Hermione's POV
The vase slipped from my hands and shattered across the kitchen floor.
"Oh no!" I dropped to my knees, grabbing the pink roses before they got soaked. Tomorrow was my wedding day. Everything had to be perfect. Everything.
"Hermione, you're so clumsy." Linda's voice came from behind me. My stepsister stood in the doorway, watching. She didn't move to help.
I forced a smile. "I'm just nervous, that's all."
Linda walked closer, her shoes crunching on the broken glass. "Nervous? You're marrying Jerry Kingston. Most girls would kill for that." She bent down and picked up a rose, sniffing it. "These are beautiful. Did you pick them for me?"
My chest felt tight. "Well, they're for the wedding bouquet, but—"
"I'd love some flowers in my room." Linda's eyes went wide, the way they always did when she wanted something. "Please? You know I haven't been feeling well lately."
That was true. Linda had been sick for months now. The doctors said it was serious. Really serious. My stepmother Rebecca kept whispering about it when she thought I couldn't hear.
"Of course." I gathered the roses carefully, ignoring the tiny cuts forming on my fingers from the glass. "Take whatever you want."
Linda smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "You're too sweet, Hermione. Way too sweet."
Something about the way she said it made my stomach flip. But I pushed the feeling away. Tomorrow, I'd be Mrs. Jerry Kingston. Tomorrow, everything would change.
I spent the next hour picking out the prettiest roses for Linda. She wanted pink ones. Then white ones. Then she changed her mind and wanted both. My back ached from bending over the flower buckets, but I didn't complain.
"Jerry's lucky to have you," Linda said suddenly. She was sitting on the garden bench, watching me work. "You'd do anything for the people you love, wouldn't you?"
"Of course." I tucked a loose piece of hair behind my ear. "That's what love is."
Linda laughed, but it sounded strange. Cold. "What if someone you loved asked you to give up everything? Would you still do it?"
I looked up at her. The sun was behind her head, making it hard to see her face. "I don't understand."
"Never mind." She stood up, taking the flowers from my hands. "I need to rest now. The doctor said I shouldn't push myself."
"Right. Yes. Go rest." I watched her walk away, my heart squeezing. Linda was my stepsister, but she was also my friend. Wasn't she?
The house felt empty after she left. Rebecca was out somewhere, probably shopping for more things we didn't need. My father died years ago, back when I was little. Now it was just the three of us in this big house. Well, four, if you counted the housekeeper.
I walked to my room and found my wedding dress hanging on the closet door. White silk, tiny pearls, a long train that would sweep the floor. Jerry had paid for everything. He said he wanted to give me the wedding of my dreams.
Jerry. Just thinking about him made me smile. Tall, handsome, charming Jerry Kingston. The man who chose me. The man who loved me.
My phone buzzed. A text from Jerry.
Can't wait to see you tomorrow, my love. You're going to be the most beautiful bride in the world.
I hugged my phone to my chest, feeling warm all over. This was real. This was happening.
Another text came through.
Actually, can you come over tonight? I need to talk to you about something important.
My fingers flew across the screen. Is everything okay?
Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.
Yes. Just come at 8. Please.
I checked the clock. It was almost seven now. I'd have to hurry.
I changed into a simple dress and drove to Jerry's apartment across town. The whole way there, my mind raced. What could be so important that it couldn't wait until tomorrow? Maybe he wanted to give me a wedding gift early. Maybe he'd written special vows and wanted to practice them.
The elevator ride up to his floor felt longer than usual. My heart pounded against my ribs. When I knocked on his door, it swung open immediately.
But it wasn't Jerry standing there.
It was Linda.
She wore Jerry's shirt. His shirt. The blue one I'd given him for his birthday.
"Linda?" My voice came out like a whisper. "What are you doing here?"
She smiled, and this time it was real. Wide and bright and terrible.
"Oh, Hermione." She stepped aside, and I saw him. Jerry, sitting on the couch, his head in his hands. "Didn't Jerry tell you? We're getting married tomorrow."
The world tilted sideways.
"What?" I looked at Jerry. He wouldn't meet my eyes. "Jerry, what is she talking about?"
He finally looked up. His face was red, like he'd been crying. "Hermione, I'm so sorry. Linda is dying. The doctors gave her six months. She asked if I could make her last wish come true. She's always loved me, and I—I couldn't say no."
"Dying?" I looked at Linda. She didn't look sick. She looked happy. Glowing, even. "But you said—you told me—"
"I lied." Linda shrugged, playing with the ring on her finger. My ring. The diamond Jerry had proposed to me with six months ago. "Well, not about being sick. That part's true. But I'll feel so much better once I'm Mrs. Kingston."
I couldn't breathe. The room was spinning, and my legs felt like water.
"Jerry, please." I reached for him, but he moved back. "Tell me this is a joke. Please."
"I'm sorry." He stood up, straightening his shoulders. "The wedding is off, Hermione. I'm marrying Linda tomorrow instead."
"But you love me." Tears burned my eyes, spilling down my cheeks. "You said you loved me."
Linda walked over and put her arm around Jerry's waist. He let her.
"Love?" She laughed. "Hermione, grow up. This was never about love."
The door opened behind me. Rebecca stepped in, her face calm and cold.
"Time to go home, Hermione." My stepmother's voice was ice. "You don't belong here anymore."
I stumbled backward, my whole body shaking. This couldn't be real. This couldn't be happening.
"Tomorrow morning, pack your things," Rebecca continued. "The Hale house belongs to me and Linda now. Your father left everything to me, and I'm done pretending you're part of this family."
Jerry wouldn't look at me. Linda smiled wider.
And I ran.
I ran out of that apartment, down the stairs because I couldn't wait for the elevator, out into the street where the rain had started to fall.
My wedding was tomorrow. But I had no groom. No home. No family.
I had nothing.
The rain soaked through my dress as I collapsed on the sidewalk, my body shaking with sobs. People walked past me like I didn't exist.
Maybe I didn't.
Maybe I never had.
Then a black car pulled up beside me. The window rolled down, and a man's voice, deep and steady, cut through the storm.
"Get in."
I looked up. A stranger stared back at me. Dark eyes. Strong jaw. Expensive suit.
"Who are you?" I managed to say.
"Someone who can help you take back everything they stole."
He opened the door.
And I had to choose. Stay here and die inside. Or get in that car and become someone new.
The rain poured harder.
I reached for the door.