Chapter 4

A knock on her door startled her. It was Sophia, holding a bridal magazine. Liam stood behind her.

"Ava," Sophia said, her voice bright. "The wedding is in a month. I'd be honored if you would be my bridesmaid."

Ava's gaze flickered to Liam. He was looking at her with a complicated expression.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Liam said, his voice low. "Ava doesn't do well in crowds."

It was true. After the fire, he had always shielded her from large, noisy gatherings, knowing they made her anxious. He had protected her from so much.

Ava felt a brief, surprising warmth at the memory, at this small sign that he still remembered.

"Oh, come on, Liam," Sophia pouted, linking her arm through his. "She's my only sister-to-be. Please? For me?"

Liam's resolve melted under Sophia's gaze. He looked at her with an expression of pure adoration. "Alright," he sighed. "If it makes you happy."

Ava looked away, a bitter smile touching her lips. His principles, his rules... they all bent for Sophia. It was just another confirmation of a truth she had already accepted. He did not love her. He had never loved her.

The wedding was a grand affair. The hall was filled with flowers and laughing guests. Ava stood to the side, a ghost in a pale bridesmaid dress, watching Liam and Sophia greet their guests. They looked perfect together, the handsome police officer and his beautiful lawyer bride.

People patted Liam on the back, congratulating him. "When's the big day, Liam? Don't keep this lovely lady waiting!"

Ava watched them, her face a serene mask, her heart numb.

During the reception, a clumsy waiter bumped into her, spilling a glass of red wine all over the front of her dress.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" he stammered.

"It's alright," Ava said, grabbing some napkins. She had left her phone on the table before heading to the restroom to clean the stain.

When she came back, Liam was standing by her seat, holding her phone. His face was dark, his jaw tight.

"What is this, Ava?" he asked, his voice a low growl. He held up the phone. A confirmation email for her visa application was open on the screen. "Why are you applying for a visa to a war-torn country?"

Her blood ran cold. He had gone through her phone.

"It's... for an architectural research project," she lied, her mind racing. "A professor asked me to help gather data on post-conflict reconstruction."

She watched his face, praying he would believe her. His eyes narrowed, searching her face for the truth.

"Liam, darling!" Sophia's voice cut through the tension. "They're about to cut the cake!"

Liam's attention shifted. He looked from Ava to Sophia, then back. He shoved the phone back into her hand. "We'll talk about this later."

Ava let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

The reception ended, but the night wasn't over. A smaller group of their closest friends went upstairs to the bridal suite to participate in the traditional wedding hazing. As a bridesmaid, Ava was expected to be there.

The games were loud and crude. Ava felt deeply uncomfortable and tried to slip out.

"Where are you going?" Sophia grabbed her arm, a playful but firm grip. "The fun is just getting started!"

Someone shoved them from behind. Ava lost her balance and stumbled, falling backward onto the large bed. Before she could get up, a man, one of Liam's drunk friends, fell on top of her. His weight pinned her down, his hand fumbling at the bodice of her dress.

A scream tore from her throat.

The room went silent.

The door flew open and Liam was there. "What's going on?"

Ava scrambled up, clutching her torn dress. She pointed a trembling finger at the man, who was now smirking. "He... he touched me!"

Sophia immediately stepped forward, playing peacemaker. "Oh, everyone's just had a bit too much to drink. It was an accident. Mark, apologize to Ava."

"What's there to apologize for?" the man, Mark, sneered. "It was just a game. She's so uptight."

"It wasn't a game!" Ava's voice shook with rage.

"Ava, that's enough!"

Liam's voice was like a whip crack. It cut through her anger, leaving her stunned and cold.

She looked at him, her eyes pleading. "Liam, he..."

"I said, that's enough," he repeated, his voice dangerously low. He didn't look at her. He looked at his friend, then at Sophia, his face a mixture of anger and embarrassment. "Go home. Now."

The command was for her. The humiliation washed over her in a freezing wave. The whispers and snickers of the other guests followed her as she fled the room.

She ran out of the hotel and into the cold night air, her mind a blank, roaring void.

Back in her small room at the house, a fever took hold. She was burning up, but she shivered uncontrollably. The headache was blinding, and every time she closed her eyes, she saw the sneer on Mark's face and the cold, dismissive look in Liam's eyes.

Sleep was impossible. The pain and the humiliation kept her awake until the first signs of dawn streaked the sky.