Married For Convenience, Loved In Death

s on my canvases reflecting the tentative hope in my heart. Liam was more present than ever before. He made a point to be home for dinner eve

a video link with the message

hen Liam exited the building, she rushed towards him, her face a mask of desperate appeal. Liam didn't even break his stride. His securit

on. He was keeping his word.

in, the kind that turns the sky black in the middle of the afternoon. I was in my studi

believe this. Look out

gure huddled just outside our gate. It was Chloe. She was soaked to the bone, her hair plastered to her face, her body trembling violently.

e her removed when I saw the front door open. Liam walked out, holding a large

chest. Don't do it, L

ut into the rain, the umbrella held over his head. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I saw him gesture to a black car that had pulled up sil

water onto the marble floor, his

n ask. "I put her up in one of the company condos do

ed, my voice dangerously quiet.

o his tone. "Blacklisted, just like I ordered. I'm not g

r feeling of being the substitute, the placeholder, rushe

tablish my territory. I was Mrs. Liam Hayes. I dressed in my most expensive suit, called the securit

, a triumphant smirk on her face. "I

a temporary shelter. And your time is up." I turned to the two security guards I had brough

ury. "You can't do this!

g you out," I said col

the building, clutching her handbag, ga

er missed. He was supposed to be home by six to get ready. Six o'clock came and went. Then seven. I called his phone. Straight to

ed smile plastered on my face, making excuses for my

e in the morning. I was waiting for h

ch, and his face was a

u?" I asked, m

. "I was dealing with

, dark security footage from an alleyway. It showed Chloe, cowering on the ground as two lar

thing. "Right after you had her thrown out onto the street

ed staged. The men were clumsy, their movements theatrical. But Liam

d this?" I whis

asked you to leave her alone! But you couldn't do

creamed back, my cont

years old. "She told me everything. How you schemed to get close to me after we had that fight. How you

eath from my lungs. He was rewriting history, using Chloe's poison to pai

tomorrow, and you are going

ead. "I will not apologi

shouted, and stormed out of the room, slamming

e. I picked up my phone. The top news story on a gossip site was a photo of Liam Hayes rushing into a hospital, hi

to a life that was never really mine. And I started makin