. She's pretty far along and has no one with her, so we can't risk scrambling for help later."
The hospital hallway lights were cold and almost painfully bright.
I stood by the payment window, my fingers so cold they felt numb. "That money was meant for my parents' medical bills."
"I know," Edward said, his voice urgent. "I'll put it back tomorrow."
"I'm at the hospital right now."
He went quiet. "Is your dad not feeling well again?"
"All that online gossip really got to him."
Grace's voice came through softly on the other end. "Edward, is that Olivia? Please don't let her misunderstand. If it'll help, I can let the maternity nanny go."
Edward lowered his voice to comfort her. "Just leave it for now. Take your medicine first."
Listening to the sounds from their side, I suddenly felt there was no point in keeping this call going.
"Edward," I said, "is her nanny really more important than my dad's life?"
His voice dropped. "Don't say that."
"Then what am I supposed to say?" I stared at the numbers on the bill. "Should I thank you for putting her first?
"She gets the prenatal checkup, she gets to move into the wedding house, she gets the money, and my parents and I get pushed to the back of the line?"
"Olivia," Edward said, his voice tight with suppressed anger, "I'm not abandoning your parents.
"I had to deal with Grace's urgent situation first. She's pregnant with my brother's baby. If anything goes wrong, we can't afford it."
"My dad can't afford it either."
He fell silent. After a long time, he finally spoke in a low voice, "You're the one I trust most. That's why I feel safe letting you carry the hard parts for me."
I stood in the hospital hallway and suddenly burst out laughing.
People around me turned to look.
As I laughed, my eyes grew hot.
So, I was the one he trusted most, huh? That meant my wedding could be tossed aside.
My wedding house could be handed over to someone else. My parents could wait. My reputation could stay ruined.
Because he thought I would always understand.
Before we hung up, Edward said, "I'll transfer 30,000 dollars to you right now, and I'll make up the rest tomorrow."
Ten minutes later, I received a transfer of 15,000 dollars. The note read: [For emergencies.]
I stared at the words "For emergencies" on the transfer note, standing frozen at the payment window for what felt like forever.
The staff member behind the window reminded me, "Ma'am, are you still paying?"
I looked up and handed over my bank card. "Yes."
When the card beeped for approval, I suddenly remembered what Grace had written in her notes last night.
There really were people waiting for the baby. But my parents were waiting, too. They were waiting for an answer that Edward put off for later.
*****
The next morning, I went to the house meant for our wedding to find Grace.
This time, I wasn't in a wedding dress, and I didn't have any wedding photos in my hands.
I was wearing a black trench coat, holding a list I'd printed out.
Sophie offered to come with me, but I turned her down.
There were some things I needed to say on my own.
I rang the doorbell twice before Grace answered.
She was wearing a light blue maternity dress, her hair loosely pulled back, and she looked a lot healthier than she did in those photos she'd posted online.
When she saw me, she froze for a moment, then instinctively put a hand on her belly, as if on guard. "Olivia, what are you doing here?"
"Let's talk cash," I said, brushing past her and walking straight into the house.
The living room looked even more lived-in than it did a couple of days ago.
The baby crib was already set up against the wall, with a diaper changing table, a bottle warmer, and a few boxes of unopened diapers stacked next to it.
On the coffee table was a maternity nanny service brochure, the price splashed across the cover in big, bold numbers.