A huge wedding photo dominated the wall.

Maggie, strapless gown and all, was wrapped around Vincent like they were soulmates.

Noses touching. Eyes locked. Total fairytale vibe.

Vincent burst in from the living room.

"Serena, you should crash in the guest room. Maggie's not feeling great. This one gets good sun, so I figured she could stay—"

His words hit the brakes when he spotted the photo.

He stiffened. "It was just to calm her family. That's all."

The marriage certificate? Just helping out.

The photos? Pure PR.

Serena stared him down, ice cold.

Vincent scrambled, reaching for her hand. "It's not what you think. I just—"

She backed off.

"Don't touch me."

First time in six years she'd ever pulled away.

His chest clenched. He opened his mouth—

But Maggie stormed in, voice shaky and tear-soaked.

"Miss Saun, please don't fight with Vincent. It's my fault. I shouldn't have come. I'll leave right now..."

Vincent cut in, stepping between them.

"This has nothing to do with you."

Maggie's tears spilled fast.

"Vincent, you've already done so much for me. I can't be the reason she's upset. Maybe I deserve this—maybe it's karma for all my screwups. I'll take it."

Her puffy eyes and broken look hit him hard.

He softened.

"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one's forcing you into anything. Serena won't be mad. You're staying. End of story."

Serena let out a cold, crooked smile.

"Of course I'm not mad. This is your house now, after all."

She turned and walked out.

Maggie whimpered behind her. "Vincent, is she still mad at me...?"

Vincent stayed quiet.

Serena's words rattled something in him. He chased after her, grabbed her wrist.

"What's that supposed to mean? Her house? Maggie's getting forced into some sketchy marriage—she's being harassed. I was just trying to help. You're a woman too. Can't you just try to understand? Do you have to be so jealous and dramatic right now?"

Before she could clap back, a loud crash exploded from the bedroom.

Vincent's face dropped. He shoved past Serena and bolted.

"Maggie! What are you doing?"

Full-blown panic.

Maggie was on the floor, crying hard. Blood streaked down her wrist.

"Just leave me alone. No one cares about me anyway. If dying makes Miss Saun stop hating me, at least I'll have peace..."

Vincent ripped the broken glass from her grip, pressing on the cut.

He spun toward Serena, shouting—

"This what you wanted? You happy now? Feel even a little guilty? No wonder people say you're heartless. You didn't shed a single tear when your dad died. How could someone that cold ever care about anyone else's life?"

His words hit like a punch to the gut.

Serena froze. Her whole body went cold.

Her dad had been a drunk. The beatings were constant.

So when he died in that accident, she didn't cry.

Relatives called her a monster.

Vincent had been the one who held her through it—who swore she wasn't broken.

Now he was the one tearing her open.

Whatever love she had left? Dead.

"Vincent, I never said she couldn't stay. I wasn't being dramatic. I stepped back because I'm SEVERELY ALLERGIC to seafood."

Only then did he notice the rash blooming across her wrist where he'd grabbed her.

Her eyes were red—not with anger, but from the weight of what he'd just thrown at her.

Guilt flickered across his face.

"I..."

But Maggie started thrashing, her voice raw and wild.

"Vincent, don't stop me! Just let me die..."

Blood started dripping again.

Vincent didn't think—he scooped her up and ran.

"I'm taking you to the hospital. I won't let anything happen to you!"

Serena didn't move.

Just stood there.

Silent.

Watching them disappear.

The floor looked like a war zone.

Serena popped her meds and hauled her stuff to the guest room.

On the way out, she paused by the shattered glass and grabbed a photo.

The only one she and Vincent ever took. Now officially the last.

She hadn't figured out what to do with it while packing.

Guess Maggie handled that for her.

Serena smirked, ripped it up, and let the pieces fall into the trash.

Vincent didn't show up that night.

***

Serena woke to clattering in the kitchen at five a.m.

Vincent froze when he saw her, guilt flashing across his face.

"Did I wake you? Maggie didn't eat last night, so I'm making her creamy seafood soup. You should grab a bowl too."

She stared at the pot, silent.

He still remembered every single thing Maggie liked—even after all that time apart.

Just yesterday, she mentioned her seafood allergy—he hadn't even registered it.

She hadn't known he could cook until now.

Love hits different when it's one-sided.

"I'm good. Don't save me any," she said, voice low.

She turned to leave.

"About last night..." he called. "I panicked when I saw Maggie hurt. I didn't mean what I said. Don't take it personally."

She nodded.

"Right. Emergency. I get it."

Her calm threw him. Watching her eyes drop, guilt clenched his chest.

"It's been forever since we went anywhere. Once things settle, let's take a trip. Just us."

She gave a vague hum.

Didn't matter. She'd be out of there in a few days anyway.

***

Three days later, Serena got back from a day out with friends and found Vincent and Maggie already home.

They were curled up on the couch, flipping through some old photo album.

Maggie lit up when she saw her.

"Miss Saun, you're back! Vincent and I were just looking at old pics. Our friends always said we looked like a married couple. I thought they were just joking, but even the photographer said so during our wedding shoot. Come see—don't we look totally husband-and-wife?"

The air turned icy for a second.

It was a straight-up power move, but Serena didn't flinch.

She nodded.

"Yeah, they're right. You two really—"

Vincent jumped in.

"There's a class reunion tonight. Serena, come with us."

She almost laughed.

Nice try. He clearly thought she was hurt and was scrambling to fix it.

***

The drive over was dead silent. Everyone was stuck in their own heads.

At the hotel, Maggie stayed close to Vincent, chatting about high school like they were still living it. Halfway through a story, she slipped her arm through his.

Serena trailed behind, quiet.

The second they walked into the room, people swarmed.

"What's going on with you two?"

"Didn't think you'd actually end up together after all this time!"

Maggie didn't say a word—just blushed and smiled like it said everything.

Then someone spotted Serena standing by the door.

"And she is...?"

Vincent froze, like he'd just remembered Serena existed.

He opened his mouth to say something, but she beat him to it.

"I'm their friend," she said, calm and steady.

He glanced her way—expression all tangled up—but with Maggie clinging to his side, he kept quiet.

People looked confused but let it slide, waving her over to join the group.

Old friends, same energy, like nothing had changed.

Vincent jumped right in, laughing, chatting, and carefully fixing a plate for Maggie—making sure to leave out the onions she hated.

Serena sat beside them, wearing her 'just a friend' mask.

Midway through, she ducked out to the bathroom.

On her way back, a voice from inside stopped her.

"Vincent, be real. While Maggie was gone all those years, did you ever catch feelings for someone else?"

The room went dead quiet.

Everyone turned, waiting.

Maggie jumped in fast. "Okay, let's not do this. I was gone forever—it's normal if he liked someone else..."

She tried to smile, but her eyes were shiny, and the smile was barely hanging on.

Vincent's chest tightened. His voice dropped. "No. I never liked anyone else."

Maggie finally cracked a real smile through her tears and tucked herself into his arms, all shy and glowing.

The group burst into cheers and teasing.

Serena didn't say a word.

She slipped out and called a cab home.

***

A few hours later, Vincent showed up carrying a wasted Maggie.

He laid her down gently. Her arms looped around his neck, loose and clingy.

"Vincent, don't go. If I hadn't left back then, maybe there wouldn't be a Serena. I'm the one who should be in those wedding pics with you. We're the real thing, right? Please... don't leave me..."

He froze.

Maggie leaned in and kissed him.

Right then, Serena opened the door.

She stopped, stared for a beat, then turned and walked away.

Anyone else would've broken down.

But maybe she'd already seen it coming.

It didn't sting the way it should've.

Vincent panicked, shoved Maggie aside, and ran after her.

"Serena, wait—let me explain. She—"

"I get it. She's drunk. Go take care of her. I'm not gonna cause a scene."

Her voice was calm, her eyes honest—and that's what wrecked him.

Something shifted. Slipped.

"Why aren't you mad at all?" he choked out.