The night before my wedding, someone mailed me a VIP hotel keycard. Same room number where Liam proposed. I figured it was some romantic surprise he’d planned. I pushed open the door and caught him tangled up in bed with another woman. When he finished, he shoved her off him without a second thought. Lit up a cigarette, smirking like it was nothing. “No point hiding anymore—figured I’d let you catch us now so I don’t have to deal with it after we’re married.” He flicked ash on the nightstand and added one more thing. “Relax, you’re still gonna be my wife.” “You’ve been with me ten years, made enemies with half the old money families doing business for me—nobody else would touch you even if I dumped you.!” “Tomorrow happens exactly as planned, just—” “You get the wedding, she gets the marriage license.” He probably expected me to ask why. I didn’t say a word. Just slipped off my engagement ring, set it down, turned around and walked out. Next day, Liam stood at the church steps in his tux waiting for me. I didn’t bail, didn’t hide. Walked straight up with my biggest rival’s arm locked in mine and waved a marriage license in his face. “The wedding’s all yours—but the marriage license? Already gave it to him.” *** “Here she comes, here she comes—bride’s finally out.” Reporters swarmed the hotel entrance when I came downstairs. Camera flashes going off like crazy. “Miss Aria, how’s it feel on your big day?” “Miss Aria, any thoughts on this insane wedding Mr. Liam put together for you?” I kept my mouth shut and let security walk me to the car. Wedding was set for Sacred Heart Cathedral on the east side. Liam stood on the steps in his white tux wearing that smug-ass smile like he’d already won. Called me this morning saying he went seven rounds last night, body’s wrecked, needs sleep. Can’t pick up his own bride. He was dead certain I’d still show. His best man let out a whistle first. “She actually showed!” Elbowed Liam with this nasty grin plastered on his face. “Our boy’s got her trained right—out screwing around the night before and she still rolls up in her wedding dress. Now that’s what I call well-trained!” Another groomsman jumped in. “For real though, the way he was going at it last night would’ve put anyone else in the hospital, but here he is standing tall ready to get hitched—mad respect.” They all cracked up. Liam’s mouth twitched up. Voice flat as hell. “Aria’s been mine ten years—who the hell else would take her?” Glanced down at the ring I ditched last night. “She’s throwing a fit, that’s normal. But at the end of the day—” Paused, voice rock solid. “She’s still gonna walk right up and put her hand in mine.” His buddy threw him a thumbs up. Car door swung open and I stepped out in white. Sunlight hit the dress and scattered light everywhere. Something flickered in Liam’s eyes. Actually, it sounded genuine for once. “Damn, my wife looks hot in that dress.” Before he could even touch me, his phone buzzed. He checked the screen. Lips curved up like he couldn’t help it as he stepped away to answer. “What’s up? Told you to call later.” Some breathy, whiny voice came through. “Liam, I’m flying abroad this afternoon… so I booked us at Clerk’s Office in ten minutes—can you come real quick? I want the marriage license before I leave.” “Ten minutes?” Liam chuckled low. “That desperate?” … Liam hung up and his buddy walked over. “Who was that?” “Ivy.” Liam shoved his phone away, eyes lighting up. “She’s flying out this afternoon, won’t leave without getting the license first. Whined at me till I caved.” His buddy raised an eyebrow. “What about the wedding?” “What’s the rush?” Liam shrugged it off. “Wedding takes like an hour or two. I’ll hit Clerk’s Office first—ten minute thing. You know how Ivy gets. Don’t keep her happy, she’ll cry at the damn airport.” His buddy knew better than to push. Liam walked over, threw his arm around my shoulder and told the photographer to get ready. “Get a shot of this, something for the memories.” Click. Done. Checked his watch. “Alright, that’ll do. Gotta bounce or I’ll miss the appointment.” Turned and headed for another car. “Liam!” I stayed put and called his name. He stopped mid-step and looked back. Still had that cocky look like he controlled everything. “You walk out that door today,” I said every word clearly, “and I’m swapping out the groom.”
He froze for a second, then laughed—contemptuous and way too sure of himself. “Swap the groom? With who? You think this is some Netflix drama?” “Everyone in this city knows you’re mine.” “I mean… if you actually manage to find some idiot willing to marry you, sure, I’ll let you go—” Pulled open the car door and tossed back one last patronizing line. “Quit playing games. Be good, wait for me. Those other guys don’t mean shit, yeah?” The groomsmen behind me traded awkward looks. His buddy chased after him. “Liam, you’re seriously leaving—” “Cover for me, I’ll be back.” Liam slammed the door, voice urgent. “That girl’s a pain in my ass. Don’t need the drama.” Car peeled out. I just stood there. Wind catching my veil. Photographer stood there awkwardly holding his camera. Nobody said a word. I stared down at my bare ring finger. Slowly smiled. Liam, go ahead. Go get your license. This million-dollar wedding— I’m keeping it. I grabbed my dress and walked into the church. Guests seated, officiant ready, wedding march playing. Everything is perfect. Except no groom. Liam’s buddy caught up, forcing a smile. “Hey Aria, Liam had something come up, he’ll be right back. Just chill for a sec.” Another one jumped in with excuses. “Yeah yeah, our boy always knows what he’s doing. Your big day—he’ll show for sure.” “Totally, Liam never flakes on the important stuff.” They all talked over each other, making “groom ditched” sound like he ran out for coffee. I glanced at the church clock—10:40. “Fine. I’ll wait.” His buddy visibly relaxed and started getting people to bring me tea and dessert. I waited. But who I was waiting for—none of their damn business.
This wedding had three months of hype behind it. Pretty much every important relative on the groom’s side showed. I looked around, taking in every detail. White rose waterfall by the windows, crystal beads hanging from the vaulted ceiling… Even the font on the place cards was custom designed. Liam was like that—when he did something, he went all out. Chasing me was like that, planning this wedding was like that too. He turned this wedding into the talk of the town, made it the dream of every girl… Hell, even his cheating was that extreme. No wiggle room, no excuses. In his twisted logic, treating someone right and destroying them never conflicted. And me? I only had one option: suck it up. In the dressing room, my best friend Lily flew in from Australia to be my maid of honor, pissed as hell. “Is Liam out of his damn mind? Running off to get the license with another chick on his wedding day? Is his brain broken?” She huffed and dropped into the chair next to me, yanking at her bridesmaid dress. “I thought he was full of shit, but even if… why today?” Her voice burned with that secondhand rage. “When you guys planned this wedding together, he hit up every flower shop in the city just to pick your bouquet, and when you tried on dresses his eyes got misty before yours did.” “I was so jealous back then I went home and smacked my useless boyfriend!” She paused, voice dropping. “Who could’ve seen him pulling this?” I didn’t answer, just scrolled my phone. Ivy just posted on Instagram. Picture showed men’s dress shirt and women’s lingerie all over the floor. [Someone said he’d only stay ten minutes but couldn’t leave~] She geo-tagged it on purpose—wasn’t Clerk’s Office. Mutual friends already commenting: [Ivy, who are you trying to piss off?] Ivy replied: [Whoever’s in a wedding dress waiting on nobody!] I screenshot it, face blank. “Aria, stop waiting!” My friend snatched my phone. “Look at these trash people!” “You came running back from England right after graduation for him—you know how pissed your parents were?” “Liam was a nobody back then and you had the nerve to bet ten years with your parents! Now you’ve lost everything.” “If it weren’t for you busting your ass all these years doing his proposals, pulling investors, quietly flexing your shipping heiress status to get his projects funded, would he even have what he has today?” “And he turns around and screws the investor’s daughter!” “I had no idea he could fake it this good, kept the act up right till the night before the wedding to finally let you catch him cheating!” The more she talked the madder she got, eyes going red. “Aria, stop waiting. Live for yourself for once!” “Thanks for flying out today. As for my parents, after this wedding’s done, I’ll go home and take the L.” A bet’s a bet. Today’s the day I pay up for losing.
Lily and I headed to the balcony at the end of the hall for some air. About to push the door when I heard voices inside— The groomsmen, hiding out here smoking. “So like, is Liam actually not coming back?” “He said Ivy’s all over him, can’t get away, told us to stall.” One of them took a drag. “How long you think Aria’s gonna put up with this?” “You see her today? Wedding dress on, red carpet walked, groom bailed—and she didn’t even blink.” “Man’s lucky as hell to have a wife like that.” Another one sighed. “For real though, Liam’s got it good and doesn’t even know it.” “Liam’s not thinking about that right now. Ivy’s got him wrapped around her finger, man’s completely gone.” They all laughed. Then his buddy video-called him. “Liam, you finally picked up. Aria’s still waiting, you not coming back is kinda messed up, man.” Some sketchy sounds came through the phone. “Can’t you see I’m busy?” Liam’s voice came out irritated and rough with that post-sex rasp. “Not gonna make it. Just keep the guests happy.” “Got it, got it, you do your thing.” His buddy grinned. “Aria’s way easier to handle anyway…” Before he could finish, I shoved the balcony door open. Their smiles froze instantly. His buddy tried hiding his phone behind his back. “A-Aria…” I looked at them. “Wedding starts in three minutes.” “What are you guys doing hiding out here?” “Three hundred guests sitting out there—you gonna make them wait? Or let them watch this trainwreck?” Soon as I said it, they all snickered. “Aria, come on.” One of them waved me off, still laughing. “Three minutes? Our boy Liam doesn’t finish that quick. He can’t make it back in—” “He’ll make it.” I cut him off and turned to leave. That’s when his buddy remembered the video call was still going and glanced at the screen. “Liam, Aria says the wedding starts in three minutes, better hurry your ass up.” Liam’s low laugh came through the phone— Voice lazy, still riding that high. “Three minutes?” “Does this woman not know me or something?” Some girl’s giggle came through, saying something soft and breathy. “Liam…” His buddy’s voice got quieter. “So… what do we—” Phone went silent for two seconds, then Liam’s annoyed voice cut through. “Go ahead without me, hold it down. I’ll be there when I’m done.” When he said “done,” some girl moaned in the background. His buddy quickly killed the call. The groomsmen scrambled to put out their cigarettes, straightened their suits, and filed out. His buddy caught up to me and said quietly, “Aria, after all these years, we all know what’s up with you and Liam. He does care about you, it’s just… guys, you know?” I didn’t look at him, didn’t say anything back. Truth is, up until yesterday I still didn’t want to believe he’d turned into the type who gets bored and trades up. Ivy’s some investor’s only daughter, just graduated college. Ever since he met her at that celebration dinner, something changed in his eyes. Back then I thought I was being paranoid. After ten years together, if I didn’t know him by now, I wouldn’t have stuck around this long. So all those sketchy moments, all those late-night texts he ignored—I chose to believe him. I refused to believe that us, right on the edge of making it, about to finally settle down— Would lose to some girl fresh out of college. But he got more and more reckless tearing off the mask. Stopped hiding it, even started making sure I’d notice. Then packaged his betrayal like some kind of gift. “A guy like me, how could I only have one woman? But my heart’s yours, and the wife spot? No one but you can have it.” Expected me to be grateful. Lily was right—he played me too well. Kept up the act right until the day before the wedding to finally rip off that last layer. Used the cruelest way possible to make me see it, hear it—what I really meant to him. Played me so good I had nowhere left to run. “Aria, when you walk down the aisle, take it slow, we’ll back you up from behind.” “Yeah yeah, Liam said once he’s done he’ll head over. Just go through the motions for now.” They thought I was just going through the motions. Thought I’d walk down that aisle alone in my wedding dress, stand in front of the priest, wait for a groom who might never show. Then smile and say “I do” to an empty spot where the groom should be. That’s the script Liam left for me. The groomsmen lined up on either side of me, still wearing those smug grins like they had it all figured out. The church doors slowly opened and someone stood there backlit. Then every single smile froze.
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