Chapter 3

　　Mandy's POV

　　Their chatter hadn't even faded when Margaret added, "This is your duty as a sister."

　　I let out a chuckle. "My duty?" I repeated.

　　Atlas stood beside her bed, silently comforting her, his jaw tight.

　　"You're her sister," Margaret insisted.

　　"Everything you prepared was meant for family. You should be grateful Susie can still use it."

　　I stared at her, my fingers curling slowly at my sides. "You guys have taken everything from me….." I gulped, forcing words out. "And…..and you still want me to thank you guys?"

　　"Speechless. I'm speechless." I shrugged my shoulders, looking away briefly.

　　"Don't you think you're expecting too much from me?" I flared up.

　　It was too much that I had to call dad to report. I told him everything, expecting him to support me for once but he barked. "Enough!"

　　My jaw dropped.

　　"Susie doesn't have much time," he said. "If you have even a shred of sympathy…"

　　I pressed the red button right away, sighing.

　　I was surprised to have him walk into the hospital room next, all furious as he glared at me. This looked pretty less like a coincidence.

　　"If you go through with this I'll send a funeral urn as a wedding gift." I said on purpose, to hurt them.

　　Susie gasped. Dad balled his fist.

　　Margaret's face turned purple. "How dare you!"

　　My father raised his hand to strike me but Atlas blocked.

　　"Sir," Atlas said sharply. "Stop."

　　The room froze.

　　I stared at Atlas and his hand in disbelief.

　　Then pitiful eyes continuously dropped on Susie. Care and concern. His attention didn't even last long.

　　He wasn't protecting me. It became clear.

　　He was stopping dad from creating a scene probably to protect Susie.

　　It hurt.

　　I turned and walked out.

　　Outside, the sun was scorching. I stood there for a moment, my hands shaking so badly.

　　I called Vivian. My closest friend here.

　　She met me within an hour.

　　We sat in a quiet café and I told her everything. Vivi gawked too deep to interrupt.

　　She reached across the table and wrapped her fingers around mine. "He doesn't deserve you," she said softly.

　　I swallowed. "I know."

　　I felt better letting it all out.

　　That afternoon, Atlas and I met to finalize the share transfer.

　　He came with his lawyer. The documents were neatly arranged on the table. Atlas looked tired, he avoided meeting my gaze.

　　"Once this is signed," the lawyer said, "the transfer will be completed."

　　I nodded and Atlas reached for the pen.

　　I watched his hand move across the page. Slowly.

　　Just as he was about to scribble his signature, his phone rang.

　　He glanced at the screen and stiffened. "Susie." He muttered. He rose, right away.

　　I watched his face drain of color as he answered. "What happened?" His voice dropped. "I'll come now."

　　He ended the call and turned to the lawyer. "Divorce….. Share transfer. All needs to pause. I gotta go now!"

　　"What?"

　　"Susie's condition worsened," he said, already grabbing his coat. "The wedding can't be delayed."

　　The lawyer hesitated. "Legally, that means…."

　　"Mandy is still my wife," Atlas finished for him.

　　I jumped to my feet, puzzled, watching him run off. Literally, Susie meant a whole lot to him. His lawyer rose up to go right after and I stood here, stuck in a void.

　　Confused, I ran to my grandmother. The only relative that had shown me love from time past.

　　Barely done with my story, she was already flaring up. Her hands slammed hard against the table.

　　"That spineless bastard," she gritted her teeth.

　　"We're gonna let them know you're worth much more than being his wife."

　　Exactly what I needed to hear.

　　The emotions in me shifted quickly. The hurt was replaced by revenge. Looking into what grandma said, whether Atlas valued me or not meant nothing.

　　Grandma grabbed my wrist, giving me that signature partner-in-crime wink. I grinned.

　　Atlas is definitely gonna pay deeper than he'd thought.

　　I was reviewing documents when the door banged open. In shock, I jerked up.

　　"I'm here to get my stuff. "I'll be quick," Atlas said.

　　My breath paused when I saw Susie behind him.

　　She looked fragile in a white dress, her complexion almost translucent, eyes large and damp. She smiled when she saw me.

　　"Sister," she said softly.

　　I stood. "Why are you here? Why did you bring her here?"

　　She stepped forward. "I wanted to see you."

　　Atlas shifted uncomfortably. "I'll wait outside."

　　He closed the door behind him without responding to my question.

　　Susie clasped her hands together. "I want you to be my Matron of Honor. That's all I ask of you."

　　I stared at her with a gleam of shock matched with sarcasm.

　　"Are you for real?" She nodded.

　　"I knew this abuse would never end."

　　"You wouldn't have to do much. Just stand beside me all through. Then a blessing speech." Her voice went smoothly.

　　"I won't." Mine went firm.

　　Her fingers tightened. "Why?"

　　"Because to me this wedding shouldn't exist," I said calmly.

　　Her eyes filled with tears. "You're still angry."

　　Crocodile tears!

　　I scoffed.

　　"More like.... disgusted." Since she wanted to hear from me.

　　She stepped closer. "I only want your support."

　　I stepped back. "No need you won't get it."

　　She reached for my wrist, her grip, surprisingly strong.

　　"Let go," I tried to pull away.

　　She didn't budge.

　　We struggled, briefly. Her foot caught on the edge of the rug and she fell.

　　The door flew open immediately.

　　Atlas rushed in, his gaze going straight to Susie on the floor.

　　"Susie!" He knelt beside her, fury rising as he looked up at me. "What did you do?"

　　"She grabbed me and…" I tried explaining but he wouldn't listen.

　　"You pushed her," he snapped.

　　"I never knew you would be this petty?" He spat. Jacking her up, he carried her into his arms and rushed out. For check up, I guessed.

　　I stood there alone, overwhelmed with motions.

　　That night, my phone rang nonstop.

　　My father. Margaret.

　　Then my father again.

　　"If you have any humanity," he said coldly, "you'll agree to be her Matron of Honor."

　　The news had already spread.

　　"You can't guilt trip me into accepting this silly request. I won't." I stood firm.

　　Then silence loomed in.

　　"If you agree… I'll transfer all your mother's shares to you."

　　"Urgh?"