It was on a magical evening one month later that her best friend Van and her husband Jake Calloway renewed their vows and it was everything they both could've hoped for. Family and friends who weren't present the first time they said their vows were present today. Van was surrounded by family she thought she never had and right there under the arch in the shape of two swans decorated with daisies, her friend said her vows again.
Rella was happy for Van of course, after everything that's happened her best friend deserves to be happy but she was also jealous, she could not help this foul feeling churning in her guts that made her wish she was in Van's place instead surrounded by so much love and not in this sham of a life she was living pretending everything was okay. But this day was Van's happy day and so she smiled throughout the whole ceremony unitl her cheeks ached. Rella glanced sideways at Stefan who was sitting beside her, she knew if he could help it he'd be far from her keeping the distance between them as far as possible. Stefan was smiling up at the couple who now took the dance floor for their first dance and he looked so handsome it hurts.
After that day he found out she was pregnant Stefan had barely said a word to her that wasn't about the baby and it irked her so much but if that's what it'll take to have him by her side again then she couldn't complain. The baby was a blessing.
Stefan hadn't touched her since that night–the attraction was still there, much stronger even–and whatever little contact they had was of him wanting to know if she was alright, if she was feeling uncomfortable or in pain, everything was about the baby that Rella had begun to think it was a blessing as well as a curse but she could see how much Stefan was trying to restrain himself and that he was still not over her deception. Even when she took the initiative to kiss him it only lingers for a few seconds before he pushes her away and tells her he wasn't in the mood.
But Rella wasn't about to give up because of a few rejections, she knew she ought to fight for them both or she might lose him forever. The thought of losing Stefan was… no, she wouldn't think about it.
"Would you like to dance?" Rella blurted out suddenly.
Please say yes, please say yes. She chanted.
Stefan turned and looked at her holding her gaze. Rella was tempted to recoil as he pinned her with an unreadable stare but it was sheer determination that made her stand her until the corners of his mouth lifed in a half smile before he said. "Sure."
He pulled her close and Rella closed her eyes and sighed leaning her head against his shoulder as they swayed to the music.
"I miss this." Rella said some time later.
Stefan stiffened.
Rella pulled back just a fraction to stare at his face. "I miss us."
"Don't." His voice was dangerously low.
"Why not?"
"I don't want to talk about it!" He told her sternly pulling away from her and walking away but Rella's had it with being ignored so she followed him until they were away from the party and everyone else.
"You can't ignore me forever you know."
"I can most certainly try."
"I am not invisible, why don't you talk to me, why don't you lash out yell at me or something I've had enough of this game!?"
Stefan paused and turned to her. "This is not a game Rella, the game was how you played me all these time. You want me to lash out well here it is…You, are nothing to me," he spat out.
Rella flinched. "You and I are not married, and you're not my wife the only reason we're together right now is because of the baby you're carrying in your womb. My son."
Rella felt like she'd been slapped across the face.
Stefan turned away, and Rella couldn't tell if that was regret she saw in that nano second before he schooled his features.
She grimaced whimpering as her stomach churned. Slowly she glanced down at the hot liquid trickling down her thigh, she brought her finger to it and came up with blood. She cried out. "Stefan!"
She had gone so still with the thought that even the slightest movement could make her bleed out.
Stefan turned to her and whatever he was going to say died back in his throat as he stared at her with absolute horror written across his face.