She Said It Was Therapy, They Signed A Pardon Chapter 04
When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed.
Outside the door, I could hear Mom and Dad clearly.
Mom sighed. “That night three years ago, I saw Ivy sitting in the kitchen holding a knife. It scared me to death. She hated Mia so much then. How could we let Mia stay? We had to send her abroad.”
I lay still, staring at the ceiling.
So the so-called “cutting ties” was just an act for me.
Mom went on. “I thought after three years, Ivy would be better. But yesterday, in front of all those people, she tried to hurt Mia again.”
“Mia is about to marry Noah, and she’s pregnant. She has to stay with us.”
Dad was quiet for a moment.
“Then we’ll have to send Ivy away.”
“But I don’t feel safe leaving her alone.”
Mom hesitated.
Dad said, “Then marry her to that man. At least she’ll have someone to take care of her.”
My fingertips went cold.
“Back then, he was tricked by Mia’s photos. He thought Ivy was his girlfriend. That’s why things ended the way they did. You can’t blame him entirely.”
Mom slowly agreed.
My strength drained away. My nails dug into my palms.
That evening, a nurse said someone had come to see me.
Noah walked into the room, his face cold.
“I heard your parents are planning to marry you to that guy. I suggest you do it. Get married quickly.”
He looked at me, word by word.
“That way you’ll behave. You’ll stay away from Mia and stop bothering us.”
I didn’t speak.
My silence seemed to anger him.
“Ivy, how long are you going to keep this up? Mia is about to be my wife. She’s carrying my child. Are you going to keep acting depressed and threatening suicide until you’ve ruined everyone’s happiness?!”
Before leaving, he threw over his shoulder, “No matter what you do, I’m still marrying her.”
“Ivy, I’m begging you. If you don’t want to live, just die. Leave us alone.”
I watched his back and whispered, “Okay.”
He seemed to hear me, but he didn’t stop.
When Mom and Dad came back that evening, I was dressed, hair combed, sitting on the bed with a bright smile.
Mom took my hand, surprised. “Ivy, are you… really okay now?”
I nodded gently. “I’m okay.”
Just then, my sister walked in with the man. He was holding flowers. She was smiling.
“Sis, he wants to propose to you. Noah and I have set our wedding date. Why don’t we get married the same day?”
Mom and Dad looked at me nervously.
Mom started to say something, but I spoke first.
“Sure.”
Everyone froze.
I repeated, “I’ll marry him.”
Mom’s eyes widened. “That’s wonderful. From now on, our family can start over.”
On the wedding day, the two hotels were just a street apart.
My sister stood next to Noah in her wedding dress, Mom and Dad beside her, everyone smiling.
I looked at them and felt nothing.
When it was time to leave, Dad placed my hand in that man’s.
He was followed by a group of groomsmen with smug faces.
Mom adjusted my veil. For a second, I saw a flicker of reluctance in her eyes.
“Ivy, live a good life from now on.”
I suddenly turned and looked at them one last time.
“Mom, Dad. Goodbye.”
For some reason, Noah’s chest tightened.
He watched me being led away, glancing back several times. He wanted to ask my sister, “Is that man really trustworthy?”
But then he smiled bitterly.
Why did he care? Whatever happened to me from now on was my own fault.
The wedding continued. The officiant told them to exchange rings.
Just as Noah picked up the ring—the one from my dreams—a loud crash came from across the street.
Screams erupted.
“Something happened!”
“The bride at the other hotel jumped!”
