Chapter 150 Movie-level Romantic “Look! Isn’t it beautiful?” I held out my hand for Alyssa and Lizzie to see, unable to stop smiling. The ring sparkled even in broad daylight — a soft, clear glow that almost didn’t belong in such a sterile place as this. Lizzie gasped like I’d handed her a meteor. “Holy shit, Savannah. It’s huge!” She grabbed my hand and turned it toward the light, squinting dramatically. “Wait—hold on. Did you lose the other one? Why did he get you a new one?” “My thoughts exactly,” Alyssa said, leaning in for a closer look. “This is gorgeous, Sav. But what happened to the one you used to wear? That was pretty too. Please don't tell me you lost it.” I froze for a second. They didn’t know. None of them did. The first ring, the staged proposal, the whole fake engagement—those were things I’d neatly packed away in the past, buried under everything that had changed between Roman and me. The story was ours now—private, imperfect, and sacred in the way only something real and hard-won could be. And I had no intention of ever dragging it back into the open. “Nothing happened to it,” I said smoothly, pulling my hand back. “Roman just wanted me to have something that felt like mine. Not his mother’s. He said he wanted me to have something new, something personal.” Alyssa smiled. “That’s actually really sweet. He's a really good guy, Savannah.” She said softly. “Sweet? Girl, it’s movie-level romantic,” Lizzie said, clutching her chest. “Like, can we talk about the fact that he just casually buys you another massive ring because he thought the first one wasn’t personal enough? Savannah, please. You’re living my dream.” She grabbed my wrist and examined it again, dramatically fanning herself. From her hospital bed, Mom gave a weak laugh. “He’s treating you right, isn’t he, honey?” Her voice wavered just enough to make me look at her. She sounded fragile—like even asking the question hurt a little. “Of course he is,” Lizzie said before I could. “Auntie, look at her! She’s glowing. Literally glowing. The man’s spoiling her to death! And don’t even get me started on that Aston Martin he bought her back in New Hope—” “Lizzie.” I tried not to laugh. “What? It’s true!” she said, throwing up her hands. “The man’s rich, gorgeous, and apparently obsessed with you. That’s the dream! That's the standard!” We all burst out laughing, and for a moment, the air felt lighter—no machines, no hospital walls, just warmth. “Yes, Mom,” I said finally, smiling softly. “Roman’s treating me really well.” She smiled back, but her eyes were sad. “I’m happy to hear that.” Her voice softened further. “I failed you in that aspect, Savannah. You, Alyssa… even Chloe—my poor baby girl. I should’ve protected you girls better.” “Mom,” I said quickly, a knot forming in my throat. “Please don’t. Not now. This is my moment—not Chloe's.” She blinked fast, trying to wave it off. “Oh, don’t mind me. I didn’t mean to ruin the moment.” She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, forcing a smile. The room went quiet for a beat. It wasn’t tense, just heavy—that kind of silence that hums with all the things people don’t say out loud. Thankfully, Lizzie was never one to stay quiet for long. “So, Sav,” she said suddenly, grinning mischievously, “you never got back to me about your hot brother-in-law.”Alyssa groaned. “Oh God, not this again.” I turned to Lizzie slowly. “What about him?” She pouted dramatically. “You promised to introduce me! You said you’d make it happen. Do you know how many outfits I planned in my head already?” I rolled my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.” Alyssa laughed. “Who even is this mystery man you’ve been drooling over?” “Reese,” Lizzie said dreamily. “Roman’s brother. The sexy one. And he's blonde too.” I almost groaned. “Please don’t call him that.” “Why? Is he not sexy?” Lizzie teased. “Because I’ve seen pictures. I've stalked him on the internet, and, honey, that man could step on me and I’d thank him.” Alyssa choked on a laugh. “You’re unbelievable.” I sighed, trying to ignore the irritation prickling under my skin. The last thing I needed was Lizzie fantasizing about Reese—Roman’s arrogant, smug, impossible brother. The thought of her even near him made me uneasy. “He’s… complicated,” I said finally, trying to sound casual. “And not your type, trust me. He's a player.”Lizzie gasped dramatically. “Savannah! Are you gatekeeping men now? After all the years I supported your questionable tastes?” “Questionable tastes?” I echoed, mock-offended. Alyssa snorted. “She’s not wrong.” “Okay, enough,” I said, laughing. “You two are exhausting.” Before Lizzie could protest, there was a knock at the door—two sharp raps that cut through the chatter. “That must be the lawyer,” I said, heading to open it. Standing in the doorway was a tall woman dressed in a maroon skirt suit, her hair pinned in a sleek twist. She looked effortlessly composed — sharp lines, controlled expression, eyes that didn’t miss much. Penny. “Thank you for coming,” I said, extending my hand, trying to sound civil. And maybe, also show off my ring. Just as a subtle backoff. She looked at it for a fraction too long before taking it—polite, but distant. “Roman asked me for a favor,” she said smoothly. “And when he calls, I don’t say no.” I caught the faint chill in her tone but chose to ignore it. “Come in,” I said, stepping aside. She entered, posture perfect, perfume faint but probably expensive. The air in the room shifted—the kind of quiet tension that comes when someone walks in carrying their own gravity. “This is my mom,” I said, motioning toward the bed. “My sister, Alyssa. And my cousin, Lizzie.” They each offered polite smiles. Then all eyes went to me, waiting for the final introduction. “And this,” I said carefully, “is Penelope. Roman’s lawyer and friend.” Penelope smiled, stepping forward to shake Mom’s hand. “It’s lovely to meet you.” Everything was fine. Normal. Until she turned to Alyssa. “I’m Penelope,” she said, her voice steady but carrying something sharp underneath. “Roman’s sister-in-law. He was married to my sister first.” The air snapped. Every head in the room turned toward me. Mom’s smile fell instantly. Alyssa froze, blinking as if she wasn’t sure she’d heard right. Lizzie’s eyes widened in gleeful shock. My stomach dropped. I’d expected tension today. Awkwardness, maybe. But not this. Penny’s expression stayed polite, almost too polite. Like she knew exactly what she was doing—and the bitch was enjoying every second of it. Alyssa recovered first. “Wait, what did you just say?” Penelope looked at her, serene as ever. “Roman was married to my sister. A long time ago,” she said lightly, as if mentioning the weather. “But that’s all in the past now.” The silence that followed could’ve frozen air. Or maybe it did. Mom looked at me with confusion and hurt swimming in her eyes. “Savannah… is this true?” My throat tightened. I could already feel the blood rushing to my face. “Yes,” I said finally, keeping my voice as even as I could. “I knew.” “You knew?” Alyssa’s tone cracked like glass. “You’ve been engaged this whole time, and you knew he was married before?” I met her gaze, forcing calm. “She's dead, Alyssa. It happened years ago. It's all in the past now.”Lizzie’s eyes darted between me and Penelope, clearly eating up every second of the drama. “So wait, like… he was married to her sister? Oh my God, this is like something out of a TV show.” “Lizzie, not now,” I said sharply. “Please.” Penny, of course, stood there like a queen who’d just toppled her opponent’s throne. “I didn’t mean to make anyone uncomfortable,” she said sweetly, though her eyes said otherwise. “I just assumed everyone knew.” No, she didn’t assume. She wanted this. She wanted the spectacle. The bitch wanted to get back at me. The room was suffocatingly quiet except for the hum of machines. My mother’s disappointment sat heavy in the air, unspoken but present. Finally, Penny pulled out an envelope from her bag. “Anyway,” she said briskly, “these are the documents Roman asked me to prepare. Everything he wanted signed is in here. You both need to sign. So have Roman communicate with me when you do.” She extended it toward me. I took it without a word, my jaw tight. “Thank you,” I said stiffly. “Of course,” she said with a perfect little smile. “Anything for Roman.” And with that, she turned and walked out. When the door closed, I let out a slow breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. No one had said a word yet. Mom looked away first, exhaling softly. Alyssa stared at me, still processing. Lizzie opened her mouth like she wanted to ask a thousand questions but, for once, didn’t. I could feel the heat crawling up my neck, the humiliation seeping into my bones. I hadn’t wanted this. I’d been protecting my family from misunderstanding. But now the truth was out—and not from me. From her. Roman’s past had just walked into my mother’s hospital room, smiled like a guest of honor, and detonated a bomb I thought wouldn't blow up so soon. I stared at the ring on my hand—gleaming, beautiful, and suddenly unbearably heavy.