Not His Bride Anymore Chapter 04

Not His Bride Anymore Chapter 04

The next day, I went to visit my mom at the care center. I spent the whole drive figuring out how to tell her about the wedding.

I didn’t expect to find Celeste already inside.

Whatever she’d said—

My mom was half-sitting up. Gasping. Wheezing.

“You—you shameless—”

“My daughter gave you ten years! Ten years! And this is what you do?”

Celeste smiled. Careless.

“You can’t force feelings. Your husband left you for someone else. Shouldn’t you understand that better than anyone?”

My mom’s eyes flew open. Her hand slipped. She collapsed onto the bed.

“Mom! Mom—what’s wrong?”

I didn’t spare Celeste a glance. I rushed to my mom. Slammed the emergency button.

They wheeled her toward the ICU. I ran after them.

Celeste grabbed my arm.

Her face was pale. She stammered.

“I—I didn’t mean it. I just wanted her to talk to you. I—”

I swung.

My palm never touched her face. Callan appeared. He seized my wrist.

“Enough! You’re mad? Take it out on me. Celeste came here out of kindness. Why do you always bully her?”

I ripped my hand back. Something inside me snapped.

“I bully her?”

My eyes were red. My finger pointed at Celeste like a blade.

“She sent my mother to the ICU. And you’re saying I bullied her?”

Callan’s gaze flickered. A flash of doubt.

Celeste grabbed his sleeve. Tears streaming.

“Eden, I know you’re still angry at me. Hit me. Do whatever you need. Just don’t be mad anymore—”

I didn’t even get to respond. Callan’s face had already hardened.

He shielded Celeste behind him. His voice was ice.

“Apologize to Celeste.”

Again.

Celeste cries. I apologize.

Not this time.

“Dream on.”

Callan let out a cold laugh. He pulled out his phone. Flipped to the medical bill portal.

“Eden. Don’t forget who’s paying your mother’s hospital bills.”

I stared at him.

My heart was already cold. But it could still hurt.

Back then, to afford my mom’s treatment, I worked myself half to death for overtime pay.

Callan found out. He moved my mom to a premium care center.

He lied. Said it was a charity program. So I wouldn’t feel indebted.

Now he was using those bills to choke me.

The exhaustion rose from somewhere deep. I had no fight left.

I closed my eyes. I forced the words out.

“I’m sorry.”

Callan smiled. Smug.

“You’ve ruined Celeste’s mood. I’m taking her to Iceland. Clear her head. You stay here. Think about what you did.”

“One week. I’ll see you at the wedding.”

I tugged my lips.

I didn’t tell him I wouldn’t be there.

Footsteps retreated behind me.

I didn’t turn around. I kept my eyes on the ICU doors. I prayed.

My mom pulled through.

When she woke, she gripped my hand. Her voice was weak. But absolute.

“Eden, whatever you decide, I support you. I accepted his help because I thought he’d truly be good to you. Now I know. You matter more than anyone’s expectations.”

I nodded. The tears fell.

That week, Callan took Celeste everywhere in Iceland. He messaged me every day.

I didn’t reply to a single one.

The day I flew to Ireland, another message came.

“Eden. Stop being mad.”

“The wedding’s tomorrow. I promise. You’ll be the most beautiful bride.”

I pulled out my SIM card. Expressionless. I helped my mom onto the plane.

The wedding day.

Callan and his groomsmen arrived at the chapel. It was empty.

He frowned. He pulled out his phone to message me.

The screen on the stage lit up.

A grand Irish cathedral. Me. White veil. Walking toward my groom.

The video ended with a line of crimson text.

“Callan. Groom’s been swapped. Our game ends here.”