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“Mom,” Sophie snaps, knowing exactly how much this is destroying me.
“Congratulations, Liam. So I guess this explains why you were traveling so much?” I finally say, putting on a brave face so no one—especially him—sees how hurt I am.
He tenses as he looks at me for the first time. He gives me a simple head nod in response.
Victoria explains how much her father loves him, how much of a help he’s been to her family, and just builds Liam up to be this amazing, loving, caring husband. As if they’ve been married for years, not days. “We might try to start a family soon,” she throws in before taking a bite of salad.
I already don’t like her. No, I fucking hate her. And him.
Swallowing hard, I try to get rid of the lump in my throat, but I’m choking on her words. I need fresh air, but I’m being smothered by the thoughts of Liam’s lips on mine while he belonged to another woman. This must’ve been what he wanted to discuss; to tell me there won’t be anything between us. But instead, he just showed me, and I’ll never forgive him for deceiving and lying to me.
Chapter Thirteen
Liam
THREE HOURS EARLIER
Kissing Maddie before I left for Vegas was bittersweet and nearly ripped my heart straight from my chest. She poured herself into me, and I wanted to devour every inch of her. I closed my eyes, wanting to memorize the way she tasted and smelled, how soft she felt in my arms as our tongues danced together wickedly. A final goodbye, one that was experienced instead of spoken. There was nothing to say because my lips spilled all my secrets, but I think she knew there was more behind it—passion and pain. That was the last time we could ever do that. That was my farewell, one I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.
The moment I return with Victoria, everyone’s lives will change, especially Maddie’s. All this time, I’ve told her to find someone else, someone who wouldn’t hurt her, and in the end, I’ll hurt her anyway. It will destroy her. Just thinking about that makes me fucking sick to my stomach, but I don’t have any other choice.
I betrayed Maddie the most, though it pains me to keep this from my best friends too. They say the truth will set you free, but no one can ever know because it’d be my death sentence. If the O’Learys suspect this marriage is fake, Johnny won’t think twice about putting a bullet in my head. Lying to Maddie and telling her I was leaving for a job when I was going to be with Victoria hurt like hell. I told her we’d talk when I returned, but I know she’ll refuse to talk to me—other than to cuss me out—and she won’t listen to a word I have to say. Over the years, I’ve made her feel as though she wasn’t good enough countless times, and when she hears I’m married, it’ll be the end for us. There’ll be no more flirty conversations or drives to and from school. I’ll be the last person on this planet she’ll want to see, and I’ll deserve it.
After I play the perfect husband for two days around Victoria’s family, we board a private jet. What I’ve learned from this weekend is living the luxurious lifestyle isn’t for me. I actually miss my simple life.
“Sweetie,” she coos as we walk up the stairs to enter the cabin of the private jet, wearing a tiny ass dress that shows off her long legs and hugs her chest. She has no idea what to wear to a small event. “Isn’t this much better than flying commercial?”
Victoria bats her eyes before sitting on my lap. After her bodyguards board and move toward the back of the plane, I gently nudge her to sit in her own seat. An announcement instructs us to buckle up, and soon, the plane takes off after taxiing down the runway. While there are ears and eyes around, Victoria doesn’t dare say a word. Instead, she interlocks her fingers with mine and lays her head on my shoulder. Any bystander would think what we have is real, but it’s far from that. I’m just wondering how long this will last before I crack.
After an hour or so, we land in Sacramento where a Cadillac SUV awaits. A man dressed in black loads our luggage, and we pull out of the private hangar. Minutes later, we’re dropped off at my Mercedes where I stow our stuff in the back. Then we’re on our way. I notice her father’s men don’t follow us even though she claims her dad wants to protect her and keep an eye on me.
“Are you nervous about introducing me to your friends today?” she asks.
