Chapter 3

After a while, I steadied myself and walked toward the hotel.

The wedding was already finished.

Lilah was in the dressing room, changing for the reception. Through a crack in the door, I saw Mom giving Hunter advice like he was her own son-in-law.

"Lilah is a good girl. Her parents died young, so you have to cherish her. Never let her down," she said.

Hunter didn't look arrogant anymore. He seemed guilty now. "Mrs. Sinclair, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I didn't mean it."

Mom waved it off. "It's nothing. You didn't say anything wrong. Elowyn is my daughter, but to be honest, she's shameless, always clinging and never letting go.

"If I hadn't made her pick between her man and her mother, she probably would've gone through with it. If that happened, you and Lilah would've had such a hard time.

"Elowyn had everything growing up. But Lilah had nothing."

Lilah walked out in her evening gown, glowing from head to toe.

Mom's eyes lit up with pride, and she grabbed Lilah's hand. "So gorgeous! I wish you were my real daughter."

She picked up a brush and, with gentle, loving strokes, started fixing Lilah's hair. "I've raised you for over ten years. Today, I finally get to see you married off.

"Lilah, even if you aren't my real child, in my heart, you'll always be better than my own daughter."

Mom's voice choked as she teared up, emotional.

Lilah's eyes were red as she fell into Mom's arms, crying. "Mom. I've never had parents. You're the one who raised me. Now I finally get to be a bride. Let me call you 'Mom' this once."

"You have no idea how much I envied Elowyn calling you 'Mom' all these years."

Mom responded again and again, moved to tears. "Yes, my sweet girl. As long as you're happy, I'd do anything."

"Even if it means sacrificing your own daughter?" I asked, trembling, as I pushed the door open.

Mom's face went stiff, and she spun around.

When she saw me, her eyes flickered with panic for a split second. But she quickly put on a tough front. "Elowyn Sinclair, I'm your mother. I can't believe you'd stalk me.

"I was sticking up for you, protecting you. Hunter never really liked you anyway. I didn't want you trapped in a bad marriage.

"But come on, I've raised Lilah for so many years. Can't I check in on her here?"

"I never said you couldn't," I interrupted with a faint smile. "Mom, I never blamed you. Why are you so nervous?"

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

I lowered my eyes, took a gift box from my bag, and calmly handed it to Lilah. "This was meant to be your bridesmaid gift. Inside are memories from when we were kids, letters, and my best wishes.

"But now, you don't need it as a bridesmaid, so take it as a wedding present."

Lilah stood up. "Elowyn, don't—"

I shoved the box into her hands. "From now on, we're not friends anymore."

She clamped her mouth shut, grabbed the box with a stiff face, and tossed it onto the table. "Elowyn, I thought you were better than this."

My phone lit up. It was an offer from headquarters.

I hit accept. In three days, I'd be heading to Aurelle for my new job.

Hunter looked me up and down, a playful smirk on his lips. "Elowyn, I don't want things to get ugly. Since Lilah can't let you go, I can give you a chance to stick around."

I looked up and gave him a cold smile. "Hunter, to me, you're nothing but a stray mutt on the street. Whoever throws you a bone, you'll follow."

"A stray mutt?" Hunter leaned in, smirking. "If I'm a stray, then what does that make you? A bitch begging me to marry you and have kids?

"Wasn't it you crawling on the floor today, desperate to find the ring so you could marry me? Stop pretending to be high and mighty."

I clenched my fists, nails digging deep into my palms.

Mom stood by, coldly watching me get humiliated. She wasn't going to defend me anymore. Because the act was over.

Hunter patted my head, his smile full of smug confidence. "I'll say it again. Don't make things so absolute. Elowyn, I'm giving you three days to think it over. You can come back to me whenever you want.

"I could marry you officially. Lilah doesn't care about titles. She'll be the main wife, and you'll be the concubine. We'll raise the kids together."

I stared at his shameless face, itching to slap him right then and there.

"Enough, enough. Leave," Mom said, waving me off impatiently. "Elowyn, I'm warning you. If you want to make a scene, do it somewhere else. Today is Lilah's big day. Don't ruin it for her."

I suddenly calmed down, locking eyes with her. "Mom, you're helping someone else steal my wedding. Have you ever thought about the fact that I'm your real daughter?"

Mom's face twisted with disgust. "It's done. What more do you want? Elowyn, I'm your mother. Don't I get a say in your marriage?

"Lilah is my child too. She never fought you for anything. I'm being fair for once. Can't you let her have this?"

I nodded, finally understanding.

One act of 'fairness,' and in a single day, I got betrayed by my lover, my best friend, and my own mother.

I almost wanted to laugh.

But in the end, I sighed. "Mom, it's pointless. I'll let her have it. Even if you hadn't put on this show today, I would've let Hunter go to her. Like, if you hadn't pushed me, I would've left anyway."

I turned and walked out of the hotel without looking back.

At the same time, I paused the video I'd recorded, uploaded it, and set it to post in three days.

I was never coming back. And Mom, you lost your real daughter for good.