Chapter 73
Chapter 71: Flashback Continuation IV
Seven years ago…
brood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection in the vintage wedding dress my mother had once worn when she was alive. It was the same drew she wore when she married my father.
I traced the intricate embroidery, my fingers trembling slightly, I never thought I would wear this. Never thought this day would actually come
At least not this soon because I never saw myself getting married. Had been focused on taking care of Grandma and the farm, and now I was married
În felt surreal
I almost forgot about the one thing my grandmother had requested–a sedding photo, She had wanted a picture with Liam, me, and her
This morning. I woke up to my grandmother’s excited voice filling the house. She was practically glowing when she told me that Liam had hired a photographer for today.
I didn’t even remember telling him about Grandma’s request.
A strange warmth tiled my chest
It had been five days since that night–since everything between Liam and me shifted. And yes, things had changed.
1 no longer ran from him. No longer tried to hide.
I was still shy, still hesitant at times, but I was comfortable. More than I ever imagined I could be with Lian Anderson
A knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts.
“Camille?”
I turned away from the mirror just as Grandma stepped inside. Her steps were slow but steady until she stopped in front of me. Her gaze fell on me, her lips parting, her eyes misting with tears.
She didn’t say anything at first.
I swallowed, suddenly feeling self–conscious under her lingering stare. “Grandma?”
“Oh, my dear.” Her voice wavered as she reached for me, her wrinkled hands brushing over the lace of my dress. “You look just like her.”
I didn’t need to ask who she meant.
My mother
My throat tightened as I met her watery gaze. I had seen the old photographs–my mother in this very dress, her face alight with happiness, ber eyes filled with hope
But I also knew how that story ended.
Grandma inhaled deeply “As much as I hated the man she married, I still remember how happy she was on that day.”
I lowered my eyes. She had been happy, at least for a
lew years
She even had me and my Twin Callie.
Then, almost without thinking, the question slipped past my lips. “Do you think it’s possible I might end
She willed
up like her, Crandma?”
Texhaled slowly, turning away to look at my reflection
on again. A bitter smile formed on my lips. Grandma was right. I really did look like her. “She thought she married the right man. She thought he loved her, that they would build a life together. And yet.” My voice wavered. “It ended with her never wanting to leave this farm”
Grandinu exhaled and reached for my hand. “Come, sweetheart. Sit with me.”
I followed her to the small couch by the window. For a moment, she was silent as if gathering her thoughts. Then, reaching into the pocket of her
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Chapter 71
dress, she pulled out a small velvet bok.
She opened it carefully, revealing a gold necklace with a delicate flower pendant.
I sucked in a breath.
e it to me, and as I gave it to your mother,” she said sofily. “It’s our family’s
*I planned to give you this on your wedding day, just as my mother gave it to me. heirloom And now it belongs to you”
She unclasped it and motioned for me to turn around. I brushed my hair with cold fingers, letting her fasten it around my neck
For a moment, neither of us spoke
Then, I turned to her and whispered. “Granilma, do you think love is ever enought“:
She let out a tired sigh, her hand resting on her lap. “No, darling, Love alone is never enough. Not in the real world.”
I bit my lip
“I wish I could tell you otherwise,” she continued. “But I watched my daughter believe love could fix everything. And I watched her crumble when it
I lowered my head, my fingers curling around the pendant. “I barely remember them together.” I elenched my fist. “But I do remember… that day.”
Her hand covered mine. What is it. Camille!”
I sighed heavily: “The day George hit her.”
She gasped and fell silent. I had never told her about this.
It was a memory I could never forget the sound of the slap, the way my mother stumbled back, clutching her cheek, while my father stood over her, yelling something I was too young to understand.
“I don’t even remember what they were fighting about,” I admitted. “Just the look in her eyes”
Pain. Betrayal. The moment she realized the man she loved could hurt her like that.
Grandma’s fingers tightened around mine. “Your mother lost herself in that pain,” she said softly. “She let it consume her. That’s why she never left this farm. She felt like this was the only place safe for her and for you.. Even when she wanted to see your twin, Callie, she couldn’t. Because fear consumed her, too”
Grandma’s voice broke as she whispered, “Oh, my poor child. She wanted Callie to be with you and her so badly.”
My chest tightened at the mention of Callie.
Then my stomach twisted as I remembered how my mother cried in her last days.
Would that happen to me! Would I marry a man only to regret is later!
A shiver ran through me at the thought. “G–Grandma, will I end up like Mommy? I’m scared.”
She squeezed my hand and pulled me into a hug. “Getting hurt is inevitable, Camille. That’s life. We don’t get to choose whether or not we experience pain. But She paused, gently holding my chin so I would look at her. “We do get to choose who is worth that risk”
1 bir my lip.
She continued, her voice unwavering, “I don’t believe Liam will be the one to hurt you like that.”
I looked up at her. “How can you be so sure?”
A knowing smile tugged at her lips. “Because I see something in him.”
Those words agam
“Grandma, what do you really mean by that?”
“A man can pretend all he wants,” she said, “but a woman who has lived long enough knows when a man is holding back something deeper.”
I still didn’t understand.
Grandma tilted her head slightly, watching me. “Have you noticed how he looks at your
Chapter 73
I felt heat creep up my neck.
She chuckled. “Ah, so you have.”
I sighed, shifting in my seat. “Liam is, complicated.”
“All men are”
I shot her a look, and she laughed.
”
Then she softened again. I trust him, Camille,” she said. “I trust that whatever he feels for you.. it’s real. And I trust him not to be like your father.”
I wanted to believe that
I wanted to believe in him.
I let out a shaky breath, blinking back the tears that had welled in my eyes. But one had already escaped, slipping down my cheek before I could мор и
I smiled and wiped my own tears before gently dabbing at Grandma’s damp cheek with my fingers, “Look at us,” I said with a soft chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. “Crying like we just watched the saddest movie ever. We should stop, Grandma, or else we might have to redo our makeup. And that’s way too much effort, so let’s do something fun instead.”
Grandma chuckled, raising a curious brow. “And what’s that?”
1 grinned. “A picture.”
Her face softened as I continued, “I know we have the official wedding photographer later, but I want one with just us. Right now. Just for us.”
Grandma’s lips curled into a warm smile. “T’d love that, sweetheart.”
Excited. I stood
LP
I stopped mid–step.
and walked to the small wooden table beside my bed where I had left my phone. “Okay, let me grab my
My eyes landed on the glowing screen. A notification had popped up at the top.
It was Callic
She had already replied to my
I just stared at it for a moment, my fingers hovering over the device but not picking it up just yet.
Grandma must have noticed the change in
e in my expression because her voice softened with concern as she asked. “Camille, what is it?”
I swallowed hard, finally grabbing my phone. “Callie she replied to the message I gent her, Grandma.”
Grandma gave me an encouraging look. “Go on, sweetheart. Read it
And so, I did
