Chapter 6

Mom actually murmured her agreement.

The strength drained out of my whole body, my fingertips digging hard into my palms.

Toward evening, the nurse said someone had come to see me.

Lee Harding walked into the room, his face like ice.

"I hear your parents are planning to marry you off to that man. Take my advice and go along with it quietly. Get married, and soon."

He looked at me and said, one word at a time,

"That way you'll finally settle down, stay away from Hilary, and stop hanging on to us."

I said nothing the whole time, but my silence seemed to enrage him.

"Beverly, how much longer are you going to keep this up?"

"Hilary's about to be my wife. She's carrying my child."

"Are you going to drag out this depression and these suicide threats until you've ruined everyone's happiness?!"

Before he left, he threw out one last cold line.

"No matter how much you act out, I'm still going to marry her."

"Beverly, I'm begging you. If you don't want to live, then go die. Just let the rest of us go, okay?!"

I watched his back and said softly,

"Fine."

He seemed to hear it, but his steps didn't slow.

That night, when Mom and Dad came back, I'd already changed my clothes and combed my hair.

I sat at the edge of the bed, bright-eyed, smiling.

Mom grabbed my hand, delighted.

"Bev, are you… are you really better?"

I nodded gently. "I'm better."

Just then my sister came in with that man.

He was holding flowers, and Hilary's whole face glowed with anticipation.

"Sis, he wants to propose to you."

"Lee and I have set our date too. Why don't we get married on the same day?"

Mom and Dad watched me nervously.

Mom was about to say something, but I spoke first, smiling.

"Sure."

Everyone froze.

I said it again.

"I'll marry him."

Mom's eyes went red in an instant.

"Wonderful."

"From now on, our whole family can start over."

On the wedding day, the two hotels were only a street apart.

Hilary stood beside Lee Harding in her gown, Mom and Dad at her side, every face wreathed in smiles.

And as I looked at them, my heart didn't ache at all.

When it was my turn to leave, Dad placed my hand in that man's.

Behind him trailed a pack of groomsmen with leering faces.

Mom fixed my veil, and at last a flicker of reluctance crossed her eyes.

"Bev, have a good life from now on."

But I suddenly turned my head and looked at them one last time.

"Dad. Mom. Goodbye."

For some reason, Lee Harding's chest clenched hard.

He watched me being led away by that crowd, glancing back again and again, and almost turned to ask my sister,

"That man… is he really reliable?"

But the next second, he tugged at the corner of his mouth in self-mockery.

Why should he care anymore. Whatever became of Beverly from now on, she'd brought it on herself.

The ceremony went on, and the officiant told them to exchange rings.

Lee Harding had just picked up that ring, the one that had once lived in my dreams,

when a huge crash came from across the street.

Screams broke out downstairs.

"Something's happened!"

"The bride at the hotel across the street jumped!"