Vera finally settled on maroon and cream as the colors for her wedding. Bella, excited, decided to include her friends in the plans.
"Should we wear the same dress for Mum's wedding?" Bella asked Alexia.
"Sure," Alexia replied, "but we can't wear the same color as you. You're the chief bridesmaid, remember?"
"Oh. Oops I didn't think of that," Bella laughed, before turning to her other friends.
"Guys, I'm sure you all got invites to my mum's wedding. She doesn't have many close friends, so if you don't mind, would you be my bridesmaids?" Bella asked, studying their faces nervously.
"Of course," Nadia said quickly.
"Sure. But how do we get dresses before next Saturday?" Lilian asked.
"If we agree tonight, I can place the order right away," Bella said.
"Count me in," Nadia replied.
"Me too," Lilian nodded.
"Me three," Alexia added with a grin.
Bella beamed. "Perfect. Let me just call my best friend." She dialed Bianca.
"Hello, best friend," Bella chirped.
"Babe, can I call you back? I'm at work," Bianca whispered.
"This will be quick. It's urgent," Bella pleaded.
"Alright, shoot."
"Would you like to be one of Mum's bridesmaids? I'm placing the order for dresses."
"Of course," Bianca said warmly.
"What size?"
"Size ten."
"Great. The dress is about forty-five pounds."
"I'll send a hundred mine and Mum's," Bianca replied without hesitation.
Bella smiled. "Thank you so much, B."
"Anything for you and Aunt Vera. Tell her congratulations again."
Next, Bella called Tatiana.
"Hello, Aunt Ana," Bella greeted.
"Hello, favorite daughter. How are you?"
"I'm good. Mum's wedding is next week I'm sorting out dresses. What's your size?"
"Size twelve," Tatiana said.
"Bianca already paid for you," Bella added with a grin.
Tatiana laughed softly. "That girl never changes. Thank you, darling."
Bella placed the order that evening: a maroon gown for herself and Raquel, and cream versions of the same design for the others.
When Bella got home, she found the twins and Raquel lounging in Kayden's room, bags from Christmas shopping scattered around.
"You guys are traitors," Bella said, dropping onto the couch with mock irritation.
"Well, no one asked you to become a flight attendant," Jayden teased.
"And what has that got to do with you all going shopping without me?" Bella shot back.
"You're always busy. You barely have time for yourself, talk less of us," Jayden said.
"Do you even have time for Chris? Are you two even official?" Kayden added with a smirk.
Bella blushed. "We talk on the phone most of the time. I saw him yesterday."
"But did you spend time with him?" Kayden pressed. "A lot of girls would drop everything just to see him."
Raquel folded her arms. "And you don't even call him. He's always the one calling you. Are you trying to make him feel unwanted?"
Jayden tilted his head. "Do you even like him, sis?"
"Yes," Bella admitted softly, cheeks pink.
Raquel studied her. "I don't think you like him as much as he likes you."
"Why do you say that, baby?" Bella asked.
"Just... intuition."
"Why are we suddenly dissecting my love life?" Bella asked awkwardly.
Before anyone could answer, Jayden's phone rang. He lit up instantly.
"Annyeonghaseyo, yeoja-chingu," he greeted, grinning from ear to ear.
Bella and Raquel exchanged stunned looks. "Did he just say girlfriend in Korean?" Bella whispered.
Kayden shrugged, equally surprised.
"Hi, babe," a girl's voice replied through the speaker.
"How are you?" Jayden asked, his cheeks flushed pink.
"I'm fine. Are you still coming for the wedding?"
"That's why I called. My parents don't want me traveling till January. They want me home for the holidays," she said.
"Awwwwn. Bogo sip-eoyo," Jayden pouted.
"I miss you too, baby," she replied.
"Can we FaceTime?"
"Yes!" Jayden squealed, quickly switching the call.
Bella's jaw dropped. "Who was that?"
Raquel rolled her eyes. "That's his girlfriend, Veronica. She's Korean."
"Wow," Bella whispered.
"How come Catty knew and I didn't?" Kayden demanded, glaring at his twin.
"I told you before, but you didn't believe me," Jayden said with a shrug, grinning like a fool.
Kayden laughed. "Unbelievable. My brother actually has a girlfriend."
"What do you mean I'm crazy? You chose not to believe me how is that my problem?" Jayden snapped.
"Veronica is super hot, sis. Have you seen her? She'd never date a boring guy like Jay. Maybe she's just being nice," Kayden said with a smirk.
"Are you jealous she chose me and not you? I've noticed the way you look at her." Jayden glared at his twin.
"Yes, I like her so what? You went behind my back to ask her out. You knew I liked her. Why did you date her then?" Kayden replied, voice tight.
"Guys!" Bella stood up, cutting through the tension. "Do you have to do this now? We're supposed to be planning Mum's wedding."
"You know what, Ella," Kayden said, hurt slipping into his voice. "I never felt like I belonged here because you always support Brax no matter what. He knew I liked Veronica, I told him, but he still went after her."
"You told me you weren't going to go after anyone you said you weren't ready," Jayden shot back.
"That doesn't give you the right to take my love interest," Kayden spat.
"I liked her too that's why I went after her. She likes me, so we're together. Stop making everything about Brandon and don't drag Noona into this." Jayden's face hardened.
"Oppas, please" Raquel started.
"Quiet. Shut the fuck up." Both men thundered in unison, cutting her off.
"That was rude," Bella said, glaring.
"Kay, why are you mad when you told him you wouldn't go after her?" Bella asked.
"Because he broke my last relationship and I can't forgive him for that." Kayden's voice rose before he stormed from the room, leaving Bella and Raquel stunned.
"What... what did he mean by 'you broke his last relationship'?" Bella asked Jayden.
"I told him, but he chose not to believe me so he can go fuck himself," Jayden yelled, then turned and walked away.
"How long have you guys been holding grudges?" Bella asked, worried.
"You can ask him," Jayden said coldly. "I've got no more patience." He left.
Bella and Raquel exchanged a baffled look. A beat later they heard a smashing crash.
"You crazy motherfucker!" Kayden's shout cut the air. He'd thrown a punch and a vase on the terrace shattered. Bella and Raquel sprinted toward the sound.
They found Jayden stumbling back, nose bleeding. Before anyone could move, Jayden lunged at Kayden. Fists flew Kayden fell, then Jayden was on top, delivering punches. Bella and Raquel rushed in, pulling them apart. Kayden lay on his stomach, blood on his lip, but laughing with ugly bravado.
"I tried to explain and you wouldn't listen," Jayden shouted through grit teeth. "Do you know how guilty I beat myself every day? I'm done feeling guilty. You chose not to believe me that's on you." He stalked out.
Bella and Raquel knelt beside Kayden, trying to help him to his feet.
"Why are you like this? You're not usually violent — tell me what happened," Bella pleaded.
"Don't act like you care. We all know you don't." Kayden shoved Bella aside and walked to his room.
Bella's mouth fell open. Tears sprang into her eyes before she could stop them.
"Do you think I don't care about them?" Bella asked Raquel, voice barely steady.
"Not that you don't care about them as people," Raquel said, blunt. "But Oppa feels neglected by you. He always has."
"What?" Bella blinked.
"You and Jayden use Korean a lot. He gets left out of conversations. You shut him down tonight when he tried to speak. He felt unwanted." Raquel's tone was matter-of-fact.
"I never knew he felt like that. Why didn't he ever say? I would have fixed it." Bella pressed her palms to her face. "I love both of them. I love them equally."
"You don't need to feel bad. He's just too proud to say it," Raquel said. "Go find Jayden. It's more dangerous for him to be out driving this late. I'll talk to Kay."
Bella hesitated, then Raquel gave her a determined push. "Go. Now."
Bella swallowed, wiped her cheeks, and ran out to find Jayden.