He Chose My Sister on Our Wedding Day—So I Walked Away Chapter 04

He Chose My Sister on Our Wedding Day—So I Walked Away Chapter 04

When I opened my eyes, the nurse said the baby was gone.

“You hemorrhaged. It’s a miracle you survived.”

Tears ran down my face on their own, and my mind drifted back to long ago.

A year earlier, Grant had come home late from work and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“Maren, let’s have a baby.”

“I want a daughter who looks like you, so I can raise you all over again, from the beginning.”

The nurse tucked the blanket around me.

“Where’s your family? We need a signature on the surgical consent form.”

“I’ll sign it myself.”

With every step, my lower abdomen dragged.

I steadied myself against the wall and finished my discharge paperwork.

At the end of the hallway, I saw Grant stepping out of the elevator.

He grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward a patient room.

“Good timing.”

“Delaney needed four stitches in her hand because of you. Go apologize to her!”

His grip was so tight my bones ached.

He shoved the door open. Mom was peeling an apple.

She looked up and saw me, and the paring knife clattered onto the nightstand.

“You have the nerve to show up here?!”

“If Delaney’s hand scars, I’ll never forgive you!”

Delaney looked over with red eyes.

“Mom, don’t yell at Maren.”

“It’s all my fault. I have this germ thing, this awful condition. It’s all my fault.”

As she spoke, she kept slapping at her wound, and blood soaked through the gauze in seconds.

Grant shoved me forward.

“Apologize!”

I fought through the pain in my body and in my heart.

I stumbled, then stood my ground and refused to bend.

“What do I have to be sorry for?”

Mom shot to her feet.

“Why are you acting so fragile?”

My voice was weak.

“I had a miscarriage.”

The room went still.

The next second, Grant scoffed.

“Someone who miscarried runs around the whole city?”

“All I asked for was one soft word. You act like it’ll kill you.”

“Maren, you really disappoint me.”

Mom was livid.

“What are you pretending for? It’s just cramps!”

“I raised you for twenty-six years, and this is what I got. A heartless girl!”

I turned around, cold to the bone, and walked out.

Grant didn’t stop me.

“Let’s cancel the honeymoon. When Delaney’s better, I’ll find a time to take you.”

Mom snorted.

“Take her? If you go, Delaney comes too.”

The blood in my veins ran cold.

I dragged my weak body into a cab back to the hotel.

I’d barely lain down when Delaney called.

“Maren, I just wanted to tell you something.”

“Guess where Grant is sleeping tonight?”

My throat produced a bitter sound.

“It’s none of my business.”

The line went quiet for a second.

Then Delaney started to giggle.

“Grant, did you hear that?”

“Maren doesn’t care about you at all.”

Grant took the phone, and I couldn’t read his voice.

“Let’s find some time to talk.”

I leaned against the headboard, suddenly exhausted.

“No need.”

“The wedding’s off. We never signed the marriage license. Legally, and personally, it’s over.”

Grant was silent for a few seconds, and then he laughed.

“Maren, when you used to get jealous, you weren’t like this.”

“Making a scene at the wedding was one thing. Now you’re playing hard to get?”

“Think about whether you went too far this time.”

He hung up.

For the next two days, he didn’t contact me.

Probably waiting for me to come to my senses and go back to apologize.

On the third day, my phone rang while I waited at the airport.

Grant.

“Maren, someone told me they saw you at the airport.”

His voice had a knowing smile in it.

“Going on a honeymoon by yourself?”

“Being stubborn has its limits. This is your last chance. Just say you’re sorry, and I’ll come to you right now.”

I looked at the boarding pass in my hand and smiled faintly.

“Grant, I’m flying out.”

“But not on a honeymoon. And where I’m going…”

I paused.

“…is none of your business.”

An announcement sounded overhead:

“Passengers for Port Halden, please proceed to the gate for boarding.”

On the other end, Grant’s voice stalled.

“Maren, what are you doing in Port Halden?”

“Explain yourself…”

I had already ended the call.

Behind me, the boarding gate slid shut.