The officiant, standing beside Liam and Sarah, asked the question: “Do you promise to love and cherish each other, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?”
Liam didn’t hesitate. He was practically glowing, a wide smile plastered on his face. It was almost believable, the act he was putting on, pretending to be head over heels in love.
But it didn’t matter. He’d made his choice.
I’d tried so hard to prepare myself for this moment, to tell myself it no longer mattered. But seeing the love of my life about to marry another woman… the pain was unbearable.
They finished their vows.
Then, Liam got down on one knee and pulled out a velvet box. It held a ring, a ring so familiar it sent shivers down my spine.
My blood ran cold. My feet felt like lead, my body frozen in place.
“Isn’t that…? Wasn’t that your family heirloom?” I whispered, my voice catching in my
throat.
Liam, still on one knee, was slipping the ring onto Sarah’s finger.
“Yes, you said you loved it, that you wanted me to put it on your finger on our wedding day.”
No! Liam, how could you?
Tears streamed down Sarah’s face, her eyes shining with gratitude and love.
Liam continued, his voice booming through the microphone. “Sarah, you’re the woman of my dreams. Marrying you, cherishing you, has always been my dream. This ring, this family heirloom, is a symbol of my love, my commitment to you.”
Sarah was overcome with emotion, unable to speak.
Liam, still in performance mode, grabbed the microphone from the officiant.
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“Sarah, I love you. I always have. My biggest dream has always been to marry you, to spend my life with you. This ring… it’s a symbol of our unbreakable bond.”
He leaned in to kiss his bride, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
I could only stare at the ring, my chest constricting with a pain so intense it took my breath
away.
That ring… it was my mother’s.
On her deathbed, she’d placed it in Liam’s hands, tears streaming down her face. “When you and Ava get married, give her this ring. Tell her it’s a symbol of my love, my blessings. May it protect your love, always.”
Liam had promised.
And now, because Sarah liked it, he’d passed it off as some family heirloom? Was he that disgusted by the thought of it being associated with me?
“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!” the guests chanted.
Liam, his face lit up with joy, looked at Sarah. Without a moment’s hesitation, he leaned in
to seal their vows with a kiss.
“Stop!” I screamed.
All eyes turned to me. Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Isn’t that Liam’s ex–girlfriend?”
“She’s here to sabotage the wedding? How tacky!”
“Seriously? Get over it! They’re broken up. Have some self–respect!”
Their whispers were like daggers to my heart. But I stood tall, fueled by a righteous anger.
I marched towards the altar, pushing past the shocked officiant and grabbed the microphone.
Liam and I locked eyes. His were filled with panic and a flicker of something else,
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something I couldn’t quite place. Fear?
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“I know many of you have heard of me, maybe even know me. Yes, I’m Liam’s ex–girlfriend,
Ava,” I said, my voice clear and steady.
