Chapter 3

Nana woke up briefly the next morning. The first thing she did was look for Scott.

"Where is Scott?"

Scott was in the hallway taking a business call, but when he heard the nurse call him, he hung up immediately and rushed in.

He leaned down and held Nana's hand, his tone perfectly warm and attentive.

"I’m here, Nana."

Nana offered a weak, tired smile.

"Good. Now I can rest easy."

"Elly has always been too soft. She keeps all her pain to herself. You have to protect her for me from now on."

Scott's eyes reddened. "I will, Nana. I promise."

As he spoke, his Apple Watch lit up again.

It was a text from Aurora:

【I'm back in Chicago. I heard you're out of town... Is it because of her?】

Scott glanced down.

That single glance was enough to shatter what little hope I had left.

A few seconds later, he tapped a quick reply:

【No. My fiancée's grandmother is in critical condition. I can't leave right now.】

I looked down, the sharp scent of antiseptic stinging my throat.

Nana didn't see any of this. She was still smiling, her voice raspy and faint.

"My Elly finally has a home..."

I squeezed her hand, not daring to make a sound.

The doctor called me into his office shortly after, telling me Nana’s organs were failing and that I should prepare for the worst.

When I walked out, Scott was standing by the stairwell, on the phone.

"Aurora, don't overthink it. I really can't leave right now."

I couldn't hear what she said on the other end.

After a brief silence, his voice dropped to a whisper.

"We can talk about the wedding details later. You just got back, just focus on resting."

My footsteps paused at the doorway. Scott turned and saw me, his expression tightening.

"Elly."

I walked right past him.

He chased after me, grabbing my wrist.

"Let me explain."

"Explain what?" I turned to look at him. "Explain that you didn't stay here for me? Or explain why the wedding can be discussed 'later'?"

Scott pressed his lips together. He was rarely cornered by me like this.

I used to be so understanding—so eager to please that if he even frowned, I would be the first to apologize.

Catherine, returning with breakfast, immediately shoved herself into the conversation.

"Elly, Nana is literally dying in there. Can't you be a little mature? Do you have to pick a fight right now?"

I looked at her.

"By 'mature,' you mean I should just pretend to be blind?"

"So what if a guy has an ex in his mind? Isn't that normal?" She rolled her eyes. "If you actually had what it takes, you’d make him forget her. If you can't, accept your place and stop playing the victim."

Scott frowned. "Catherine, shut up."

In the afternoon, Aurora actually showed up.

Holding a bouquet of fresh lilies, she stood near the nurse's station, looking so pristine and out of place in this drab hospital.

When Scott saw her, he froze.

Aurora looked at me first, a polite, faint smile on her face.

"Hi, Elly. I heard your grandmother was ill, so I thought I'd stop by and pay my respects."

I turned my gaze to Scott. "You told her?"

Aurora quickly spoke up for him.

"Don't misunderstand, Elly. Someone mentioned it in our mutual friend group."

She turned back to Scott. "Scott used to hate hospitals more than anything. I didn't expect him to stay here overnight for you."

Those words felt like a slap to my face.

I was the one who had been sleeplessly guarding Nana.

Yet, the moment Aurora arrived, everyone assumed Scott was the one making the grand sacrifice.

Scott said quietly, "Aurora, you should leave."

Aurora’s eyelashes fluttered, looking hurt.

"Scott... am I bothering you? Should I not have come?"

Scott’s tone instantly softened. "No, that’s not what I meant."

I couldn't stand to watch them anymore.

As I turned to walk away, Catherine whispered in my ear:

"See that? They actually look like a couple. You’re just a placeholder trying to force your way into a frame you don't fit in."

I didn't look back.

That night, my phone buzzed with a refund notification from the bridal shop.

A moment later, the coordinator sent a follow-up text:

【Hi Elly, sorry to bother you, but are you sure you want to cancel? 】

【Scott originally booked this exact theme for Aurora a couple of years ago before they canceled. We thought he was finally getting to use it.】

I stared at the screen, my heart sinking into a cold, dark abyss.

So, even the wedding theme wasn't chosen for me. I was just filling a slot that Aurora had abandoned.