Back in the lounge, Clara was laughing at something Mrs. Williams said, while their father chatted with Mr. Williams.
Bethany entered quietly, her gaze avoiding James'.
"Ready to head home?" her father asked, noticing her.
Bethany nodded, eager to leave the tension-filled estate. As they said their goodbyes, Clara made sure to linger, chatting animatedly with James, before they finally left the mansion.
In the car ride home, Clara couldn't contain her excitement.
"James is interesting, isn't he? Not as plain as Nicholas. I wonder what he's hiding."
Bethany rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. "Not everyone can be like you!"
"You're just upset he didn't pay you much attention as he did to me." Clara boastfully said.
Bethany scoffed, as she turned her gaze out the window, ignoring her stepsister's taunts. Her thoughts were already consumed by James' sudden movement towards her.
When they arrived home, Bethany retreated to her room, shutting the door firmly behind her.
She replayed everything that happened tonight. James' words, his abrupt kiss...it all left her with more questions than answers.
Bethany angrily tossed herself on the bed, staring at the ceiling, as she felt like her head was about to burst.
Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence. She reached for it, frowning at the unknown number.
"Meet me tomorrow at the hotel. Let's finalize everything before the wedding... James."
The message was brief but chilling.
Bethany's blood ran cold as she saw the sender was James.
"James?" She repeated, glaring at the content of the message.
"But I didn't remember us exchanging contacts." She sounded confused. Her heart ached as she stared at the screen.
"What did he want us to finalize? There was nothing to begin with." She wondered aloud...
Some minutes later, she was about to drift off when her phone buzzed on the nightstand again. She groaned, reaching for it.
The screen lit up with Sebastian's name.
Disgust curled her lips as she muttered, "Not tonight, Sebastian." She let the phone ring until it stopped.
A moment later, a text notification popped up. Her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened it.
"I'm outside. I'm not leaving until you come out."
"What a jerk!," she mumbled, sitting up. She pushed the curtains aside and peered out of the window.
There he was, leaning casually against his car, his arms crossed as if he had every right to be there.
'Why couldn't he just leave me alone?' She thought. After pacing for a moment, she unlocked her phone and typed a reply.
"Go home, Sebastian. I'm not coming out. Or better still, call Clara!" She hit send, then immediately switched off her phone.
Tossing it onto the nightstand, she slid back under the covers and pulled them up to her chin.
"This is over," she whispered to herself, closing her eyes.
Meanwhile, Sebastian read the message, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"She doesn't mean that," he said, leaning back against his car.
He'd known Bethany for years. She always said things like this when she was upset, but she'd come around.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets, glancing at the front door every few minutes. His confidence didn't waver at first. He knew her too well.
But as the minutes dragged on, his smirk faded. Half an hour passed. Then an hour.
"She's really not coming out," he uttered, disbelief sinking in.
Annoyance prickled his chest, and he kicked at a loose pebble on the ground as her number was switched off.
"What the hell is her problem?" he spat, getting into his car and slamming the door.
"She wouldn't be this cold in just two days unless... unless she had been seeing someone else as well. Or she also cheated on me?"
The idea clawed at his pride.
"She better not be," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous.
Revving the engine, Sebastian sped off into the night...
★★★
Bethany arrived at the hospital early the next morning, clutching a paper bag of her mom's favorite snacks.
She had barely slept, but seeing her mom would lift her spirit. And she doesn't intend to tell her anything yet concerning the marriage.
Bethany knew her Mom would definitely blame herself for ruining her life. But until she's perfectly fit, she wouldn't dare mention why she agreed to the arranged marriage.
As she stepped into the room, relief flooded her. Her mom was awake, her face still pale but smiling faintly.
"Mom!" Bethany rushed to her side, gripping her hand. "You scared the hell out of me."
Her mom gave a weak chuckle. "I'm tougher than I look, Bethy. You should know that by now."
Bethany blinked back tears and forced a smile. "Well, don't do it again. I can't handle another scare like this."
Before her mom could reply, the door creaked open, and the doctor stepped in with a clipboard in hand.
"Good morning," he greeted, glancing between them. "How are you feeling today, Mrs. Blake?"
"Better. Thanks for the care here." Her mom managed a small smile.
The doctor nodded and made a few notes.
"That's good to hear. I wanted to inform you both that the surgery is scheduled for two days from now... If all goes well, you should make a full recovery."
Bethany exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Thank you, Doctor. That's such a relief."
The doctor smiled warmly. "You're welcome. We're doing everything we can." Then he walked out of the ward.
After he left, Bethany turned back to her mom.
"You hear that, Mom? You'll be good as new in no time. Just be strong for a little longer."
Her mom nodded but said nothing, her eyelids drooping with fatigue.
Before Bethany could say more, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She glanced at the screen and saw Tasha's name flashing.
She hadn't spoken to her best friend since that disastrous night at Sebastian's.
"I'll be right back, Mom," she whispered, stepping out into the hallway to take the call.
"Tasha," Bethany began as she connected the call, her voice soft.
"Bethany! Finally!" Tasha's lively tone cut through the line. "Firstly, how did it go? Did Sebastian propose?"
Bethany sighed deeply, leaning against the wall.
"It didn't go how I expected," she admitted, her voice laced with exhaustion.
"What do you mean? Don't tell me he chickened out!" Tasha's tone was full of disbelief.
"It's worse than that," Bethany replied, closing her eyes briefly. "I found Clara's lingerie on his floor. And when I got to his bedroom…" She trailed off, her voice breaking slightly.
"What?!" Tasha gasped. "That snake! I knew she was trouble, but this? And Sebastian! How could he stoop so low?"
"I don't know, Tasha," Bethany muttered. "I just—"
"Wait, hold on," Tasha interrupted. "I'm sorry Bethy but there's an emergency patient I need to handle right now. We'll talk later, okay? Stay strong love."
Before Bethany could respond, Tasha hung up.
She slipped back into her mom's room, only to find her sound asleep. The sight brought her a small sense of peace.
Careful not to disturb her, Bethany quietly left the room and headed out of the hospital.
Her car was still at the hotel, which gave her an excuse to return that morning. But deep down, she knew the real reason.
James wanted to meet her, and despite her reservations, she felt a pull to confront whatever was brewing between them.
She didn't want to admit it, but a part of her was curious. What did James have to say, and why was she heading back to the hotel at all?