Chapter 4 - The Wedding Morning
On Saturday morning, Harper woke before dawn with severe pain.
She sat at the edge of her bed, breathing slowly until the room stopped spinning.
Downstairs, Mason was already dressed in his burgundy wedding shirt.
“Aunt Harper, Mom said we have to arrive early.”
Harper managed a smile.
“I remember.”
She considered calling an ambulance.
Then Noah appeared holding one shoe, tears forming because he could not find the other. Eli had spilled cereal over his trousers. Mason was trying to fix his own tie.
Harper moved through the routine automatically.
She cleaned the trousers, found the shoe beneath the sofa, and adjusted three small collars. She packed the medical warning packet into the inside pocket of her tactical jacket because she planned to stop by her precinct before the wedding.
She also carried a second envelope.
It contained copies of the bank records proving where the surgery money had gone.
Across the front, Harper had written For Chloe’s Wedding.
She wanted her sister to see exactly what the celebration had cost.
Not just in dollars.
In trust.
Harper drove the boys to the hotel, where Eleanor met them in a dark emerald-green dress.
Her mother’s eyes narrowed at Harper’s uniform.
“You couldn’t change?”
“I was called in for an emergency briefing.”
“Today of all days?”
Harper looked toward the ballroom doors.
“Where’s Chloe?”
“Getting ready. Do not upset her.”
“I need my money returned.”
Eleanor’s expression hardened.
“Not here.”
“My surgery is Monday.”
“Then use a payment plan.”
“You stole from me.”
Eleanor glanced around to ensure no one had heard.
“Lower your voice.”
“You used my personal information.”
“For your sister.”
“That does not make it legal.”
Eleanor leaned closer.
“Chloe finally has a chance to marry into a good family. Do not ruin this because you’re jealous.”
Harper felt something inside her go still.
She had heard cruel words while wearing a police badge. She had faced strangers who screamed, threatened, and blamed her for their choices.
Nothing had prepared her for hearing her own mother reduce her life to jealousy.
Harper stepped back.
“I’m leaving.”
“You are not taking the boys.”
“They live with me.”
“They are in the wedding.”
Before Harper could answer, another wave of pain tore through her. She gripped the edge of a table and fought to stay upright.
Mason noticed.
“Aunt Harper?”
May you like
“I’m okay.”
But she was not.
