I Was the Unwanted Fifth in Their Life and Death Pact Chapter 03

Cole let out a scoff and stepped forward to look me over.

“Cut the act, Naomi. You hired a pretty convincing extra—got your lines down pat.”

“You knew Lily was coming here to get her bandage changed today, so you orchestrated this whole thing to corner us, didn’t you?”

I held Ms. Harris back before she could argue further, shaking my head gently.

There’s no point arguing with people who’ve already decided what to believe.

I leaned back in the wheelchair and looked past them to Evan.

He stared down at me. There was no trace of concern in his eyes, only irritation at being interrupted.

“Naomi, this has to stop. This isn’t how you used to be.”

“Lily’s just a little sister. What’s the point of competing with her for attention?”

Lily shrank behind Evan, eyes glistening, and tugged at the hem of his shirt.

“Evan, don’t be mad at Naomi. It’s all my fault.”

“If I hadn’t insisted on coming to the hospital, I wouldn’t have upset her.”

“Naomi’s only acting this extreme because I’ve taken all of your attention away from her.”

Her tears broke Ryan’s heart instantly.

He spun around and glared at me.

“Look at you, acting like some scorned ex. Apologize to Lily right now and stop embarrassing everyone here.”

I watched them, so close and devoted to one another.

The last faint flicker of sadness inside me died completely in that moment.

I rested both hands on the wheelchair armrests, my voice so calm it surprised even me.

“You’re blocking the hallway. Move aside.”

The hallway went dead silent.

Ryan stared at me, disbelieving.

“Move aside? Naomi, have you lost your mind!”

Every time we fought before, once they brought up Lily, I’d always backed down automatically.

This time, I didn’t even want to glance their way.

I turned to Ms. Harris.

“Ms. Harris, please wheel me around them. The doctor is waiting.”

Ms. Harris agreed and started to turn the wheelchair.

Evan suddenly stepped forward and slammed his hand down on the armrest, locking it in place.

He loomed over me, his tone sharp and cold.

“Naomi, I’m giving you one last chance.”

“Drop this ridiculous stunt, apologize to Lily, and walk home on your own two feet.”

“If you don’t, you will never have that engagement party next month.”

Lily pulled lightly at his sleeve, voice trembling.

“Evan, don’t. Naomi’s waited seven years for this wedding.”

“She loved that custom-made wedding dress so much. Don’t cancel it because of me…”

She paused, glancing at my casted leg with feigned sympathy.

“Naomi might struggle to wear that dress while she’s upset and in this cast.”

“But I could walk her down the aisle for her.”

Evan followed her gaze, his eyes full of distaste.

“Look at her, refusing to admit she’s wrong. She doesn’t deserve that dress.”

“She’s obsessed with playing the victim. Even if she hobbled down the aisle, the Brooks family can’t afford that kind of humiliation.”

Then he turned to Lily, his voice instantly gentle.

“You liked that dress when you tried it on, didn’t you?”

“I’ll have it altered to your measurements tomorrow, and send it over as your twentieth birthday gift.”

He was taking the wedding dress meant for our marriage and remaking it into Lily’s birthday present.

This was the man I’d loved for seven years.

Ryan didn’t think it was absurd at all. He let out a cold snort.

“You hear that? Keep playing injured for sympathy, and Evan won’t even leave you a shred of dignity.”

“Stand up and apologize to Lily now, or I’ll disown you as my sister.”

Seven years with Evan, more than twenty years of sibling bond with Ryan—all of it crushed under their feet.

I watched them quietly, no tears falling.

“Fine. The engagement is off.”

“Evan, that dress can be her gift. Those seven years? Wasted on absolute trash.”