Chapter 2
I was a bit surprised and quickly opened the door. "What brings you here?"
Monica, considerate of my living arrangement with Rylan, had opted to stay at a cottage out in the countryside. She had a penchant for raising chickens and ducks, leading a rather agreeable lifestyle.
"I brought you a chicken I prepared myself and some fresh eggs to keep you healthy," she said, handing me the bag with a smile. "Oh, and since you two are planning the wedding, I've got you a few gold necklaces..."
It was winter, and with all the layers of Victorian-style dresses, my belly looked perfectly flat.
"Thank you," I said, taking the bag from her. I looked down, my voice catching despite my efforts to remain composed.
Unlike Rylan, Monica's kindness toward me had been unwavering from the start.
She quickly noticed my distress and immediately asked, "Did Rylan give you trouble again?"
The elderly lady frowned, pulling out her phone and dialing a number. She accidentally put it on speaker, and I heard Emery's voice on the other end.
"Hello? Is that you, Aunt Monica? Rylan is—"
In that instant, Monica understood.
"Who's this 'Rylan' to you? Calling him 'big brother'? Didn't your parents teach you any manners? Watch your words next time, or I'll sew your mouth shut!" she snapped.
There was some rustling, and then Rylan's voice came through, slightly impatient. "Mom, what are you doing?"
"Rylan!" Monica was truly angry now, and she snapped back in her own colorful dialect. "How could you do this to Sierra? Don't forget, it was Sierra who saved me from the debt collectors!"
Back when Rylan was starting his business, he'd been duped and ended up in jail with a debt of hundreds of thousands. The collectors hounded both me and Monica relentlessly. It was a group of intimidating men. Later, I discreetly borrowed money from Mom to settle the debt.
"Let's not dredge up old issues," Rylan replied, clearly annoyed. He added dismissively, "Did Sierra complain to you? I'll be home soon; I'll talk to her then."
He hung up, leaving Monica looking at me.
Suddenly, I found the courage to say, "Monica, the baby... it's gone. I don't want to go through with this wedding."
I spilled everything out to her and begged, "Please don't tell Rylan about this. I don't want him to know."
Monica stood there for a long time, then abruptly stomped her foot hard, tears welling in her eyes. She held my hand and said, "I'm so sorry, Sierra. I'm so sorry."
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