chapter┊ ✦. :: thirteen
♡ ﹙family drama﹚ ❋  ˚  ݂ ꛒ

Lydia held onto Carlisle's arm tightly to keep from falling, though he barely felt a gentle pressure. She listened to her girlfriend's rapid heartbeat and simply stroked the hand resting on his arm.

"That woman is my mother," Lydia murmured, but Carlisle heard her loud and clear. "The one on the left is my father, and in front of them are Jonah's parents. The one with black hair is Jonah's younger sister."

Carlisle couldn't stop smiling as he nodded in understanding.

"Well, let's go say hello then," he suggested.

Lydia laughed, and for a moment, she felt more relaxed, but the feeling didn't last long when Lydia's mother noticed her daughter's presence. She nudged her husband gently to look, and the man also noticed their eldest daughter's presence, flashing a radiant smile.

"Lydia, I'm glad you made it," her mother spoke enthusiastically.

Lydia separated from Carlisle just to hug her parents and then returned to his side. She smiled awkwardly at her ex-in-laws.

"Lydia, I'm glad you came," her father-in-law said.

"My mother insisted," Lydia replied, unsure where to look, but then remembered Carlisle. "This is Carlisle Cullen."

She introduced the man behind her, and the four looked at him with impressed expressions. He stood out in the room. Jonah's sister had her mouth slightly open as she watched him, her cheeks tinged with a soft pink.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Carlisle said kindly, with a pleasant smile.

"I'm Marcelle Knox," Lydia's father introduced himself, extending a hand. His tone was somewhat gruff as he didn't trust many men who approached his daughter.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Knox," Carlisle shook the man's hand firmly but not too hard as he didn't want to hurt his father-in-law.

"Delilah," Lydia's mother introduced herself.

They both shook hands, although the woman frowned and looked at Carlisle with terror for a millisecond. An action not unnoticed by the man, but they both disguised it very well. Carlisle felt a bit curious, but he would have time to ask his girlfriend later.

"They're Marianne and Felix Rigby, Jonah's parents," Lydia introduced them. "She's Alessandra, his sister."

After the introductions, there was an awkward silence. Everyone was captivated by Carlisle.

"Where did you two meet?" Delilah asked to break the tension.

"At work. Carlisle is also a doctor at the Forks Community Hospital."

"I suppose you two are a couple?" Marcelle spoke next, though he cleared his throat a couple of times.

"Yes, we are," Lydia put her arm around the man's back to hug him, and everyone noticed how her eyes sparkled intensely at him. Carlisle kissed Lydia's forehead and then gave her a smile.

"I apologize for showing up unannounced; it was a last-minute decision."

"Don't mention it," Felix spoke with a big smile. "There's always room for one more at these events."

Lydia had always gotten along well with Jonah's father, and after their breakup, the man kept in touch with her, although it didn't last long.

"Come, Lydia," her mother spoke. "You might want to see your sister before the ceremony."

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea," she frowned. "I'm the last person she wants to see today."

"Nonsense. Let's go."

She looked at Carlisle as if she were asking for help, but they both knew they couldn't delay that moment much longer.

"Relax, everything will be fine," he murmured.

"Okay. See you later," she separated from the blonde to walk with her mother.

Both left the room silently and walked down a long hallway.

"I suppose you know," her mother spoke calmly, "that your boyfriend is a vampire."

Lydia looked at her mother, trying to find some explanation.

"Do you know about them?"

"Of course. Although I never imagined you would start dating... one of them," she chuckled, "I admit the man is very attractive. And if he treats you well, I suppose it doesn't matter. Love is love."

They walked again, but this time Lydia smiled.

"They said... they couldn't smell me," the girl suddenly said, "do you know why?"

The woman hummed in response.

"We'll talk after the wedding. Okay?"

"Okay," she wanted to know everything now, but she resigned herself.

They arrived at the room where Lilian was waiting. Lydia sighed, regretting being there. Her mother knocked a couple of times but didn't wait for a response when she opened the door and peeked inside. Lydia didn't hear the brief conversation, but she entered when her mother took her hand.

Lilian's smile slowly faded, and Lydia felt slightly dizzy. Lilian's dress was similar to hers... wait a second... that was her dress. She bit her tongue to keep from starting to scream at her. Probably her mother had no idea because the dress was a complete surprise to everyone.

"I thought you wouldn't come," Lilian spoke quietly, but Lydia felt slightly nauseous. Her sister's dress was similar to hers... wait a second... that was her dress. She bit her tongue to keep from starting to scream at her. Probably her mother had no idea because the dress was a complete surprise to everyone.

"I thought so too," Lydia crossed her arms, avoiding looking at her younger sister.

"I insisted she come. Please, girls, you are both my daughters, and I know you two have conflicts to resolve, but we can spend time together as a family once again. Do it for your father and me."

Both sisters looked at each other. Lilian seemed to radiate anger, although she had no right to feel that way. Still, she didn't say a word.

"I think I'll wait in the lounge," Lydia quickly left the room. She wanted to cry in anger; how dare her sister wear her own wedding dress? How was it that her mother had asked her to come to this wedding knowing what it could cause?

Everyone knew that Jonah had cheated on Lydia with her younger sister. Everyone knew, and yet she was there as if nothing had happened. What Lydia didn't understand was why they had accepted the union of that pair. Unless...

"Lydia?" she stopped at the sound of her name.

Turning around, she found Jonah. She wanted to scream and curse out of pure rage. She had had enough with seeing her sister using her wedding dress and didn't want to see her ex-fiancé as well.

"Jonah," she

tried to smile, but it came out as a grimace.

"I didn't... I thought you wouldn't come."

"Yes, everyone in this building agrees with you."

They stared at each other for a moment with some discomfort. Neither knew what to say.

"You look... really beautiful."

She rolled her eyes.

"Don't even try it; it's ridiculous even for you."

She pursed her lips to stifle a bitter laugh.

"I guess you've visited your sister already," she crossed her arms.

"She's the least happy to see me here," he sighed, "I couldn't help but notice she's wearing my dress, which, as I recall, I had stored in MY apartment."

Jonah took a step back, swallowing hard.

"Lydia..."

"Don't even try. At least you could have bought her a new one. If I remember correctly, you were named the hospital director a year ago. Even this place seems to have cost a fortune, and she had to wear MY dress."

"I'm sorry. It was... I took some of my things from the apartment, and she was with me."

"I don't care about your apologies, Jonah. You know I'll never forgive you, and I only came for my mother."

"I understand."

There was a moment of silence.

"Can I ask you something?" Lydia spoke after releasing a deep sigh. Her head began to throb, and she just wanted to leave.

"Of course, anything you want."

She shouldn't ask questions she didn't want to hear the answer to, but at this point, nothing mattered anymore.

"When did it all start?"

"Lydia, I don't think..."

"The truth, Jonah. Just tell me the truth."

He lowered his gaze and then looked her in the eyes.

"Do you remember... do you remember your father's birthday? The surprise party?"

Lydia was speechless.

"You're a...!" she fell silent, trying to regain her composure, "Four months! We had been together for four damn months at that time," she pushed him, "do you have shit for brains?" she pushed him again, but he didn't resist, "she's my younger sister, Jonah. Of all the people in the world, why my sister?"

Jonah frowned and crossed his arms. Now he seemed to be the offended one by the whole situation, although he had no right.

"It's no secret to anyone that your sister envies you since you were kids. You were always the center of attention for being some kind of genius, but her? She was left behind."

"That's not an excuse, and don't try to blame her," a tear escaped, "we were together for four years, Jonah. You cheated on me for four years with my own sister."

"I love her, more than I ever loved you. But I admit I made a mistake."

Lydia let out a laugh.

"She only used you, Jonah. As you said, she has always tried to get what I have. She wants to be like me, so don't be surprised when you find out that you were just another thing on her list."

"She loves me."

"She only played the victim to trap you. Poor Lilian, who has always lived in the shadow of her sister," she laughed without humor, "did she tell you that when she was ten and I was nine, she took my ferret and left it halfway down the road when she was going to school? Did she tell you that she cut her hair at eleven and told our parents that I had done it? Did she tell you that she ruined my university thesis by deleting every single backup file I had? Of course not, because she's always poor Lilian who lives in the shadow of her amazing sister. I think you're definitely a match made in heaven," she smiled, "congratulations on your wedding, by the way. I don't think I need to remind you that I left town because you couldn't stand that I left you and begged me through tears to forgive you."

Lydia turned around to continue her way; as she turned the corner of the hallway, she stopped to wipe her tears. Surely all her makeup had been ruined, but she tried to fix it as best as she could. It had definitely been a bad idea to go.

She sighed deeply before returning to the hall. Soft music was playing, and there were more guests than a few minutes ago. She saw Carlisle, who was still talking to his father, and smiled when she noticed that they both seemed very animated. She approached, hugging Carlisle around the waist. The man immediately noticed the girl's red eyes but saved the questions for later.

"This guy is great," Marcelle said to his daughter. "I think I like him better than the previous one."

Lydia laughed, looking at Carlisle.

"He's much better, without a doubt."

Marcelle let out a deep sigh, really seeming upset about something. He took a small sip of his drink and looked at his daughter.

"I told your mother not to insist on calling you. We all feel quite uncomfortable, and if it weren't for your sister expecting a baby, I would have strongly opposed this wedding."

He stared at his father intently. Baby? Lilian was expecting Jonah's baby? Yes, that was exactly what she assumed. Otherwise, they wouldn't have agreed to this silly party.

"I had no idea," she spoke quietly.

"No one knows except us and Jonah's parents. Not even Alessandra knows. She's two months along."

"I should have guessed."

"The ceremony is about to begin; I'll go get your sister," the man smiled and left.

Then Carlisle stood in front of Lydia, hiding her with his own body. He gently took her face in his hands to look at her, waiting for a response. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at him.

"She's wearing my dress. I'm sure she entered my apartment to take anything she liked and kept my dress. Then I met Jonah and argued with him in the hallway," she explained quickly.

"Come here," he pulled her close to his chest and enveloped her in his arms, "it's okay, it's not worth crying over them."

"I know, but I feel so angry, and... I think I shouldn't have come."

"We can leave if you want."

She shook her head.

"I still have my secret weapon."

He looked confused.

"Secret weapon?"

"You, of course."

They both laughed. Lydia pulled away from the man and wiped her face again.

"I think I know what to do."

"I don't look too terrible, do I?"

"You look beautiful," she peppered kisses all over his face until she heard her girlfriend's beautiful laughter and stopped to kiss her lips gently.

They went to their seats and waited for the ceremony to begin. Lydia watched everything attentively and applauded when everyone else did. She was honestly glad that Jonah and her sister had done what they did because otherwise, she would never have met Carlisle, and that man was undoubtedly the best thing that had ever happened to her.

Lydia realized she had been staring at him longer than necessary, and when he noticed, she approached to kiss him.

"I love you," the words just came out, she didn't process them until she had already said them. She almost regretted saying them without thinking. Almost.

Carlisle looked at her with surprise, but a smile spread across his face in an instant, completely forgetting

where they were. He kissed her again, and when they pulled apart, he pressed their foreheads together.

"I love you, Lydia."

She smiled. She had never heard more sincere words than those. A red flush spread across her face in a second.

After the ceremony, the newlyweds took to the dance floor. Lydia watched from her seat, realizing then that she had never liked that dress, she had chosen it simply to please Jonah. It was a completely plain mermaid cut skirt and lace on the top, the neckline was sweetheart-shaped, and a long veil extended from the back. Her sister's pregnancy wasn't noticeable.

"Is everything okay?" Carlisle asked quietly.

"Yes. Just thinking."

She looked at him curiously.

"Were you expecting something?"

He shrugged.

"Maybe."

Lydia smiled, showing her teeth, and stood up almost in a jump. She reached out to him.

"Let's dance."

"You're lucky I'm the best."

He didn't think twice when he took her hand and stood up to walk with her to the dance floor. Despite the bad moment earlier, they now enjoyed the little moment. Just the two of them, regardless of anything else. Not Lilian, not Jonah, no one.

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