From Wedding Bells to Shattered Dreams

Five years. That' s how long I' d spent in Paris, dreaming of New York, of the life Liam and I would build.

I was finally back, holding the custom cufflinks for our wedding, ready to surprise him at a fancy hotel where he' d told me to meet him for dinner.

But I got the surprise instead.

I saw him, laughing, his arm around Chloe, his assistant-the same girl who' d made my high school a living hell.

They disappeared into the hotel, and moments later, his call came through, breezy and apologetic. "Something huge has come up. I' m deep in negotiations with a crucial client, I can' t get away. We have to postpone dinner."

A crucial client. In a luxury hotel room.

Then, Chloe' s text: a barrage of photos-Liam kissing her, her in Liam' s shirt, a selfie of them entering the hotel, her lips on his cheek.

Underneath: "Hey old friend, long time no see. I' ve got my eyes on your fiancé, no need to give him up, I' ll just take him."

The initial shock gave way to a cold, clear calm. The love, the devotion-it felt like a stupid joke.

When Liam finally came home, I was packing. He tossed a cheap Eiffel Tower keychain on the table, a souvenir from his "client meeting."

Then I heard his friends, Mark and Josh, laughing in the hallway, letting themselves in.

"Is he still in there with Chloe?" Mark whispered loudly.

"Of course," Josh snickered. "He' s got Ava flying back thinking they' re getting married, while he' s screwing his assistant. He' s a legend."

"He says Ava' s a bore. And she doesn' t have that ugly scar on her back."

The scar. The one Chloe gave me, pushing me down stairs. The one he' d comforted me about.

And then, later, Liam came in with Chloe, her hand snaked around his arm.

"Chloe needed a place to stay for a few days. Her apartment has a pest problem," he said, pouring her wine, in our home.

Then I saw the prenatal vitamins behind the coffee maker. She wasn' t visiting. She was nesting.

Chloe emerged from the bedroom, wrapped in Liam' s bathrobe, fake tears in her eyes. "I' m so sorry. I' ll just go sleep on the street."

Liam rushed to her, wrapping his arms around her. "Look what you did! You made her cry! Apologize to her right now, or get out."

I stared at him, at the stranger he had become.

"Fine," I whispered. I grabbed my bag and walked out into the pouring rain.

He pulled up beside me in his car. "Get in, Ava. Stop making a scene."

I kept walking. He accelerated, then slammed the brakes, splashing dirty water all over me. "This is what you wanted, right? To be a martyr? Fine. Have fun."

He sped off, leaving me bruised, wet, and heartbroken.

But then my phone buzzed. It was my grandfather' s assistant.

"Miss Miller, your engagement to Mr. Ethan Hayes has been formally agreed upon by both families."

Liam' s older brother. The direct opposite of him.

One engagement ended in a threat, and another began with a phone call. I knew then that this wasn't the end. It was a new beginning.

Five years.

Five years in Paris, surrounded by the finest fabrics and the most ambitious designers, yet all Ava Miller could think about was coming home to New York. She clutched the small, elegantly wrapped box in her hand, the custom-made cufflinks for Liam Hayes nestled inside, a symbol of their future. She was finally back, her prestigious fashion program completed, ready to marry the man she had loved since high school.

Her taxi pulled up across the street from the address Liam had given her for their celebratory dinner, a new, impossibly chic boutique hotel downtown. Her heart beat fast with excitement. She was about to surprise him.

But someone else beat her to it.

Just as she was about to get out of the cab, she saw him. Liam. He was laughing, his arm draped possessively around the waist of a woman. It wasn't just any woman. It was Chloe, his personal assistant. Ava' s stomach twisted. Chloe, the same girl who had made her high school years a living hell.

Ava watched, frozen, as Liam leaned in and whispered something in Chloe' s ear, making her throw her head back in a silent, delighted laugh. He then swiped a key card and led Chloe through the hotel's gleaming glass doors. They disappeared inside. The doorman, in his crisp uniform, didn't even blink.

The city's noise faded to a dull roar in Ava's ears. The gift box in her hand suddenly felt heavy and cold.

Just then, her phone buzzed. It was Liam.

"Ava, baby, listen," he said, his voice slightly breathless. "Something huge has come up. I' m deep in negotiations with a crucial client, I can' t get away. We have to postpone dinner. I' m so sorry."

A crucial client. In a luxury hotel room.

Ava' s throat felt tight, but she managed to keep her voice even.

"It' s okay, Liam. I understand. Work is important."

"You' re the best, Ava. I' ll make it up to you, I promise. I' ll see you at home later."

He hung up before she could say another word. Seconds later, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was a text from an unknown number, but she recognized the sneering face in the profile picture immediately. It was Chloe.

The message contained a barrage of photos. Liam and Chloe kissing in his office. Liam' s hands on her waist in an elevator. Chloe wearing one of Liam' s dress shirts, lounging on a bed that looked suspiciously like the one in their shared apartment. The last photo was a selfie of them in the hotel elevator, the one they had just entered, Chloe' s lips pressed against Liam' s cheek.

Beneath the photos was a single line of text.

"Hey old friend, long time no see. I' ve got my eyes on your fiancé, no need to give him up, I' ll just take him."

The initial shock gave way to a cold, clear calm. The years of love and devotion felt like a stupid joke. Ava didn' t cry. She didn' t scream. She deleted the pictures, blocked the number, and dialed another one.

Her grandfather answered on the second ring.

"Sweetie, I already agreed to let you marry that black sheep of the Hayes family. What are you threatening me with now, death?" his familiar, booming voice grumbled lovingly.

"I want a new fiancé," Ava said, her voice devoid of any emotion.

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "What happened?"

"Liam is cheating on me. With Chloe."

Her grandfather sighed, a long, weary sound. He had never liked Liam. "I knew that boy was no good. Who do you want, then? I' ll have my assistant clear his schedule."

"How about Liam' s older brother, Ethan?" Ava replied coolly. Ethan Hayes, the true heir to the Hayes family fortune, a man known for his maturity and integrity. A man who was the complete opposite of his younger brother.

A low chuckle came through the phone. "Now that' s my granddaughter. Bold. I' ll make the call. You just come home to the estate. Don' t you dare go back to that apartment with that boy."

"Okay, Grandpa."

She hung up and directed the taxi driver to the Miller family estate. But a stubborn, foolish part of her needed to see him one last time, to get her things.

When Liam finally strolled into their apartment hours later, he found Ava sitting on the couch, surrounded by packed boxes. He tossed a cheap, brightly colored keychain on the coffee table.

"Brought you something from the client meeting," he said, not even looking at her. "It' s a souvenir."

Ava stared at the plastic trinket. It was a miniature Eiffel Tower, the kind sold on every street corner in Paris for a euro. He had been with Chloe in a hotel room and brought her back a piece of trash.

"Thanks," she said, her voice flat.

He finally seemed to notice the boxes. "What' s all this? Spring cleaning already?"

Before she could answer, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, a small smile playing on his lips, and walked into the bedroom to take the call. Ava could hear his muffled voice, low and intimate. She didn't need to guess who it was.

She walked past the closed bedroom door and was about to head to the kitchen for a glass of water when she heard voices from the hallway. Liam's friends, Mark and Josh, were letting themselves in with a key Liam must have given them. They hadn't seen her yet.

"Is he still in there with Chloe?" Mark asked in a loud whisper.

"Of course," Josh snickered. "He' s got Ava flying back thinking they' re getting married, while he' s screwing his assistant. He' s a legend."

"I don' t know, man. Ava' s family is loaded. He' s an idiot to risk that for Chloe."

"He says Ava' s a bore. All that time in Paris made her a snob. Besides, Chloe' s way more fun. And she doesn' t have that ugly scar on her back."

The words hit Ava like a physical blow. A wave of nausea washed over her. The scar. The one Chloe herself had given her in high school, pushing her down a flight of stairs. Liam knew that story. He had comforted her, told her it didn't matter. Now he was using it as a punchline with his friends.

She felt dizzy, the room starting to spin. She leaned against the wall, trying to breathe.

Liam emerged from the bedroom, a wide grin on his face. He saw his friends, then he saw Ava, pale and shaking. His smile faltered for a second.

"Ava? You okay? You look sick."

"I' m fine," she whispered.

"Well, you should probably go lie down," he said dismissively, already turning his attention to his friends. "We' re going out for a bit. Don' t wait up."

He herded his friends out the door, leaving Ava alone in the apartment that no longer felt like hers. She walked numbly to the front door, needing to get out, to get air. She put her key in the lock to leave, but it wouldn't turn. Confused, she tried again. It was then she noticed it. A small, sparkly pink keychain hanging from the lock on the inside. Chloe' s keychain. The lock had been changed. She was locked in.

A few minutes later, she heard laughter in the hallway again. The door opened, and Liam walked in, his arm once again wrapped tightly around Chloe. They were kissing, their bodies pressed together.

They broke apart when they saw Ava standing there. Liam had the decency to look slightly uncomfortable. Chloe just smiled, a victorious, smug look in her eyes.

"Oh, hey Ava," Liam said, clearing his throat. "We, uh, were just playing a game. Truth or dare."

"A game?" Ava repeated, her voice hollow.

Chloe stepped forward, her smile widening. "Yeah. A fun one. Remember high school, Ava? I was always so much better at games than you were. Especially the ones that involved a little pushing and shoving."

She was deliberately poking at the old wound, the memory of her high school torment. Her gaze was sharp and malicious.

Liam, influenced by Chloe' s confidence, regained his swagger. He gestured for Chloe to go ahead of him towards the living room.

"Come on, Chloe. Let' s get you a drink," he said, completely ignoring Ava. He walked her past Ava as if she were a piece of furniture, guiding Chloe to the couch, their couch. He was already choosing his side. He had already made his choice.

---

"What is she doing here, Liam?" Ava' s voice was low but steady. The shock was wearing off, replaced by a cold, hard anger.

Liam was in the kitchen, pouring Chloe a glass of wine. He didn't even turn around.

"Chloe needed a place to stay for a few days. Her apartment has a pest problem. It' s not a big deal, Ava. Don' t be so dramatic."

"A pest problem?" Ava' s laugh was harsh. "So you brought a bigger one into our home?"

Chloe, who had been observing the exchange from the couch with feigned innocence, suddenly let out a small sob. Her shoulders started to shake, and tears welled up in her eyes.

"I' m so sorry," she whimpered, looking at Liam with a heartbroken expression. "I didn' t mean to cause any trouble. I can leave. I' ll just go sleep on the street. It' s fine."

Liam immediately rushed to her side, wrapping his arms around her.

"No, no, Chloe, of course you' re not leaving," he soothed, stroking her hair. He shot a furious look at Ava over Chloe' s shoulder. "Look what you did. Are you happy now? She' s a guest in our home, and you' re being cruel."

"A guest?" Ava was incredulous. "Liam, look at me. Look at what' s happening. This is our home. We are getting married."

"Maybe we are, maybe we aren' t," Liam snapped, his patience gone. "Frankly, Ava, I' m tired of your attitude. Ever since you got back from Paris, you' ve been acting so high and mighty. Chloe is my friend and my assistant, and she needs my help. Either you accept that and apologize to her right now, or you can get out."

The ultimatum hung in the air, ugly and final. Apologize to the woman who was sleeping with her fiancé, the woman who had tormented her for years. Or leave.

Ava stared at him, at the man she thought she knew. She saw a stranger.

"Fine," she said, her voice barely a whisper. She turned and walked towards the door.

She didn't look back. She didn't see the flicker of triumph in Chloe' s eyes or the momentary confusion on Liam' s face. He probably thought she would break down, beg him to reconsider. He didn't know her at all.

As she walked out of the apartment building, the sky opened up. A cold, miserable rain began to fall, soaking her in seconds. She didn't have a coat. She didn't have a destination, other than away from him. Suddenly, a car screeched to a halt beside her. It was Liam.

He rolled down the window, his face a mask of irritation. "Get in, Ava. Stop making a scene."

She just kept walking.

He accelerated, then slammed on the brakes right in front of her. She stumbled back, trying to avoid the car, her foot slipping on the wet pavement. She fell hard, her hands and one of her knees scraping against the rough asphalt. Pain shot up her leg.

Liam just stared at her from the driver' s seat. He didn't get out. He didn' t ask if she was okay. He just revved the engine impatiently.

"This is what you wanted, right? To be a martyr? Fine. Have fun."

He sped off, splashing a wave of dirty street water all over her as he left.

Ava pushed herself up slowly, her whole body aching. The physical pain was nothing compared to the hollow ache in her chest. The rain plastered her hair to her face, mingling with tears she didn't realize she was shedding. She limped down the street, each step a painful reminder of his cruelty.

Her mind flashed back to five years ago, right before she left for Paris. Liam' s own business venture had failed spectacularly. He was broke, defeated, and on the verge of giving up. It was Ava who had coached him, helped him rewrite his resume, and used her family' s connections to get him the entry-level job at his brother' s company. It was her savings that had paid his rent for the first six months until he got on his feet. He had called her his angel, his savior. He had sworn he would spend his life making it up to her.

All of it was a lie. A long, carefully constructed lie. The intimate texts she had occasionally seen on his phone, which he had dismissed as spam or wrong numbers. The late nights at the "office." The sudden, unexplained credit card charges. It all clicked into place. It hadn't just been a one-time mistake with Chloe at a hotel. This had been going on for a long time. He had been hurting her, disrespecting her, for years.

After what felt like an eternity, she found herself back at their apartment building. Some morbid curiosity, some need for finality, pulled her back. She used the emergency key she kept hidden in her wallet to get into the building and up the elevator.

The door to their apartment was slightly ajar. She pushed it open silently.

The first thing that hit her was the smell. Chloe' s cloyingly sweet perfume, mixed with the scent of wine and something else... something intimate and musky. A man' s jacket-Liam' s favorite one-was thrown carelessly over a chair. Next to it was a woman' s handbag. Chloe' s.

And there they were. On the couch.

They weren't talking. They weren't just sitting. Liam was lying down, his head in Chloe' s lap, and she was running her fingers through his hair, leaning down to kiss him softly. They were completely absorbed in each other, a picture of domestic bliss in the home Ava had built.

Chloe looked up and saw Ava standing in the doorway. She didn't look surprised. She didn't even stop stroking Liam' s hair. Instead, she met Ava' s gaze, and a slow, triumphant smile spread across her face. She deliberately leaned down and kissed Liam again, this time more deeply, her eyes never leaving Ava' s. It was a declaration of ownership. A final, humiliating twist of the knife.

Ava' s gaze fell to the shopping bag still clutched in her hand. Inside was the delicate, expensive lingerie she had bought in Paris, something she had saved for their wedding night. She had been so excited to show him.

She felt nothing now. The love, the hope, the excitement-it had all been burned away, leaving only a cold, empty void. Without a word, she let the bag slip from her fingers. It landed on the floor with a soft thud.

She turned around and walked away, closing the door quietly behind her. This time, for good.

---