“Eden?” a small voice called in, and I know it is Lianne before she pokes her head around the door.
I leap off the bed and jump into her arms. “Lianne!” Wrapping my arms around her neck, I hold her close to me.
I shake as more tears sting my eyes.
It has been a long time since I have cried this much. Her arms are holding my waist, and she is rocking me slightly from side to side.
“I’m so sorry, Eden.” She pulls me away enough to look at me. “I’msosorry.”
“Why are you apologizing? You didn’t do this.” I search her eyes.
“No, but I suspected it.” She looks down and then backed up to me like she is to blame for everything. “I questioned, and I never even did anything about it. I could have—”
“You couldn’t have done anything, Lianne.”
“I could have asked you. I could have talked to you about what I was asking myself. If your situation was like mine or not.” Her voice broke. “I didn’t think it was. Mr. Donovan was married already. There was Samuel, but he was supposed to be the next in line for the Divine. I didn’t—” Her words stop as she slowly shut her eyes. “I mean, I questioned if it would be you, but I never thought...”
“You couldn’t have known,” I whispered, holding her back.
Even when my world is crumbling around me, I feel the need to make her feel better, not wanting her to feel guilty for something out of our control.
She never had a choice when it came to Mr. Wellingburg. I am now just gaining the knowledge that I never had a choice in Samuel.
“We didn’t choose any of this ourselves, did we?” I say, letting her go and motioning to the room.
But I really mean Everton altogether. I wasn’t wrong. There was no choice. We are brought here to be saved from the way we used to live. Everton, the Donovans, the Divine... Samuel... they made my life better, and they gave my life purpose.
The uncertainty ached in me. Not knowing if everything is a lie or if this is all the right path I’m supposed to be on. The Divine has never wronged me before, but this little voice in the back of my mind is telling me to not to trust it, to run and hide as far away as I can. It is getting louder and louder as the seconds tick by.
“Did Samuel let you in?” I say as I pull her with me to sit on the bed.
“He told me to come over. I tried calling and texting you, but you weren’t answering anything.”
“I don’t have my phone.” Picking at my nail beds, I drop my head.
“What do you mean?” She lowers her voice as if someone is listening in.
“I have been in this room since I got home from the funeral service yesterday. I don’t have my purse. When I was...” I stop myself, not knowing if I wanted to say therest. “Samuel brought dinner in here last night. He hasn’t given me my bag.”
We sit there for a bit, both of us unsure of what to say, but she pulls me into another hug, and we lean against the headboard.
Tears spring to my eyes, and she just holds me for a while.
She sits up and pulls me at arm’s length. “We can run for it. I’ll hide you in my car, and we will just leave,” she whispers.
“Lian—”
“Shush. I’m gonna get you out of here. You aren’t going to marry yourbrother.”
The door swings open, and we both jump, a small shriek leaving Lianne.
“Lianne. Eden.” Samuel gives us a head bow and leans against the doorframe. “I hope the visit is helping.” He is looking at me solely, but I don’t give him a response. I look only at my lap. “Lianne, I think you have really helped. I thank you, but it’s time to go now. I need to speak with my bride.”
I look at him. The wordbridemakes me scowl at him.
He narrows his eyes.
Lianne leans in, hugging me tighter than she ever has before. “I won’t let him do this to you,” she whispers into my ear before pulling away, giving me a look that tells me she really means those words.
