Hermione's POV
The photograph slipped from my shaking fingers and landed face-up on the hallway floor.
I'd been looking for batteries in the storage closet when I found it. My mother. Young and smiling, standing next to a woman who looked exactly like Rebecca. But younger. Happier.
They had their arms around each other like best friends.
"What are you doing?"
I spun around. Rebecca stood at the end of the hallway, her eyes fixed on the photo at my feet.
"I was just—I needed batteries for the camera. For tomorrow." My voice came out squeaky and small.
Rebecca walked closer, each step slow and careful. She bent down and picked up the photograph, staring at it for a long moment.
"Your mother and I were close once." Her voice sounded different. Sad, maybe? "A very long time ago."
"I didn't know that."
"There's a lot you don't know, Hermione." She tucked the photo into her pocket. "Now go to bed. Tomorrow is your big day."
But it didn't feel like my big day anymore. Not after seeing Jerry with Linda last night. Not after Linda wore my ring.
I'd run from his apartment before either of them could explain. I couldn't hear their excuses. Couldn't listen to their lies.
Now I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering if I should call off the wedding myself.
A noise from downstairs made me sit up. Voices. Whispers.
I checked my phone. Two in the morning.
Who was awake?
I crept out of bed and tiptoed to the stairs. The voices got louder as I moved closer.
"—can't tell her yet." That was Rebecca.
"But she's going to find out anyway!" Linda's voice was high and whiny. "Why wait?"
"Because timing is everything, you foolish girl."
I froze on the stairs, my heart hammering against my ribs.
"What if she refuses?" Linda asked.
"She won't have a choice. I've made sure of that."
"And Jerry? What if he changes his mind?"
Rebecca laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound. "Jerry will do exactly what his father tells him to do. The Kingston family needs this merger more than they need love."
Merger? What merger?
I leaned forward, trying to hear better. My foot hit the creaky step.
The whispers stopped.
"Who's there?" Rebecca's voice turned sharp.
I had two choices. Run back to my room like a scared mouse, or face them.
I chose to face them.
"It's me." I walked down the rest of the stairs, trying to look braver than I felt. "I heard voices."
Rebecca and Linda stood in the living room. Papers were spread across the coffee table. Linda quickly gathered them up, but not before I saw numbers. Big numbers. And my father's signature at the bottom.
"Hermione, sweetheart." Rebecca's face changed completely. Now she looked warm and caring. Fake. "You should be sleeping."
"What are you two doing?" I looked at the papers in Linda's hands. "What is all that?"
"Wedding surprises!" Linda smiled so wide it looked painful. "We've been planning something special for you."
"At two in the morning?"
"We couldn't sleep either." Rebecca walked over and put her arm around my shoulders. I wanted to shake it off, but I didn't. "We're just so excited for tomorrow. Aren't we, Linda?"
"So excited." Linda hugged the papers to her chest. "You're going to love it."
"What kind of surprise?" I tried to see what was written on those papers, but Linda turned away.
"If we tell you, it won't be a surprise anymore." Rebecca guided me toward the stairs. "Now be a good girl and go back to bed."
"But I saw—"
"You saw nothing important." Rebecca's fingers dug into my shoulder. Not hard enough to hurt, but hard enough to send a message. "Just boring family business. Nothing for you to worry about."
"I'm family too."
Rebecca stopped walking. For a second, something dark flashed across her face. Then it was gone.
"Of course you are, dear. Now go. You need your beauty sleep."
I climbed the stairs slowly, but I didn't go to my room. Instead, I hid in the shadows at the top, watching.
Rebecca waited until she thought I was gone. Then she turned to Linda.
"That was too close."
"She's getting suspicious," Linda said.
"Let her suspect. By tomorrow afternoon, it won't matter." Rebecca took the papers from Linda's hands and locked them in the desk drawer. "Everything will be ours."
"And Hermione?"
"Hermione will be exactly where she belongs. Out of our way."
My blood turned to ice.
Linda giggled. Actually giggled. "I can't wait to see her face when she realizes—"
"Quiet!" Rebecca looked around nervously. "Not another word until it's done."
They left the room, turning off the lights.
I stood in the darkness, my mind racing. What were they planning? What would be theirs? And why did Rebecca say I'd be out of their way?
I had to know what was in those papers.
I waited until I heard Rebecca's bedroom door close. Then Linda's. Then I counted to one hundred, just to be safe.
The house was completely silent as I crept back downstairs. The desk drawer was locked, but I knew where Rebecca kept the spare key. Under the third flowerpot in the kitchen.
My hands shook as I unlocked the drawer and pulled out the papers.
The first page made my stomach drop.
Transfer of Ownership: Hale Estate and Holdings
From: Maria Hale (Deceased)
To: Rebecca Hale
But that wasn't right. My mother left everything to me. I remembered my father telling me that before he died.
I flipped through more pages. Bank statements showing money being moved. Property deeds with forged signatures. And at the bottom of the pile, a wedding contract.
Between Jerry Kingston and Linda Hale.
Dated for tomorrow.
The same day as my wedding.
My wedding that would never happen.
Because they were going to take everything. My home. My inheritance. Even my groom.
The lights flicked on.
Rebecca stood in the doorway, her face calm and cold.
"I was wondering when you'd finally look," she said softly.
Behind her, Linda appeared, holding her phone up like she was recording.
"Surprise," Linda whispered.
And then Rebecca smiled. "Pack your bags, Hermione. You have until sunrise to get out of my house."