Liam's Shadow, Chloe's Lie

Liam's whole tragic story was a lie, a carefully constructed play designed to manipulate Chloe, and by extension, me.

his mother. But the bank records from my investigator told a different story. The transfer

if there was any limit to her delusion. I didn't expect a confession or an apo

started

things to be sent to my new home in another city, and things to be thrown away. I found old photos of Chloe and me, love letters she' d writ

. She saw the boxes stacked in the hallway

all this?"

t on the move," I said ca

d my actions. "Oh! To the company headquarters? That' s a great idea. We

her. She was either ignoring it, or she had already concocted a new lie

ut a hand on my arm.

wheedling tone I now despised. "I know things look... complicated. But there'

red at her

need you to come with me to apologize to her in person. She was very

was just "distressed." And once again, I was the on

city clerk' s office with Liam. We' re going to get our marriage license and register. I

whispered, then turned and walked out the door, leaving me standi

h a notification. A message fro

as L

hing, trying on a simple white dress that was clearly not a wedding gown.

s head resting on his shoulder as he dro

throbe, her back to the camera, looking out a window. Liam walked up behind her, wrapped his

el act of psychological warfare. Liam wanted to rub my face in it, to show me that he had won, that h

have felt for Chloe, any microscopic shred of doubt about my decision,

e movers, my phone buzzed again. This t

ined two

sued marriage license. Our names-Ethan Miller and

ars ago, during a tense negotiation, I had learned Sarah was a passionate amateur botanist. After we closed the deal, I had sent her a rare, then-unbloomed

to, she had typ

ally b

flower. One represented a calculated, strategic alliance. The other, a hid

o the private airfield. My new home, a sleek, modern house in the

to my now-empty mansion. She

I' m just grabbing a few last things. I' m going to move in with Liam for the next couple

ile. "Don' t forget, the ceremony i

partner, my supposed love. She was a stranger. A very convi

e," I said, my vo

"Very funny, Ethan. Don' t get cold

d walked out of my li

two calls. The first was to the airfield, con

as to my ass

vis wedding tomorrow. Wait until the officiant asks if anyone has any objections. Then,

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