Her
Bella took my hand as we left the honeymoon suite and stepped into the elevator, heading downstairs. Apparently, the entire hotel had been shut down for the wedding and for today as well.
As we reached the large hall that had been transformed into a dining area, I immediately noticed how the room was divided: the men were seated on one side, the women on the other. My mother-in-law and one of the older women walked confidently across the room, sheet in hand, heading toward the men.
My stomach twisted with embarrassment as the rest of the women began trailing after them, eager to watch whatever would happen.
I still didn’t get it. Why were people so fascinated by this? So what if a wife and a husband had sex? Why was everyone treating it like a spectacle?
Thankfully, Bella stayed by my side. We found a table and sat down, and she started pointing out different people in the room.
“That one is the captain’s wife, her husband’s name is Marco,” she said, nodding toward a woman in a sleek blue dress. “And that one over there, she’s married to the capo...”
She kept going, naming names, listing connections, explaining who was important and who I should make an effort to know.
“Even though we’re kind of royalty,” she added with a sly smile, “we still need to build connections. Strengthen the family.”
I was grateful for her presence, her calm, steady way of making me feel like I wasn’t completely alone. Soon, the rest of the women returned, some casting curious glances my way, others approaching to introduce themselves with stiff smiles.
But I didn’t feel at home. Their smiles didn’t quite reach their eyes. I could sense it, they saw me as an outsider. I didn’t belong here, not really.
So when Bella leaned in and whispered, “Come with me,” I didn’t hesitate. I stood up quickly and followed her.
We slipped through the kitchen, moving past busy staff and sizzling pans, and before I realized it, we were outside the hotel.
One of Bella’s bodyguards had been silently trailing behind us the entire time. As we approached the curb, a sleek black USV pulled up and came to a halt. Without a word, the guard stepped forward and opened the back door for us. Bella slid in first, and I followed, still a little confused about what was going on.
It became clearer when I noticed her second guard already behind the wheel, while the first climbed into the passenger seat. The car pulled away from the hotel with practised ease, leaving the chaos of the wedding day behind us.
I turned to Bella, brows raised in silent question. She gave me a sideways glance and a small smile.
“You know how these things go,” she said. “The men your family and ours... they’re gonna sit there for hours talking business, checking territories, who owes what… whatever. And they’ll expect us to just sit around all day looking pretty. I’m not doing that shit.”
She rolled her eyes, then added, “I’ve got my little baby boo at home. By now, he’s already missing his mama. And besides, I figured you wouldn’t want to sit there either… not with all those women staring you down, judging you, wondering if they could somehow get a shot at replacing you.”
I let out a quiet, awkward laugh. “Oh, you saw that too?”
“Please,” she scoffed. “I grew up around this. I know what it looks like. I don’t know how it is where you’re from, but here? Women are vultures.”
I nodded. “Yeah… vultures everywhere.”
We fell into a comfortable silence for a moment as the car wove through the streets. Then I looked at her again. “Thank you.”
She blinked, clearly surprised. “For what?”
“For thinking of me. For getting me out of there.”
Bella smiled and reached over to squeeze my hand. “Of course. Like I told you.... we’re sisters now. I always wanted a sibling. I mean, Cullen was kind of a sibling, a best friend, even a brother figure sometimes… but still. I went through so many fake female friendships growing up. Now, I finally get a sister.”
Her voice softened, her smile wide and sincere. “I’m so happy. Welcome to the family.”
And with that, she hugged me again, warm, genuine and I found myself hugging her back, my heart unexpectedly full.
I had to admit it, my feelings toward Bella were a complete mess. On one hand, she’d been kind, thoughtful, and even warm… but on the other, I couldn’t shake this knot of jealousy in my chest whenever I looked at her.
I couldn’t explain it clearly, even to myself. It wasn’t like she had done anything wrong. But for nearly ten years, I had grown up believing I would marry Cyrus. That was the plan. That was the path. And then, out of nowhere, Bella had him.
He loved her.
And now here I was married to Cullen. Except even Cullen, my husband didn’t really belong to me. His heart? It belonged to Bella, too.
All these men seemed to revolve around her. Want her. Love her. And what did that make me? A consolation prize? The outsider who was never meant to be more than a placeholder in someone else’s story?
I hated the way that made me feel like I was stuck in someone else's shadow.
And yet… Bella was kind. Genuinely kind. She hadn’t given me any reason to hate her. She’d held my hand. She’d rescued me. She’d hugged me and called me her sister. And still, that bitter little voice inside me whispered: Why her? Why does she get all the love?
I really, really wanted to hate her. But I couldn’t. Not entirely. Maybe it would take a few days.
Maybe I just needed time to figure out where I stood in all of this, what place I had in this new version of my life and family.
So I did the only thing I could manage for now... I smiled at Bella.
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