as desperately clinging to. "It's a matter of weeks, M

ungs. Her hand felt frail in his, the skin thin as paper. She had been a single m

Liam, my only regret is not see

him. "Please, son. Let me see you get married. Let me lea

ad to do this for her. He had to gi

built together, his heart pounding with a desperate rhythm. He found her in

s voice shaking. "Let

surprised. "Lia

wish is to see us married." He took her hands. "

seven days,

xcuse, a fresh wave

can't just get married in this.

s with his family. He really needs me right now,

is at a critical stage. I just need to close th

e was Noah Peterson, her childhood friend. A man Liam had never liked, with a

day, she agreed. "Okay, Liam. T

, washed over him. He kissed her, filled with a rene

et of his mother's favorite flowers in his hand. He wore his best suit. He

ne. It went strai

ted. N

es, his phone buzzed. It was a notification fro

ped it

around Olivia's shoulders. They were both grinning, holding

printed in clear, black ink. It was the very first day he ha

roar in his ears. He couldn't breathe. The flowers slippe

ed again. A te

ranged marriage. He was desperate. We got married so he could get his family off his back. It's not real.

ee

ing for thr

his personal hell, his phon

his voice a

flatline. He was too late. His mother was gone. She had died alone, her last wish u

betrayal pressing down on him until he thought he would shatter. He looked at his mo

every red flag, every lie, every moment Olivia had prioritized ano

rate calm. He opened his message thread with Olivia, scrolled p

, never

sen

locked he

f he had been holding back finally breaking free in a wave of silent, body-wracking sobs. He cr

the times Olivia

broke down, I have

fight with his dad, h

ng out a suit for this event

, which had seemed like minor annoyances at the time, now replayed in his mind as a litany of his own

to put him through design school, and always, always put him first. And he had

ical blow. He felt a p

nother. And another. Olivia, trying to get through.

ved. "Liam, Liv is a wreck. She's just

it withou

iam, please. I'm at your mom's hospital. I want to be there for you. I

ty void. She wanted to be there for him now? Where was she when his mother was t

f her text promising to marry him in three days, sent just moments before he got t

y-it was all poisoned by her. He couldn't heal here. He coul

sed his trust. The cycle of her manipulation had to end, and it had to end now.