Chapter 2

2.

The excitement I felt about the wedding turned cold in an instant.

I didn't expect him to have such a violent reaction.

I didn't think my request was unreasonable. Why was he acting like a cornered animal?

"Liam, no woman would be okay with her man meeting an ex alone. Going with you is the best I can offer."

He paced the room, looking incredibly frustrated. Finally, he stomped his foot.

"I don't care if you agree or not. I'm going today, and you are not coming with me."

He seemed to realize he was being too aggressive, so his tone softened.

"Aria, I just want to say goodbye. If you're there, she'll feel uncomfortable. Tomorrow, I'll be your husband. Don't you trust me?"

I knew him well. He only used that tone when he was trying to manipulate me into giving in.

But his refusal to let me go only made me more suspicious.

I looked him dead in the eye.

"Liam, tomorrow is our wedding. I expect you back early."

His eyes lit up, and he grabbed me, giving me a hard kiss on the cheek.

"So you agree? I knew you were the best, Aria. Don't worry, I'll be back soon. I won't miss the big day."

In the past, that kiss would have made me melt.

Now, as I watched him hum a tune while styling his hair, my heart sank. I began to wonder if he had ever truly loved me during these five years.

I remembered when he picked out his suit. He wanted something simple, saying he didn't like to stand out.

I didn't think much of it then. Liam always preferred a clean, low-key look.

But now, he was standing in front of the mirror, meticulously fixing every strand of hair. He sprayed on a cologne I had never smelled before.

He looked more handsome and polished than I had seen him in years.

They say people dress up for the ones they want to impress.

I used to admire his simple nature.

Now I realized he just didn't care enough to dress up for me.

He spent a long time picking out a slim-fit custom suit from the closet.

He had a great build, and in that outfit, he looked like a piece of art.

The tragedy was that this display wasn't for his bride.

Usually, I would hug him before he left. This time, I just sat there and watched him walk out.

He didn't even notice the lack of affection. He walked out the door with a smile on his face.

I looked around the room. The decorations were festive, and there were rose petals on the bed. This was my dream coming true.

But now that it was here, I felt lost. Could Liam and I really be happy?

Suddenly, the computer in the study chimed with a notification.

I walked over and realized Liam had left his WhatsApp logged in.

The message was from Jade.

A voice in my head whispered, "Open it. Open it and see if the man you love is a liar."

I tried to tell myself he was just being a good person. He would still be my groom tomorrow.

I shouldn't invade his privacy.

But his strange behavior today won over my guilt.

I clicked the mouse and opened the chat with Jade...