Eva Foster lay silently on the bed, her mind adrift in an ocean of doubt and uncertainty. The warm light of the late afternoon filtered through the hospital blinds, casting long, soft shadows across the room. She couldn’t make sense of anything that had happened, the pain of betrayal from both Josh and Celine still fresh and sharp. Even now, two months later, it all felt like a nightmare that refused to end.

Her stepfather, Matthew Foster, sat beside her, his broad hand gently resting on her shoulder. "Eva, let’s go home now," he said softly, his voice filled with concern. His normally strong and unwavering presence felt more fragile today, as though he feared one wrong word might shatter what little resolve Eva had left.

Eva barely registered his words, lost in the echo of her own thoughts. "Why am I still alive?" she whispered to herself, staring blankly at the ceiling. It wasn’t a question she expected anyone to answer, but it hung in the air like a heavy weight pressing on her chest. Matthew squeezed her shoulder gently, pulling her back to the present.

"Where is Mia?" she asked, her voice small and fragile. Her younger sister, Mia, had always been her biggest supporter, even when things had gone wrong between her and their stepmother. At least Mia was still by her side, she thought.

"She’s at home," Matthew replied. "Jessica is getting married tomorrow, so everyone is busy preparing for the wedding."

Eva blinked in confusion. "Marriage? When did that happen?" She hadn’t been aware of any of this, the events of the last two months a blur as she recovered from the accident that had almost claimed her life.

Matthew sighed deeply. "Jessica told us she’s in love with Andrew King, and I… I accepted it. They’ve been planning this for some time now."

"Andrew King?" Eva repeated, the name unfamiliar and strange on her tongue. She hadn’t even realized Jessica was seeing someone seriously, let alone planning to marry him. It felt like everything was moving forward without her, like she was stuck in a moment of pain while the world continued to spin around her.

"Let’s talk about it in the car," Matthew said gently, helping her sit up. "You need to rest, Eva."

Eva nodded absently, allowing him to guide her out of the hospital and into the waiting car. The ride home was quiet, the weight of the upcoming wedding adding to the tension in the air. When they arrived at the Foster house, the sight of the wedding preparations was overwhelming. The entire place was buzzing with activity—florists, caterers, and decorators moved about with purpose, completely ignoring Eva’s presence as though she didn’t belong in this new chapter of the family’s life.

"As usual, they’re ignoring me," Eva thought bitterly as she climbed the stairs to her room. Mia followed close behind, her expression a mixture of concern and frustration. "I’ll come with you, Eva," Mia said, her voice quiet but determined. She was the only one who seemed to understand what Eva was going through, and for that, Eva was grateful.

"Stop pestering her, Mia," came the sharp voice of Camilla Foster, their stepmother, as she approached with a scowl. "Jessica is getting married, and you’re just ignoring everything because of her," she snapped, casting an accusatory glance at Eva.

Matthew stepped in before the argument could escalate. "Stop it, Camilla," he said firmly. "Eva needs to rest."

"Why are you ruining everything?" Camilla retorted, her frustration mounting. "Tomorrow is Jessica’s big day, and we’re all focused on making it perfect!"

Jessica, their stepsister, appeared at the top of the stairs, tears in her eyes as she chimed in. "Dad, why are you like this? Tomorrow is my wedding day!" she cried dramatically, clearly intent on making herself the center of attention. "Of course I’m not your daughter, and that’s why you’re treating me like this!"

Mia leaned in close to Eva, whispering, "Such an acting queen." Eva couldn’t help but stifle a bitter laugh.

"Mia, don’t say things like that," Eva said softly, trying to keep the peace, though a part of her agreed with Mia’s assessment.

"Jess, sis," Eva continued, turning to Jessica. "Congratulations on your wedding." Despite everything, Eva still wanted to maintain some semblance of family unity, if only for the sake of her father.

"Thank you, Eva," Jessica replied, a hint of surprise in her voice at Eva’s words.

Before the tension could rise again, Camilla grabbed Jessica’s arm and pulled her away. "Come on, Jess. We need to finish selecting the wedding dress."

Eva watched them go, feeling the emptiness of being excluded, once again the outcast in her own family. She turned to Mia and forced a smile. "Let’s just go to my room," she said quietly.

As she walked away from the chaos of the wedding preparations, Eva couldn’t help but feel like she was walking away from more than just a family event—she was walking away from the life she once knew. But what was waiting for her on the other side? She didn’t know. All she knew was that she felt more lost than ever before.