Adrian didn't go home immediately.

He walked until his legs hurt, until the tears dried into a dull ache behind his eyes. The streetlights blurred past him as his mind replayed the same sentence over and over again.

I  feel something for you.

He had always known Lia was kind. Gentle. Present. But now he understood-she hadn't been staying out of pity. She hadn't been choosing him.

She had been choosing someone else.

By the time Adrian reached home, the house felt unfamiliar.

A strange pair of slippers sat neatly by the door.

His chest tightened.

Inside, his father's voice floated from the living room-lighter than Adrian remembered it being in months. There was another voice too. A woman's. Soft. Polite. Careful.

"Adrian," his father called when he noticed him. "You're back."

Adrian stepped into the room slowly.

"This is Aunty Miriam," his father said. "She'll be staying with us."

So this was how it happened. No warning. No preparation. Just another replacement slipping quietly into his life.

"Nice to meet you," she said warmly.

Adrian nodded once, unable to speak, then turned and walked straight to his room. He closed the door and finally broke.

He cried the way people do when they're tired of being strong-silently, painfully, clutching his chest like it might tear open. His mother was gone. Lia was gone. And now even his home no longer felt like his.

Across town, Lia sat alone on her bed, staring at nothing.

Jaden's words echoed in her head too. Confession wasn't supposed to feel like destruction-but it had shattered something innocent.

That night, Lia didn't sleep.

The next day at school, Adrian didn't show up at school.

At first, Lia thought nothing of it. People got sick. People stayed home. But by the second day, the absence felt wrong. By the third, it sat heavily in her chest.

Adrian wasn't the type to disappear.

That evening, she went to his house.

A knock came on the door.

He opened the door slowly, as if the effort alone cost him something. Lia's breath caught-he looked thinner, paler, his eyes dull in a way that startled her.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

" You weren't in school," She said finally.

"I needed space," he replied.

She studied his face, her expression softening.

"You look different," she said softly.

He gave a tired smile. "Come in."

Inside, the house felt unfamiliar. Before Lia could process it, a woman stepped out of the kitchen, wiping her hands.

"Oh, you must be Lia," she said warmly.

Lia nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

"I'm Miriam," the woman said kindly. "Adrian's dad has told me so much about you."

She was gentle. Polite. Nothing like the tension Lia had imagined. And somehow, that made everything harder.

After the initial pleasantries in the living room, Adrian gestured toward his room.

"Let's... go there," he said softly.

Lia nodded, following him down the short hallway. The door closed gently behind them, shutting out the rest of the house. The quiet felt heavy but intimate.

Adrian leaned back on his bed, staring at the ceiling for a long moment. Finally, he spoke.

"She... Miriam. My dad's new companion. She's polite, kind. I don't dislike her. But it's different. The house feels different now. I... I don't know where I fit anymore."

Lia nodded softly.

"I can imagine... must be strange, seeing someone else around the house like that."

"It is," he admitted. "Even when she's kind... it doesn't fill the spaces. Not yet. I keep thinking about what's missing... or maybe... who's missing."

Lia's heart ache hearing the weight in his voice. She reached out gently, resting a hand near his.

"You're not alone, Adrian. You have people who care about you. Me, for example."

A small, faint smile flickered on his lips. "I know... I just... I needed someone to... talk to. To feel like things aren't completely upside down."

She nodded. "I get it. And I'm here. Always."

For a long moment, they just sat there, the silence comfortable, unhurried.

"Well," Lia said after a pause, trying to ease the heaviness, "at school... things are moving. Exams, assignments, the new session... everyone noticed you haven't been around. I tried to act like it wasn't affecting me, but it was obvious. People missed you."

Adrian chuckled softly, a faint, hollow sound.

"School keeps moving, even when everything else feels heavy."

"Yes," she said, her voice gentle. "Even when life feels different, it goes on. And... I thought it might help to talk about it, distract ourselves a little."

He turned his head to look at her, eyes meeting hers.

"Talking... it does help. A little. Makes things feel... lighter, even if only for a moment."

Lia smiled, relieved to see him opening up.

"Then let's keep talking," she said softly. "Tell me about the things you want to... not think about alone."

And so, the room filled with quiet conversation - calm, ordinary, and grounding - a fragile bridge connecting two hearts amid the chaos outside.

"You've been... different lately," he said, his eyes fixed on her. "Not in a bad way. Just... I notice it. The way you move, the way you look at things, even the way you... hesitate sometimes. It's like you're holding something back, and I can't reach you."

Lia hugged her knees tighter, her eyes widening slightly. "I... I... what do you mean?" she whispered, voice small, trembling.

Adrian's voice softened, almost a whisper. "I can feel it, Lia. The way you've been... sweeter, more thoughtful, and yet... somehow distant. I don't know why, but I've noticed. And I can't stop thinking about it... thinking about you."

Her fingers twitched against the blanket, and she swallowed hard, heart racing. "I... I don't... I'm not sure..."

"I just... I needed you to know that," he continued, voice breaking slightly. "You've changed, Lia... and I've been trying to understand it. Trying to understand you. And I... I love you. I've loved you through it all."

Lia's chest rose and fell rapidly. She bit her lip, blinking rapidly, unable to speak, letting his words wash over her.

Adrian shifted closer without thinking, and before either of them realized it, their foreheads touched. Their breaths mingled, quick and uneven in the quiet room.

Then their lips met - soft, tentative at first, almost questioning, but it didn't need permission. It just... happened.

The kiss deepened slowly, deliberately, each movement carrying months of unspoken feelings. Adrian's hands cupped her face gently, thumbs brushing her cheeks, while Lia's hands trembled against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

Time seemed to stretch, filled with warmth, longing, and quiet understanding. Each second lingered, slow and steady, leaving them both breathless.

After a while, Lia stood abruptly, the force of her movement startling them both. Her hands clutched at herself, trying to contain the storm of emotions she didn't know how to name.

Adrian's eyes widened, and before she could step away, he reached out, gently but firmly stopping her. "Lia... wait," he said, voice trembling with desperation and pain. "Why... why is it that in this moment, you act like you want me, but then you pull back like you don't?"

Adrian's voice trembled as he took a shaky breath. "Lia... that night at the party, when you-"

"No!" Lia snapped softly but firmly, stepping slightly between him and the memory. Her eyes were glistening, chest rising quickly. "Not now. Don't... don't talk about that night. I... I can't. Please."

Adrian's words faltered. He looked down, hurt and frustrated, but he didn't push. The room went quiet, heavy with unspoken emotions.

He reached for her hands, holding them gently. "Do you... love him?" he asked, voice low, desperate.

Silence. Her lips pressed together, and she shook her head faintly, unable to respond.

Adrian's chest tightened, but he didn't push. "I overheard your conversation that afternoon," he whispered, voice breaking slightly. "I didn't mean to... I just... I needed to understand. I needed to know... how you feel."

He paused, searching her eyes. "So... tell me, Lia. Do you... love him?"

Still nothing. Her face glistened with unshed tears, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Adrian felt his own control slipping, the tears he had been holding back now rolling freely down his cheeks.

Lia didn't speak, but without thinking, she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him. He stiffened briefly, then melted into the embrace, letting himself feel the warmth, the fleeting closeness, the emotional weight of the moment.

She pressed a gentle kiss on his cheek, soft and fleeting, then pulled back slightly. "I... goodbye, Adrian. Stay safe," she whispered.

He reached out instinctively, calling her name, but she only gave a faint, sad smile and turned toward the door.

Outside, she met Mr. Edwin. The older man's face softened as he saw her. "Hello, Lia," he said warmly.

"Hello, sir," she replied, giving a polite, small smile.

They exchanged a brief greeting, a small comfort amidst the storm of emotions still clinging to her. Then she turned and left, her steps quiet but purposeful, heading home. Adrian remained behind, clutching the bed where they had shared so much without words, his chest tight with longing and heartbreak.

Lia didn't make an announcement about the distance she was creating. She let it settle in quietly, hoping no one would notice until it was too late to stop her.

She started arriving late to class, sliding into a seat at the back just as the bell rang. Jaden noticed immediately-the space beside him stayed empty, untouched. He glanced at the door more than once, expecting her to rush in with an apology and that familiar smile.

She didn't.

He leaned toward the girl behind him. "Has Lia been coming early lately?"

She shrugged. "No idea."

At lunch, he searched for her without meaning to. When he finally spotted her across the cafeteria, she was alone, earbuds in, shoulders hunched like she was trying to shrink. He stood up before he could talk himself out of it.

"Lia," he called.

She heard him. He could tell by the way her shoulders stiffened. But she didn't turn around.

He stopped a few steps away. "Hey... did I do something?"

She pulled one earbud out slowly. "Jaden, not now."

"That's what you've been saying all week."

She stood up, gathering her things. "Because it's true."

He frowned. "You don't even look at me anymore."

Her eyes flicked up for half a second. "I'm just busy."

"With what?" he asked. "You won't even sit near me."

She exhaled, frustration slipping through. "Why are you making this harder than it needs to be?"

"I'm trying to understand," he said quietly.

She shook her head. "Understanding turns into questions. I don't want questions."

"So you avoid me instead?" he asked.

"Yes," she admitted, the word barely audible.

The honesty hurt more than a lie.

"Did I do something wrong?" Jaden asked again.

She hesitated. "No. That's the problem."

He laughed once, bitterly. "That doesn't make sense."

"It does to me."

He studied her face, searching for something-anything-to hold on to. "Are you avoiding Adrian too?"

Her jaw tightened. "I don't even see Adrian most days."

"But you are," he said. "Aren't you?"

She nodded slowly. "I am."

He looked away, swallowing. "So it's not just me."

"No," she whispered. "It's easier if it's both of you."

"Easier for who?" he asked.

"For me," she said honestly. "Harder for everyone else."

The bell rang, sharp and unforgiving.

"I don't want to do this," Lia said, stepping back. "But I need space."

Jaden nodded, even though it cost him something. "Then say that next time. Don't disappear."

"I'll try," she murmured.

She walked away before he could say anything else.

Adrian noticed the distance later.

He hadn't seen Lia in days- not in  the hallway, not at lunch, not after school. When he finally caught sight of her across the courtyard, he raised his hand instinctively.

She turned the other way.

He walked up to her before he could stop himself.

"Lia." He called.

She heard him. He could tell by the way her shoulders stiffened. But she didn't turn around.

He called again this time louder. "Lia!"

She stopped walking.

Slowly, she turned. "Adrian... I'm late."

"You're always late now," he said. "Or busy. Or gone."

"That's not fair."

"What's not fair is pretending I don't exist."

She crossed her arms. "We're not even in the same class."

"And yet you still manage to avoid me everywhere else."

She looked away. "I didn't plan this conversation."

"I didn't plan being ignored."

Silence.

"Did Jaden say something to you?" she asked.

Adrian laughed once. "So you have been talking to him."

"That's not what I meant."

"It never is," he replied. "You keep stopping people halfway and expecting them to understand the ending."

Her voice dropped. "I don't owe anyone explanations."

"No," he said calmly. "But you owe honesty when you pull people close first."

She flinched. "I never asked-"

"You didn't have to ask," Adrian cut in. "You let it happen."

She shook her head. "I didn't mean for it to get complicated."

"But it did," he said. "And now you're running."

"I'm protecting myself."

"From what?" he asked. "From feelings? Or from choosing?"

Her lips parted, then closed again.

"That's what I thought," Adrian said quietly.

She swallowed. "Jaden doesn't deserve this."

"And what about me?" he asked. "Do I?"

Her voice cracked. "I didn't mean to hurt either of you."

"But you did," he said. "And the worst part? You're doing it silently."

She wiped at her eyes angrily. "What do you want me to say?"

"The truth."

She hesitated.

Then, barely above a whisper: "If I stop avoiding you... something breaks."

Adrian studied her. "Whose?"

"Mine."

He nodded slowly. "Then say that next time. Don't disappear."

She exhaled shakily. "I don't know how to face you both."

"You don't have to face us," he said. "Just don't pretend we never mattered."

Another pause.

"Tell Jaden," she said softly. "Tell him I'm not angry. I'm just scared."

Adrian held her gaze. "Tell him yourself."

She shook her head. "Not yet."

He stepped back. "Just know this, Lia-avoiding us won't make the choice go away."

As she walked off, he added quietly,

"It only makes it louder."

The house felt strange.

Adrian noticed it the moment he stepped downstairs.

It wasn't just the decorations. Or the unfamiliar voices drifting through the hallway. Or the soft music playing somewhere in the background.

It was the feeling.

Like the house no longer belonged to the memories that had lived inside it for years.

White flowers covered the living room tables. Ribbons hung along the staircase railing. The dining table was covered with gift boxes wrapped in soft gold paper.

Everything looked beautiful.

But Adrian hated it.

He stood near the staircase, staring at the decorations with a quiet heaviness in his chest.

Today his father was getting married.

Again.

The word still felt wrong in his head.

Married.

As if the past could simply be replaced.

A woman he barely knew would walk into this house tonight and suddenly become part of their lives.

Miriam.

Even thinking her name made something twist uncomfortably inside him.

Adrian shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and walked slowly toward the kitchen. The smell of food filled the air-caterers preparing dishes for the reception later.

People smiled at him as he passed.

"Morning, Adrian."

"You look handsome today."

"You excited for your dad?"

He gave polite nods but didn't answer.

Excited wasn't the word.

He stepped outside through the back door, breathing in the cool morning air. The garden was already being prepared for the ceremony. Rows of chairs lined the grass, facing a small white arch decorated with roses.

Workers moved around adjusting ribbons and flower arrangements.

Everything looked ready.

Too ready.

Adrian leaned against the wooden railing of the porch and stared at the setup.

For a moment, he imagined a different scene.

His mom standing there instead.

Laughing.

Smiling the way she used to.

The thought hit him harder than he expected.

He swallowed and looked away.

"Skipping breakfast?"

Adrian turned.

His father stood behind him.

Edwin looked unusually formal in his dark suit, the jacket hanging loosely over his arm. His hair was neatly combed, and there was a calm expression on his face that Adrian couldn't quite read.

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then Adrian shrugged.

"Not really hungry."

Edwin stepped onto the porch beside him, following his gaze toward the garden.

"They did a good job with the decorations."

Adrian nodded slightly.

"Yeah."

Silence settled between them.

It wasn't the comfortable kind.

More like the kind where both people were aware of things they hadn't said.

Edwin rested his hands on the railing.

"You woke up early."

"I didn't sleep much."

Edwin gave a small chuckle.

"Big day."

Adrian didn't respond.

After a moment Edwin glanced at him.

"You alright?"

Adrian hesitated.

That question felt too simple.

Too easy.

"Yeah," he said eventually.

Edwin studied him carefully.

"You don't sound convinced."

Adrian shifted his weight.

"I'm fine."

Another pause stretched between them.

The morning sun was beginning to rise higher now, casting soft light across the garden.

Finally Adrian spoke again.

"How long have you been planning this?"

Edwin looked slightly surprised by the question.

"A few months."

"That's it?"

Edwin nodded.

"When you know something is right, you don't need years to decide."

Adrian looked back at the rows of chairs.

"That's fast."

Edwin didn't argue.

"Life moves quickly."

Adrian let out a quiet breath.

"Yeah. I guess it does."

His fingers tapped lightly against the wooden railing.

Then he asked,

"Did you think about waiting longer?"

Edwin turned to him.

"Waiting?"

Adrian shrugged.

"After mom."

The words hung quietly in the air.

Edwin's expression softened slightly.

"It's been three years, Adrian."

Adrian knew that.

Of course he knew that.

He just wasn't sure time worked the same way for everyone.

"Still," he said.

Edwin looked back at the garden.

"Your mother wouldn't have wanted me to stay alone forever."

Adrian didn't answer.

He wasn't sure if that was true.

Or if it was just something people said to make moving on easier.

Edwin spoke again after a moment.

"You like Miriam."

Adrian hesitated.

"She's... nice."

It wasn't a lie.

Miriam had always been kind to him. She never tried to force conversations or act like she already belonged in his life.

But that didn't mean he was ready for this.

Edwin watched him carefully.

"You don't have to pretend with me."

"I'm not pretending."

"You're thinking too much."

Adrian gave a small, humorless laugh.

"Maybe."

A breeze moved through the garden, rustling the ribbons tied to the chairs.

Adrian stared at them for a while before speaking again.

"Does it feel weird to you?"

Edwin raised an eyebrow.

"What does?"

"This."

Adrian gestured toward the decorations, the chairs, the arch.

"The wedding."

Edwin considered the question.

"A little."

Adrian blinked.

That wasn't the answer he expected.

"Really?"

Edwin nodded.

"Life rarely turns out the way we imagine it."

Adrian leaned back against the railing.

"Did you imagine getting married again?"

Edwin smiled faintly.

"No."

Adrian looked down at his shoes.

"Then why do it?"

The question came out quieter than he intended.

Edwin didn't seem offended by it.

Instead, he took a moment before answering.

"Because sometimes life gives you another chance at happiness."

Adrian's chest tightened slightly.

"Even if it changes everything?"

Edwin met his gaze.

"Yes."

Adrian looked away.

The thought made him uneasy.

Not because he wanted his father to be unhappy.

But because it felt like the life he knew was slowly disappearing.

"Is she going to move in right away?" Adrian asked.

Edwin nodded.

"That's usually how marriage works."

Adrian rubbed the back of his neck.

"Yeah. I figured."

Edwin studied him again.

"You're worried about something."

Adrian shrugged.

"It's just... different."

"Different doesn't always mean bad."

Adrian looked back toward the garden.

"I know."

Edwin placed a hand on his shoulder.

The gesture surprised him slightly.

"You don't have to like everything about this today," Edwin said calmly. "But I hope eventually you'll understand it."

Adrian nodded slowly.

"I'm trying."

Edwin squeezed his shoulder lightly before letting go.

"That's all I ask."

Another voice called from inside the house.

"Edwin! We need you upstairs!"

Edwin sighed softly.

"That's my cue."

Adrian managed a faint smile.

"Groom duties."

"Apparently."

Edwin picked up the suit jacket he had set on the railing.

Before going inside, he paused.

"Adrian."

"Yeah?"

Edwin looked at him for a moment.

"You're still the most important part of my life."

The words caught Adrian off guard.

Edwin continued,

"That doesn't change today."

Adrian felt something in his chest loosen slightly.

He nodded.

"Okay."

Edwin gave him a small smile before heading back into the house.

Adrian remained on the porch, watching the workers finish setting up the wedding chairs.

Soon people would arrive.

Music would start playing.

Miriam would walk down the aisle.

And his father's life would begin a new chapter.

Adrian wasn't sure how he felt about it yet.

But as he stood there in the quiet morning air, he realized something.

Today wasn't just a wedding.

It was the day everything changed.

The ceremony ended with applause.

Soft music floated across the garden as guests stood from their chairs, clapping and smiling while Edwin and Miriam walked down the aisle together. The late afternoon sun bathed the entire garden in warm light, making the white roses and ribbons shimmer gently.

To anyone watching, it was perfect.

Adrian stood near the back of the crowd, hands in the pockets of his black suit pants, watching the scene unfold.

His father looked happy.

Really happy.

Edwin held Miriam's hand firmly as they walked past their guests. Miriam's veil flowed lightly behind her, and her laughter blended with the cheerful voices surrounding them.

People congratulated them.

"Beautiful ceremony!"

"You two look wonderful!"

"Congratulations!"

Adrian forced a small smile when someone glanced his way, but he felt oddly detached from everything happening around him.

He wasn't angry anymore.

Just... unsettled.

The music shifted into something softer as guests slowly moved toward the reception area. Waiters carried trays of drinks, and laughter filled the garden again.

Adrian stepped away from the crowd, moving toward the side of the house where it was quieter.

He needed a moment.

Just a moment to breathe.

"Adrian."

The voice made him stop.

He turned slightly.

Lia stood a few steps away.

For a second, the noise of the wedding seemed to fade into the background.

She wore a simple pale-blue dress that moved lightly with the breeze. Her hair was pulled back loosely, a few strands framing her face. She looked both nervous and relieved at the same time.

Adrian felt something in his chest shift.

"You came," he said.

Lia smiled softly.

"Of course I did."

For a moment, neither of them moved.

Then she walked closer.

"How are you holding up?"

Adrian shrugged.

"It wasn't as bad as I thought."

She studied him carefully.

"That's not really an answer."

He let out a small laugh.

"I guess I'm still processing everything."

"That makes sense."

They stood there quietly for a moment, listening to the distant laughter from the reception.

Then another voice cut in.

"Well, isn't this nice."

Adrian's shoulders stiffened instantly.

He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Jaden.

Lia's expression shifted slightly when she saw him approaching.

Jaden walked toward them with slow, confident steps, his dark suit jacket hanging loosely over his shoulder.

His eyes were fixed on Adrian.

"Well," he continued, stopping a few feet away. "The groom's son hiding from his own celebration."

Adrian exhaled slowly.

"I'm not hiding."

Jaden raised an eyebrow.

"Looks like it."

Lia glanced between them.

"Jaden..."

But he ignored her.

His attention remained on Adrian.

"Nice speech earlier," Jaden added casually.

"I didn't give a speech."

"Exactly."

The sarcasm was obvious.

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"I didn't realize you were keeping track."

Jaden smirked.

"Oh, I keep track of a lot of things."

The tension in the air thickened.

Lia stepped forward slightly.

"Okay, maybe we should just-"

"Why are you here?" Adrian asked suddenly.

Jaden blinked.

"What?"

"You barely even know my dad."

Jaden shrugged.

"Miriam invited my family."

"Right."

Adrian's voice carried a quiet edge now.

"And you came just to... what? Start something?"

Jaden laughed softly.

"You think everything is about you, don't you?"

Adrian took a step closer.

"You always seem to make it that way."

Lia's stomach tightened.

This wasn't good.

"Guys," she said quickly, "this isn't the place for-"

"Relax," Jaden said, though his eyes never left Adrian. "We're just talking."

Adrian gave a short laugh.

"You don't talk. You provoke."

Jaden's smile faded slightly.

"And you overreact."

Adrian's patience was thinning.

"Then maybe you should stop giving me reasons."

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The tension between them felt almost physical now.

Lia stepped between them slightly.

"Okay. That's enough."

But Jaden wasn't done.

"You know what I find funny?" he said, looking at Adrian. "You act like you're better than everyone."

Adrian frowned.

"I never said that."

"You don't have to."

Jaden gestured around the garden.

"The big house. The perfect wedding. The fancy guests."

His voice sharpened slightly.

"You've had everything handed to you."

Adrian's eyes darkened.

"You don't know anything about my life."

"I know enough."

"No," Adrian said firmly. "You don't."

The air seemed to tighten again.

Lia's heart started beating faster.

"Guys, seriously-"

"You think you deserve her?" Jaden suddenly asked.

The words landed heavily.

Adrian's expression hardened.

"What did you just say?"

"You heard me."

Jaden's gaze flickered briefly toward Lia before returning to Adrian.

"You act like she's automatically yours."

"I never said that."

"But you think it."

Adrian stepped closer.

"You're imagining things."

Jaden scoffed.

"Am I?"

Lia's voice rose slightly.

"Stop it! Both of you!"

But neither of them listened.

Adrian's voice dropped lower now.

"You're jealous."

Jaden's eyes flashed.

"Of you?"

"Yes."

Jaden laughed once, sharp and humorless.

"You wish."

Adrian shook his head.

"You've been picking fights with me for months."

"Maybe because you deserve it."

"Or maybe because you can't stand losing."

That did it.

Jaden's expression hardened instantly.

"Careful."

Adrian didn't back down.

"Or what?"

For a split second, everything seemed to pause.

Then Jaden swung.

The punch came fast and unexpected.

His fist connected with Adrian's jaw, sending him stumbling backward.

Lia gasped.

"Jaden!"

Adrian recovered quickly, anger flashing across his face as he lunged forward.

"You're dead!"

The two boys collided, grabbing each other as they struggled.

Guests nearby began turning toward the commotion.

"What's happening?"

"Hey-stop!"

Lia rushed forward.

"Stop it!"

Jaden shoved Adrian backward, but Adrian grabbed his shirt and pulled him down with him.

They crashed against a nearby table, glasses clattering to the ground.

"Both of you stop!" Lia shouted desperately.

Adrian threw a punch, hitting Jaden in the shoulder.

Jaden shoved him again.

"Back off!"

Lia tried to wedge herself between them.

"Please just-"

But the fight had already taken over.

Adrian swung again.

Jaden ducked.

And in the chaos-

Adrian's arm struck Lia.

Hard.

The sound was sickening.

Lia's head snapped to the side.

For a split second, no one moved.

Then her body crumpled.

She collapsed to the grass.

Blood began to trickle from her nose.

Adrian froze.

Jaden froze.

"Oh my God..."

Adrian dropped to his knees beside her instantly.

"Lia!"

She didn't respond.

Her eyes were closed.

The blood from her nose slowly spread across her upper lip.

Panic surged through him.

"Lia, wake up."

Jaden crouched beside him, shock written all over his face.

"Lia?"

Still nothing.

Guests began gathering around them now.

"What happened?"

"Call someone!"

Adrian gently touched her shoulder.

"Lia, please..."

His voice trembled.

"Wake up."

She remained completely still.

Jaden's voice cracked slightly.

"She's not waking up."

Adrian felt his chest tighten.

"No, no, no..."

Someone pushed through the crowd.

Edwin.

His father took in the scene instantly.

Lia unconscious on the ground.

Blood.

Adrian kneeling beside her.

The entire garden watching.

Their eyes met.

And the look Edwin gave him-

Was pure disappointment.

Not anger.

Not shouting.

Just deep, crushing disappointment.

It hit Adrian harder than any punch.

"Call an ambulance," Edwin said sharply.

A woman nearby was already dialing.

Adrian looked back at Lia.

"I didn't mean to..."

His voice barely came out.

"I didn't mean to hit her."

Jaden ran a hand through his hair nervously.

"This wasn't supposed to happen."

Guests whispered anxiously around them.

Minutes later, the sound of sirens filled the air.

Paramedics rushed into the garden.

"What happened?"

"She got hit during a fight," someone explained.

They quickly knelt beside Lia, checking her pulse.

"She's breathing," one of them said.

Relief flooded Adrian for half a second.

Then they placed her carefully onto a stretcher.

"We're taking her to the hospital."

Adrian stood abruptly.

"I'm coming."

Jaden nodded quickly.

"Me too."

The paramedics wheeled Lia toward the ambulance.

Adrian followed close behind, his heart pounding with fear and guilt.

As they lifted her inside, he glanced back once.

Edwin still stood in the garden.

Watching him.

That same disappointed look still in his eyes.

Adrian felt the weight of it settle deep in his chest.

Then the ambulance doors slammed shut.

And the sirens wailed as they sped toward the hospital.

Leaving the wedding behind.

And nothing the same anymore.