When I was eighteen, my father let my stepmother marry me off to an infamous politician.

"This is how you'll repay us for raising you."

Liam took a bullet for me. As the bullet pierced his chest, he gasped, "Ava, run."

"I'll repay her debt. If that's not enough, take my life instead."

I ran. My family's bodyguards never found me again.

Five years later, Liam became a Silicon Valley titan, his face gracing the cover of Forbes.

He signed a prenuptial agreement that gave me half of his company's shares. He said, "Everything I have is yours."

The gossip in our circle was always the same—

Others clawed their way to the top for fame and fortune. Only Liam did it for the one he loved.

The day he topped the list of the world's wealthiest, he placed a wedding ring on my finger.

We stood in the seaside villa we had designed together, ready for our wedding.

But just then, a panicked girl's voice suddenly echoed in my mind:

"Mom! Don't marry Dad!"

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1

My hand froze.

"Mom! I'm in your belly! I'm Thea, your daughter."

My hand drifted to my still-flat stomach.

"Mom! Dad is a bad man!"

"After the wedding, he'll cheat on you constantly, and you'll end up hating each other!"

"You'll be miserable for twenty years!"

"Mom, you deserve so much better! Don't marry him!"

Liam and I... we would become enemies?

But the man before me was overcome, his eyes already red-rimmed at the very thought of our marriage.

I couldn't help but shake my head.

"No, sweetie," a voice in my head gently countered. "Your father isn't that kind of person."

"We've known each other for years. He took a bullet for me. A love like that can withstand anything."

"But Mom, growing up, all I ever saw in your eyes was numbness."

"Maybe Dad loves you now, but..."

"When I was twenty, you and his mistress fell into the water at the same time, and he chose her without a moment's hesitation!"

"By the time I got there, you were already...!"

A mistress?

I nearly laughed out loud.

"My silly girl," I thought, "your father would never even look at another woman."

Underneath the gunshot scar on his chest, my name was tattooed.

He called it a medal he wore over his heart.

I refused to believe he would betray me.

"Ava."

Liam's steady voice trembled with emotion, his hand shaking as it clutched the microphone.

"I... I prepared for so long... but seeing you in your wedding dress, I..."

"I..."

It's said that a man marrying the woman he loves can be too choked up to speak.

Seeing his ragged breathing now, how could he possibly not love me?

"It has to be a misunderstanding, sweetie," I thought.

"Mom! One step to the left!"

A deafening crash echoed beside me.

I instinctively stepped to the left.

Liam stumbled, knocking over the giant champagne tower. It shattered in a glittering explosion of glass and foam.

"Cover your ears!"

I clapped my hands over my ears without a second thought.

The next second, the massive crystal chandelier not far away shattered, raining down with a sound like thunder.

He stared at me, his eyes wide with surprise.

My own jaw had dropped.

My reflexes had always been sharp.

But those two warnings... it felt like I could see the future.

"Mom, I'm your daughter. Why would I lie to you?"

A chill snaked down my spine.

Liam... would betray me? And make my life a misery?

"I'm sorry, Ava. I was just... overwhelmed."

As he reached for my hand, I recoiled.

"Who is she, Thea?" I asked in my mind.

"She's right here... at the wedding."

"Ava?" a familiar voice called out.

I whipped my head around.

"That's right, Mom! It's her!"

"Ava? What's wrong?" Chloe asked, her brow furrowed with concern.

"Mom! He's going to leave you for her!"

"Impossible!" I couldn't help but shout.

Chloe flinched, her confusion giving way to concern.

"Ava, are you not feeling well?"

It could be anyone but her—

My adopted sister.

The runaway girl I had taken in from the streets.

She had once fought off bullies just to protect me.

I refused to believe the girl who stood by me during my most desperate hours could be Liam's mistress!

"It can't be..."

"It's true, Mom! If you don't believe me, look at Dad's phone!"

I turned, my gaze falling on the man before me, my lips parting in disbelief.

"It can't be," I thought, the name a silent plea. "Thea..."

"Ava?"

A warm, strong hand cupped my face, his deep eyes filled with nothing but concern.

"What are you talking about? Are you feeling unwell? I'll take you to rest."

"No."

I pulled away from his touch.

These were the same hands that had rescued me from the gilded cage my family had built.

Without him, I wouldn't be here today.

"I'm fine. Let's continue."

I looked up at him, his captivating eyes still overflowing with tenderness.

"You'll love me forever, right?"

"Of course," he answered without a hint of hesitation.

Our fingers gently intertwined.

Chloe covered her mouth, her eyes welling with tears of joy.

"Looks like someone's even more emotional than I am," he murmured, a fond smile touching his lips.

The officiant cleared his throat, preparing to read the vows.

I suddenly spoke up.

"Liam, let me see your phone."

The hand holding mine went rigid.

He let out an awkward laugh. "Ava, we're in the middle of our vows."

"So? You won't let me see it?"

"Of course not. You can see anything of mine, but... can we wait until after the wedding?"

"Mom, don't believe him! If you don't look now, he'll destroy the evidence! He does this all the time!"

I clenched my jaw.

I held out my hand. "Give it to me."

My sharp command stunned everyone.

Liam's smile froze on his face.

"You won't?" I tilted my head.

The next second, I had snatched the phone from his pocket.

Before he could react, I had already unlocked it with his face.

"Ava!"

With a sickening crunch, the phone was snatched from my grasp. I didn't even get a clear look at the screen before he smashed it on the ground.

The screen shattered into a spiderweb of cracks, utterly destroyed.

"You..."

His breathing was ragged. "What in God's name has gotten into you?"

"Mom, slap him! Dad always gets defensive like this when he's guilty!"

A sharp smack echoed as my palm struck his cheek, as if Thea's voice had guided my hand.

"You've been hiding things from me!"

"Ava!" Chloe cried out, rushing forward.

She wrapped her arms around me, holding me back. "Is there some misunderstanding? Everything was fine just a moment ago!"

"That's it, Mom! That's her act! She always plays the peacemaker, tricking you and wrapping you around her little finger! She bullies me when you're not around!"

I had somehow managed to stay calm through everything else, but hearing that Chloe would bully my daughter... I snapped.

"Mom! The proof is on her phone, too!"

I shoved Liam away and rounded on Chloe. "Where is your phone?"

"Ava?" The worry in Chloe's eyes morphed into pure shock.

"Give it to me."

Seeing my outstretched hand, she slowly released my arm.

She took an involuntary step back.

"Ava!" Liam grabbed me. "We've looked forward to this day more than anything, haven't we!"

"Who did I do it all for!"

I snapped my head up.

His eyes were glistening with tears.

He ripped open his dress shirt, revealing the gruesome gunshot scar on his chest.

"Isn't this enough? Or these..."

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing several old, deep scars on his arm, some so severe you could almost see the bone.

He'd gotten all of them protecting me from my family's wrath.

"If these aren't enough, then just take my life."

He snatched a bodyguard's gun and shoved it into my hand.

He pressed the dark muzzle to his own temple, his hand gripping mine over the weapon as he cocked the hammer. "Go on. Shoot."

"Ava, in life, I am your man. In death, I will only die by your hand."

"Do it!"

I instinctively tried to pull away, but his hand was a vise, forcing me to keep the gun pressed against his head.

A shot rang out.

"Mr. Monroe!"