Chapter 3
Sable's smile was poison. Something in me snapped.
"He will believe me," I said. "We've been together five years. He knows me."
"Does he?" She tilted her head. "He didn't believe you in the garden. He won't believe you now."
"We'll see."
The smile vanished from her face.
Then she screamed.
"Stop! Please—don't hurt me!"
She stumbled backward, clutching her belly, eyes wide with terror.
"Sloane, the baby—please—"
I froze. "What are you—"
Footsteps pounded across the terrace.
Beckett appeared seconds later, face white. He rushed past me and caught Sable in his arms.
"What happened? Are you hurt?"
"She—" Sable gasped between sobs. "She said terrible things. That I faked being sick. That I paid doctors to lie. I tried to walk away but she kept coming at me—"
"She's lying!" I stepped forward. "The disease is fake. She admitted it to me. She's not dying, Beckett!"
"Listen to yourself." His voice was ice. "You're accusing a dying woman of faking her own death sentence. Do you have any idea how cruel that sounds?"
"I'm telling the truth!"
"Truth?" He let out a bitter laugh. "You pushed her this morning. Now you're making up stories. What's next, Sloane? Are you going to say the baby isn't mine?"
The words hit like a slap.
"Beckett—" I reached for his hand.
He pulled away.
"Elise saved my life." His voice shook. "She died because of me. The least I can do is take care of her sister. Why can't you understand that?"
Sable wiped her tears, her voice barely a whisper.
"It's okay, Beckett. I understand why she's upset. I'd be scared too, if I were her."
She looked at me with wet eyes.
"Sloane, I'm sorry. I never meant to cause problems between you two. Once I'm gone, everything will go back to normal. You won't have to wait much longer."
Once I'm gone.
She said it so softly, so matter-of-factly.
Like she had already accepted her death.
Beckett's arms tightened around her.
"Don't talk like that."
"It's the truth." She gave him a sad smile. "The doctors said I might not survive the birth. But I'm not afraid. At least I got to see you happy before..." She couldn't finish.
"Sable—"
"Maybe I should leave the island. Go back to the city." She pulled away from him gently. "I don't want to come between you and Sloane. Your relationship is more important than my comfort."
"You're not going anywhere." His voice was firm. "This is the best place for you to rest."
He turned to me. The coldness in his eyes made me step back.
"I thought after five years, you would be more understanding. More compassionate." He shook his head slowly. "I was wrong."
I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.
What could I say? He had already chosen.
Five years of trust. Five years of love.
Gone in the time it took for her tears to fall.
He helped Sable toward the villa, murmuring something soft. She leaned into him, fragile and pale.
I stood alone in the garden, surrounded by Elise's roses.
An hour later, Beckett found me in my room.
"Sable is resting," he said. "The doctor gave her something to calm down."
I didn't look at him.
He sat beside me, reaching for my hand.
"I know things have been hard. I haven't been fair to you." His voice softened. "But I haven't forgotten my promise. The wedding rehearsal is the day after tomorrow. In the chapel, just like we planned."
His thumb traced circles on my palm.
"After the baby is born, I'll send her away. Then it'll just be us. I swear."
He kissed my forehead and left.
I stared at the closed door.
He chose her tears over my truth.
Fine.
Let him drown in her lies. I wouldn't be here to watch.
The chapel looked exactly like I had imagined.
My wedding dress hung near the altar. Three months of custom work, finally complete.
Beckett stood at the front, watching me enter.
"You're going to be the most beautiful bride."
For a moment, I almost believed him.
Then I heard footsteps behind me.
Sable stood in the doorway, one hand on her belly.
Her eyes moved slowly across the chapel. The altar. The flowers. The dress.
Then she looked at me.
"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I just wanted to see..."
