Semua Bab I Ran Before He Could Lie: Bab 1 - Bab 10

Yeah. I knew exactly who that "important person" was.Mia. Fresh off the plane from whatever fancy school abroad.He talked to me like I was five, like I was throwing a tantrum over nap time.But then—I caught my reflection in the window.White dress—custom-made. Hair styled to perfection. Tight waist, long legs, chest all dolled up.I looked like one of those drama queens in TV romances. The ones who get dream proposals and perfect endings.I looked like a grown-up.Like a woman.Last time around? His laptop screensaver was a shot of Mia.He'd stare at it like it held the secrets of the universe—chest heaving.They said that's how a man looks at a woman.The way he looked at me? Same way he looked at his niece when she whined for candy.I gripped the hem of my dress. I was ready to say it—this time, I really didn't want to marry him.Then his phone rang.Mia's custom ringtone.Hugh lit up, instantly pulling it out. His voice went soft, syrupy."Mia? You're here? Some

"I pick dare. Hugh, can I kiss you?"***Everyone went wild—cheering, laughing, whistling.I glanced over and froze. Mia was kissing Hugh.And him? Not even blinking. His eyes were locked on her, all soft and dreamy.My chest tightened, and before I knew it, tears slipped down my face.That was when it hit me—he really liked her.I was just his guilt trip with a pulse.Not this time.I wasn't wasting another fifteen years being dead weight.Starting now, I'd let him go. Let them have each other.My stomach twisted hard. The booze came roaring back up, burning my throat. I shot up and staggered into the bathroom, gripping the cold sink as I dry heaved, shaking.The door creaked.Entered Mia—mask off, smirk on."Wenna Wade," she drawled, "how long you planning to haunt Hugh like some sad little ghost?"I blinked at her, eyes swimming. Couldn't even get a word out."Hugh's a rising star. Diplomat. Future glowing and all that. He needs someone polished, someone like me—who

Mia went pale.She slapped on a smile like it might fix anything. "She's gone. Don't you want to marry me? I'm here for you.""What?" Hugh blinked, then shoved her words aside. "Where did Wenna go? She's mentally slow—how could you let her leave by herself?!"Yeah, that quiet girl who used to wait at the door for him like a lost puppy. The one who clung to the dream of marrying him.Gone.***While Hugh was busy staging his big "look, she's totally fine now" wedding—I'd already cut a deal with Mia and bounced. That place? Nothing but bad memories.I hopped on a southbound train. I was going home.My parents' place—white cottage, mossy roof, classic storybook vibes.Out back stood this magnolia tree that danced every time the wind kicked up.Tried to crash on the train, but my brain had other plans. Kept drifting into this one dream—The wedding still happened. I actually married Hugh.I was in this ridiculous, heavy dress, tiara sparkling like I was some fairytale princes

Hugh stared at his reflection, and for the first time, it hit him square in the chest:He might've lost the one thing that ever really mattered.Not out of duty—but because he loved her. And he was too spineless to say it, too buried in his own pathetic pride to even see it.***By the time Hugh found me, it was late fall.The magnolia tree in the yard was blooming weirdly early—pink petals tucked into dark green leaves, swaying whenever the wind brushed by. The scent lingered.I sat under it with the old lady next door, sorting olives—green in one basket, black in the other. She showed me how to stab each one before soaking them. Said even bitterness could turn sweet if you gave it time.Toby, the neighbor kid, was sprawled over the stone table, legs swinging, tossing in comments:"Wenna, you put a green one in the black basket.""Wenna, you dropped a few."He reminded me of Bowie.Except Toby didn't treat me like I was broken.I messed up again. He laughed. I laughed back

"Hugh," I said quietly, "what you really want... is the version of me that's healed. Clearheaded. Right?"I paused, slow and steady. "But what if one day that injury comes back? What if I turn into that simple, dependent girl again—the one who needs help, who messes up your fancy events? Would you still want me then?"Hugh froze.Just for a second—but it showed. His jaw tightened, eyes flicked. That pause? It said everything.He jumped in too fast. "Of course I would! No matter what happens, I'll love you, I'll take care of you!"Too late.I looked at him, gave a soft smile—more relief than sadness. "See, Hugh? You hesitated. And in that second, it was clear. You don't want me. You want someone who keeps up. Someone who won't drag you down. Not the real Wenna—whether she's broken or not."The words hit like a hammer.He stepped back, color draining. Mouth opened—nothing came out.His strength crumbled. He just stood there, hollow.He got it.He hadn't just lost the broken gi