Chloe's Web, Liam's Freedom

From the back cover

Today was supposed to be my fourth wedding to Chloe, my fiancée since we were sixteen.

I stood at the altar, surrounded by friends and family, the grand church filled with white roses.

But instead of Chloe, her maid of honor rushed down the aisle, clutching her phone, her face etched with panic.

Then, my phone vibrated.

A text from Chloe: "I' m so sorry, Liam. I can' t. Mark needs me. He' s at the hospital. He said he was in a car accident."

Not again. Another one of Mark' s car accident lies, the same one he used months ago.

Hundreds of eyes fixed on me, a mix of pity and morbid curiosity.

This wasn't postponement; it was a public execution.

Tears of profound humiliation stung my eyes.

My decade of devotion meant nothing; she chose her manipulative assistant over me, again.

Then, a new notification. A social media post from Mark.

A selfie. Mark, smug and triumphant. And Chloe, asleep on his shoulder, in a hotel room, not a hospital.

"Some things are worth fighting for. So happy you' re finally mine," the caption read.

Rage, hot and white-hot, surged through me.

This was a calculated, public humiliation. They weren't hiding; they were celebrating.

Then, a message request from Mark. A picture.

Chloe, asleep in the hotel bed. My wedding dress, draped over a chair in the background, a ghostly white sentinel.

He had planned this. He was taunting me.

Mark answered my call, his voice smooth and arrogant.

"We're at the Grand Star Hotel, room 1208. You know, the one right next to the general hospital. It' s so much more comfortable for Chloe to rest here while I recover from my, ah, 'terrible accident' ."

He laughed, a smug, ugly sound.

He sent another picture: Chloe' s hand, intertwined with his. My great-grandmother' s engagement ring gone, replaced by a simple gold band.

"It feels like nothing," I said, my voice devoid of emotion. "You can have her."

I hung up. I left it all behind, the house, the memories, the woman.

I was free, but I had to fight to stay that way.