Chapter 4

Once we got home, Liam didn't bring up the dinner again.

He sat next to me, lightly touching the edge of my bandages.

"After the wedding, I'll take you anywhere you want to go."

I had waited years to hear those words. But now, they didn't spark a single emotion in me.

That afternoon, they dragged me to the chapel for a wedding rehearsal.

The planner handed us vow cards. "Write down your vows separately. No peeking."

The prompt on the card was simple: Why did you choose your partner?

By the time I wrote my first line, Liam was still staring at the blank card.

Ten minutes passed, and he had only written one sentence: I will take care of Seraphina Vance for the rest of my life.

Chloe walked over, glanced at it, and said, "You call that a vow?"

Liam tossed the pen on the table. "I'm not good at this."

"Let me help you pull it together."

Chloe gestured toward the dressing room. They walked in, one after the other.

I hadn't planned on following them.

But then the planner asked me to bring the ring box to Liam.

As I reached the door, I heard Chloe ask inside: "Why didn't you write that you love her?"

Silence fell for a few seconds.

Liam finally spoke: "Of course I love her."

"But if she hadn't saved you, if her face hadn't been ruined, would you still marry her?"

This time, the silence stretched even longer.

"Liam, every time you look at her, the first thing you think of is that accident."

"You apply her ointment, you feed her, you promised to marry her."

"But you haven't kissed the right side of her face in seven years."

My fingers clenched around the ring box so hard it dug into my palm.

Liam's voice was heavy. "Stop it, Chloe."

Chloe choked back a sob.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't force you to say these things. But it breaks my heart to see you like this."

"Only with me can you stop being the guy who eternally owes Sera."

Through the crack in the door, I saw Chloe holding his hand.

Liam stared down at it and didn't pull away.

I handed the ring box to a passing staff member and walked back into the chapel.

When the rehearsal started, Liam stood opposite me, reciting his revised vows.

"Sera, thank you for bearing everything for me."

"For the rest of my life, it's my turn to take care of you."

Applause echoed through the chapel.

But I only heard two words: Thank you.

The entire vow didn't contain a single mention of love.

I looked at him. "Liam."

"Are you marrying me because you love me, or because my face was ruined for you?"

The room fell dead silent. Liam's expression hardened.

"I promised to take care of you forever. Isn't that enough?"

I smiled faintly. "I don't need it anymore."

Chloe suddenly stood up. "It's all my fault."

She ripped off her bridesmaid corsage, tears streaming down her face.

"I shouldn't have changed his vows, and I shouldn't be at your wedding."

"I'll leave. Is that what you want?"

She turned and ran out of the chapel.

Liam took two steps to chase her, then turned back to me.

"You eavesdropped on us and humiliated her in front of everyone."

"Seraphina, just because I owe you doesn't mean everyone has to yield to you forever."

He ran after Chloe, and the heavy chapel doors slammed shut in front of me.

The speakers continued to mock me, looping his recorded vows: "For the rest of my life, it's my turn to take care of you..."