Too Late, Mr. White! I'm Married To Your Rival Now

a's

's Day would be the day m

ers glowing above us, the air humming with soft jazz and the scent of roses at every table.

ia," Liam whispered, reaching a

rke came back to New York two months ago, my relationship with Liam had change

nd Valentine's Day tog

seemed distracted. "Of c

all the dinner dates he'd canceled recently.

I noticed Liam's eyes widen. F

blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. Her eyes-those large, seemingly innocent blue e

dress clinging like it was painted on. "Liam, Aria-what are the odds? Manhattan's massive,

heek. This was the third

ediately. "Sophia

his voice wa

eyes darting to me briefly before focusing ba

ile you wait?" Liam said-

st felt like being struck by a blunt

e's dinner had just b

s that seemed designed to remind Liam of their shared past. Each time, L

g as my fiancé and his first lo

wearing thin, "it's Valentine's Day. L

pathy. "Don't be so possessive. Liam and I are ju

. "Don't be so sensitive. Soph

buke. This was supposed to be our

ng my napkin on the table. The pain

lass filled the restaurant. A man's voice, loud

! WHERE

unsteady on his feet. What froze my blood wasn't his a

from our table, her

e will!" Ryan shouted, his

thing seemed to hap

rage. He raised his gun,

rapping her up like she was the most precious thing in the world. His arms lock

ut, left wide open to

hot was

ed through my dress, but all I could focus on was the sight before me: Liam, wrap

t moment, I became invisible to him

d waiter knelt beside me, eyes wide

g out, security guards had tackled Ryan, causing his aim to veer off

s nothing compared to

y notice me, his eyes widening when he saw t

when he saw the blood.

ough nothing was fine. Noth

me to my feet. "Sophia was closer to m

inful to acknowledge. But the truth pounded in my head with each heartbeat – he did

l," he insisted, finally showing

ctor cleaned and stitched my arm, Liam pa

ping to brush my hair from my

. That maybe what happened at the restaurant was really

his face shifted-guilt, urgency, something I'd never seen d

ke I should understand. Like it was normal to lea

g an anxiety attack..

I said, my v

had barely closed behind him before I felt the

bandaging my arm, twenty minutes

lucky it didn't hit anything vital. I've prescribed some antibiotic

hat someone would be, since my fia

m door, her eyes wild with worry. "I came as so

atically, though the lie

empty room, her expression

her eyes. "He ha

call?" Her voice rose with each word. "P

e was ans

rossing her arms. "Twelve years, Aria. Twelve year

versation."Can we just go, please? I don't want to stay at my

e lump in my throat could no longer be contained. Tears streamed down, dampening the sleeve of L

e said gently, brushing a tear

ugh the sobs. "I can't just walk away,

y mom died. He held me through the worst nights of my life. He's been

gun-and Liam ran to protect Sophia. Not you. That wasn't a slip-up, that wa

nt, my throat tight, my chest aching. I didn't want

," I whispered hoarsely. "

hand. "I believe you love him. I do. But love isn't always enough. Especi

into wounds already raw and bleeding. I f

r families had planned this wedding for months. Everyone w

ending. That Liam would remember why he asked me to marry him in the first place. That the

s. My voice shook, but my words didn't. "Five days. If he can't prove I'm the

to her arms and held me like she had a hund

e d

l I would

to find a way to gi