Chapter 3

3.

Liam thought I would back down like I always did. But I didn't.

"Ava! Are you done throwing a tantrum? I don't have time to coddle you over every little thing!"

He raised his voice, not even listening to me, convinced I was just being difficult.

Just then, a special notification sound went off on his phone.

Whatever he saw made his face flush with panic.

He casually placed the latte and pizza on the entryway table.

"Chloe isn't feeling well. I have to take her to her therapist."

"I'm leaving this here. If you don't want it, just throw it out. And don't wait up for me tonight."

With that, he slammed the car door shut and sped out of the neighborhood.

Watching his car disappear, the last bit of hope I had withered and died.

After a moment, I looked away, left my key on the living room coffee table, and slowly closed the front door behind me.

Once I was in Sophie's car, she immediately started ranting.

"This is bullshit! How did my brother ever lose to a scumbag like that?"

"Chloe whines about some little thing and he runs off. Anyone would think she's his girlfriend."

I just smiled without saying a word.

He was always like that. When it came to Chloe, he could never keep a level head.

At first, I told myself he was just trying to repay the debt he felt he owed her brother for saving his life, that's why he lost his sense of proportion.

But later, I realized I was just fooling myself.

...

After moving into Ethan's villa, I received a notification for an appointment at a top-tier couture bridal shop. The next day, Sophie went with me to try on dresses.

As soon as we walked in, I came face-to-face with Liam. A flicker of stiffness crossed his face.

He thought I was there for him, and a smug smile crept onto his lips.

"Good, you know you were wrong. Chloe's in the back. Let her help you pick something. We can get the wedding photos done at the same time."

Just as he finished speaking, Chloe walked out wearing the exact Vera Wang dress I had reserved. She hooked her arm through Liam's and smiled.

"Perfect timing. Ava, you're here! Liam insisted I try on your dress for you, even though I told him not to."

"I have a model's figure, so I look good in anything. You, on the other hand... well, not so much."

Liam completely ignored her blatant put-down.

He just flicked her playfully on the forehead.

"Of course, she can't compare to you."

I suddenly laughed out loud.

I wasn't as tall as Chloe, but at five-foot-five and with a balanced figure, they were making me sound like some kind of monster.

"Are you two done with your little show? If you are, then get out of my way. I have a dress to try on."

As I passed Chloe, I paused deliberately.

"Looks like you don't look good in everything after all. That dress is too empty in the chest. You can't fill it out, don't you know?"

Chloe's face turned beet red with anger, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.

"I know you're mad that Liam brought me to the bridal shop. I'll just leave! You don't have to humiliate me!"

"Liam, you two go ahead and try on dresses. I'll just be in the way and make Ava unhappy."

But Liam pulled her back, gently wiping away her tears.

He shot me a warning glare.

"She was just trying to help. Did you have to be so aggressive? Apologize!"

I laughed.

"Liam, let's not see each other again. You make me sick."

After that disastrous encounter, I blocked him.

I only knew he was desperately trying to find me because Sophie told me.

With the wedding just two days away, he couldn't reach me and started asking our mutual friends for help. I blocked them all, too.

I focused on the wedding preparations. Ethan's parents spent the next two days with me, getting my dress custom-fitted and scouting venues.

Coincidentally, we ran into Liam at a hotel. He was throwing a birthday party for Chloe.

The venue was The Grand Astoria, the most exclusive hotel in the city.

"Let's go, Mrs. White..."

I said softly to Ethan's mother.

"Ava!"

A man's roar, thick with suppressed anger, stopped me. He strode over and blocked my path.

Ignoring Ethan's mother's attempts to intervene, he gripped my wrist tightly.

"Getting bold, are we? Blocking me. Do you have any idea how hard I've been looking for you? Can't you just for once not cause me trouble?"

The pain made me wince.

Liam realized he was hurting me and quickly let go, his voice softening.

"We're about to get married. Is there anything we can't solve together? You had to throw a fit, move out, and come look at venues by yourself? Don't you know I'd be worried?"

He was about to say more, but I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

"You should save your worries for Chloe. We're done."

Liam's face flushed with anger.

"Fine! You want to play hardball, I see. Then don't you dare come back on the wedding day!"