Chapter 2

My hand jerked, and the eyeliner smeared crooked.

Twelve years ago, that fire. I was trapped inside the smoke.

The firefighters couldn't get through. Everyone just stood there, watching.

Only Oliver ignored the crew trying to hold him back.

He forced his way straight into the flames and shielded me against his chest.

A snapped steel beam came down, grazed his left shoulder, and slammed hard into his right leg.

He grunted low, but only held me tighter.

Later the doctors said his right leg would never be the same.

One inch over, and that beam would have gone straight through his chest.

After that, I traced that scar countless times, crying without a sound.

Every time, he would tighten his hand around mine.

"Beryl, this is the truest love I have for you."

"This scar, I'll keep it my whole life."

My whole life.

What once was purest devotion was now something to be covered up as disgusting.

Slap.

Before I could recover, a hand cracked across my face.

Ann's sweet face couldn't hide the arrogance underneath.

"Do you even know how to do makeup? I'm the one getting married today!"

Oliver walked over.

He didn't spare me a single glance, only lowered his voice to soothe her.

"Don't hurt your hand over someone like this, she's not worth it. If you make yourself ill, I'll be the one hurting."

Ann gave a hard huff and got up, disappearing into the bathroom.

Only then did Oliver turn, cupping my face in his hands.

He checked that I wasn't hurt, and let out a breath.

"Don't stoop to her level. She's been doted on since she was little, she's used to throwing her weight around."

I opened my mouth to speak.

"But you showing up here today, that's the real mistake."

I froze.

"If you hadn't come, would that slap have landed on your face?"

"If she really found out what we are to each other, it wouldn't end with one slap."

Listening to how light, how cold his voice was.

My eyes went red to the rims, and I bit down hard on my lower lip.

"Oliver, what do you mean by that?"

"You won't explain why you're here, or how you became someone else's groom."

"And instead you turn it around and blame me for coming?"

He rubbed the space between his brows, his whole face worn out.

"It's not what you think..."

"Then why did you lie to me?"

My voice started to shake.

"Weren't you away on a job? Wasn't your tent blown down in the wind?"

He sighed, thick with impatience.

"This is exactly why I didn't want to tell you."

"Always so petty, always so emotional."

"You blow every little thing up into something huge and start crying."

"Annie never does that."

It was like a basin of ice water dumped over my head. I stood frozen where I was.

From the bathroom came Ann's sugary little call.

Oliver answered her.

When he looked back at me, every trace of patience was gone from his face.

"Anyway, all of this today is just for show."

"Be good. I'll explain the rest when we're home."

I watched his back and laughed at myself.

My hand came to rest lightly on my belly.

Oliver had wanted a child so badly it was in his dreams.

I'd meant to give him a surprise.

But now the words wouldn't go down, and they wouldn't come out either.

Quietly, I gathered up the makeup brushes scattered across the table.

My phone buzzed once.

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