Chapter 5

The trip to City Hall passed in a blur, and before they knew it, they had arrived. Liam stole a fleeting glance at Sophia before stepping out of the car. She followed closely behind, eyeing him warily as he walked ahead of her.

She barely registered the quick glances people gave her as she shuffled through the entrance doors, while Liam kept his distance instead of steadying her as she walked.

Her wedding dress trailed behind her, ripped at the hem and stained with blood and dirt. But she held her head high, pretending this was all part of the plan.

The lobby was stark and impersonal, washed in the pale glow of fluorescent lights. The faint hum of an old ceiling fan, mingling with the distant click of keyboards, only made the moment feel more unreal.

At the counter, the clerk looked up, startled, taking in the sight of them. Sophia was certain the woman’s wide-eyed stare was shock.

Liam cleared his throat awkwardly, forcing a casual smile.

“We, uh… we’d like to get married,” he said calmly, stealing what seemed like a reassuring glance at Sophia.

The woman blinked once, observing them closely. Her eyes roamed over Sophia, making her feel so exposed that she lowered her gaze.

The clerk looked like she was about to ask a question, but she stopped herself as soon as she saw the firm stare Liam flashed at her.

Then, without pressing further, she pushed the necessary forms toward them.

“Sign here.”

Sophia turned toward Liam. His brows knitted together skeptically, yet his actions suggested he wanted the fake marriage too.

The clerk held her raised eyebrow longer, growing impatient with their hesitation. Liam's lips parted, as if to say something, but he sealed them almost immediately.

He hesitantly picked up the pen and cast a quick look at Sophia for confirmation. Then, with a shrug, he signed the documents.

Sophia swallowed hard, her breath catching in her throat. She exhaled in partial relief, grateful Liam hadn't changed his mind.

She took the pen, avoiding eye contact with Liam, whose gaze was steady on her. She didn't hesitate—he had already made the first move.

As she scrawled her name, her hand trembled. This was crazy. Absolutely crazy. But it was her only way out at the moment.

When it came time to say their vows, the officiant read the words in a monotone, barely glancing at them.

“Do you, Sophia Claire Reyes, take Liam Alexander Hart as your lawfully wedded husband?”

Sophia's chest tightened, her vision blurring with tears. She wasn’t crying because she loved him. She was crying because this was not how she ever imagined it—desperate, broken, marrying a stranger just to escape.

“I do,” she whispered, her voice cracking. The floor beneath her shoes suddenly felt cold.

“And do you, Liam Alexander Hart, take Sophia Claire Reyes as your lawfully wedded wife?”

Liam hesitated for half a beat—just half a beat—then looked at her. Her pulse stopped. She feared he would back out. She was shaking like a leaf, dried blood on her temple, her eyes begging him to say yes.

“I do,” he said firmly.

With a bored flick of her wrist, the clerk stamped the papers with a final thud.

“Congratulations. You’re now husband and wife,” she said.

Sophia bit down on her trembling lip. Husband and wife. She could barely wrap her head around it.

The clerk handed them their wedding certificate along with additional paperwork. They were now ready to leave. She raised a curious eyebrow but said nothing. It was a quick and surreal arrangement.

Without another word, Liam ushered her out of the building and into the car.

The moment they got into the car and shut the doors, they both sank into their seats as if synchronized.

Liam's gaze was fixed on a point beyond the windshield, his hand resting on the steering wheel.

Sophia looked out the window, absorbed in thought. Her future was uncertain. She had no idea who this man was and what he was capable of.

An oppressive silence settled between them, neither of them ready to say anything.

However, a few seconds passed and Liam broke the silence, his deep voice shaking the atmosphere a little.

“The deed’s been done,” he began, his voice firm, laced with something unknown. “No matter what happens from here on, always remember—you were the one who asked for this.”

Sophia turned to look at him, her brows furrowed in confusion. She couldn't pin down the meaning behind Liam's words. Why did they sound so much like a warning?

His words hung in the air, and the uneasy silence stretched between them once again.

As if Liam had perceived the shift in the atmosphere caused by his unexpected statement, he cleared his throat to shake things up a little.

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” he said, his tone neutral. “Your wound shouldn't be left unattended like this.” He kept his eyes on the road, his tone distant.

Sophia could see the discomfort flicker across his face. A pang of guilt gripped her as she realized she had probably put this innocent stranger into a tight corner with her burden.

But his words rang in her ears once again and she began to wonder why Liam had agreed to this unplanned marriage. Was it just pity or something more? Who would agree to such bizarre conditions all in the name of ‘helping’ someone? Especially someone who was a total stranger.

She didn't know if he was her savior or the beginning of another nightmare. Also, she couldn't tell which version of him was real—the stern stranger, the reluctant groom, or the man who almost sounded kind.

Liam started the engine, heading to the nearest hospital.

"This is crazy, you know that?" he muttered as he pulled onto the road. "Completely nuts."

Sophia leaned her head against the window, staring absently at the passing buildings. "Yeah," she said hollowly. "I know."

She shrugged off the creeping doubts about Liam's motives. For now, she didn't care why he had complied. She decided to focus on the present first—her unexpected escape from Gray and his toxic family—before worrying about her future with him.

The ride was quiet. Liam's eyes remained fixed on the road, while Sophia stared blankly into space, her shoulders sagging as if the weight of everything was pressing her deeper into the seat.

Then he glanced at her, his frown softening a little. "I may not be the nicest person but… I don't think you deserved what happened back there," he said gruffly. "No one does."

Sophia's heart stopped for a second. The unexpected kindness in his voice cracked something inside her. And he was right. She didn't deserve to be treated like trash just like Edward did to her.

Silent tears slid down her cheeks again, but she didn’t wipe them away. She made sure to look away, to hide her tears from this kind stranger. She couldn't afford to burden him any further.

Liam looked at her briefly, only to notice the tears shimmering in her reflection on the glass. He didn't mention it. He simply drove on, his jaw tightening as if the silence was enough.

She clutched the hem of her ruined wedding dress, her throat tightening. She let herself fall apart, even if it was in a stranger's car. And somehow, that made it a little less unbearable.