Chapter 3

Liam looked up at the sound of my voice, and the smile vanished from his face.

"Whatever it is, we can talk tomorrow."

Then his tone hardened.

"Yara, it's late. Don't start making a scene again."

Before I could answer, he'd already turned away. He reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair from Sophie's face.

"Ignore her. Where were we?"

Sophie leaned close to his ear, her voice soft and playful. She deliberately spoke a little louder, making sure I could hear every word.

"I said I want strawberry shortcake at the reception. You have to add it to the menu."

Liam looked at her with an indulgent smile.

"Fine, fine. You're probably the only person who'd insist on something that sweet and childish."

I stood a few steps away, wanting to tell him that what I had to say was important.

Canceling our wedding was important.

Then, all at once, I didn't want to tell him anymore.

I turned away and went back to the master bedroom.

The room was unbearably quiet.

I leaned against the door and slowly slid to the floor, hot tears falling soundlessly onto the backs of my hands.

I'd thought shutting the door would at least let me hold on to the last scraps of my dignity and some peace.

A few minutes later, Diane Lawson arrived.

Her voice carried clearly through the door, sharp with disapproval.

"Liam, you can't keep indulging Yara when she acts like this. I spoiled her too much growing up. She's petty and oversensitive.

"Sophie was only trying to help by trying on the wedding dresses for her today, and Yara gives everyone an attitude and starts breaking things. She has no consideration for her own sister at all."

Liam's answer was still calm and gentle.

"She was being unreasonable tonight. Sophie didn't deserve any of that."

Right on cue, Sophie's soft voice followed.

"This is all my fault. I shouldn't have tried on Yara's dresses without asking. I made her angry, and now Mom and Liam have both been dragged into it because of me."

Diane immediately softened.

"You're too kind. That's your problem. You're always so thoughtful.

"None of this is your fault. She's the one who doesn't know how lucky she is."

Then she said something that made my blood run cold.

"She only got lucky because she got into a good college and met Liam. Otherwise, a life like this should've been yours."

The words went straight through the last fragile piece of me that had still wanted to believe I had a family.

All my life, I'd kept my head down. I never fought anyone for anything. I studied hard, worked hard, and tried to build a decent life for myself.

All I'd ever wanted was a steady relationship and, someday, a peaceful home of my own.

Liam was the only man I'd ever loved. For years, he'd been the one bright spot in an otherwise bleak life.

Yet in my own mother's eyes, even that was something I had somehow stolen. Something I had never deserved in the first place.

Then Liam spoke again, his voice almost weary.

"I'm getting tired too.

"Yara's been getting more and more petty lately.

"If it weren't for the five years we've had together, I would've..."

He stopped there.

Somehow, what he left unsaid hurt even more than if he'd simply told me he wanted to break up.

Diane seized on it immediately.

"If Yara's going to keep acting like this, then maybe the two of you should just end it.

"Forget the wedding. Better yet, change the bride. Marry Sophie instead.

"She's sweet, obedient, and a thousand times more suited to you than Yara ever was."