Chapter 2

Liam carefully helped Chloe up, cradling her protectively, trying to soothe her.

I lay slumped against the wall, my lower back throbbing where my sharp heel had dug into it.

Pain spread through my entire body.

I still gritted my teeth and forced myself to stand.

"What do you mean, 'just a dare'?"

"Then tell her to take off her pants, and let me put some mustard on her too!"

Chloe, who always prided herself on being 'one of the guys,' was now crying hysterically.

"Liam, your wife is trying to take my pants off! Aren't you going to do anything?"

"Why does she always misunderstand us? How am I ever going to get married now?"

Liam gently wiped away her tears, his expression filled with heartache.

Hearing her talk about getting married, I couldn't help but laugh.

"That's easy! Just move in with her son, and you two can be a happy family!"

Before I could even finish, Liam exploded in a fit of rage.

His eyes looked like he wanted to devour me whole.

"How many times do I have to tell you, we're just friends! Control your filthy mouth and stop spreading dirty rumors about Chloe!"

I was about to expose their wedding night rendezvous.

But Liam, panicked, scooped Chloe up and rushed out.

"A girl's skin is so delicate, we need to get her to the hospital immediately."

He didn't forget to threaten me on his way out.

"If anything happens to Chloe's face, you're dead, Aubrey."

Chloe, nestled in his arms, smirked at me provocatively.

Watching Liam stride away, practically sprinting, I pulled at the corner of my mouth.

The difference between love and not-love was quite stark.

I packed my things, realizing I only had one small suitcase.

The house was cluttered with countless items.

All things I'd bought for Liam.

I wanted him to see them and think of me.

My parents had set me up on a blind date with an old man.

When I arrived and saw the 300-pound old man, I knew I had to run.

Liam was leaning against his motorcycle, smoking.

"Please, take me away."

In the distance, I could already see my parents chasing after me.

I could only place all my hope in him.

Liam looked at me, then at my parents, who were speeding toward us.

He raised an eyebrow.

"Get in."

That day, he drove me through half the city.

I secretly made a vow to myself.

I wanted a home of my own.

I saw Liam again when my parents cornered me outside my office.

"Look at yourself! A man wants you, you should be grateful, not picky!"

On the verge of breaking down, I pressed a knife to my throat.

"Take one more step, and I swear I'll die right here."

My mom's tone finally softened.

"Aubrey, darling, what kind of woman doesn't get married and have children?" She didn't get to finish her sentence.

Liam pushed through the crowd, pulled a card from his pocket, and tossed it at their faces.

"The PIN is 484848."

"Consider yourselves punished – go home and try for eight boys. If you can't, I'll freeze this card."

He appeared in my life like a knight in shining armor.

"I really like your personality. Don't ever change."

No one had ever told me they liked my personality before.

I was almost like a hedgehog, all my defenses on full display.

Our home was filled with all sorts of musical instruments.

He bought them to teach me.

Back then, we talked about everything, from the stars in the sky to the most trivial everyday things.

He was always eager to share with me.

But when did it change?

It changed the moment Chloe appeared at our wedding.

When he placed the ring on my finger, his gaze drifted for a split second.

I asked him.

"Who is that woman?"