Chapter 5
I’d barely walked away when Ryan let out a howl. “Alia! ALIA!” But I kept moving–he must’ve seen the death certificate and cremation papers in that box.
He went ballistic, chasing me down and yanking my shoulder. His hands shook like leaves holding those papers, lips pale as a ghost. “What the hell is this? Talk to me! What does this mean?!”
I looked him dead in the eye: “Exactly what it says. He’s gone–just ashes now.” My voice hitched. “After the crash, Liam needed blood. I tried using your donor card for family priority, but we weren’t legally married. He bled out waiting-”
Saying it out loud, I looked right into his eyes, my chest ached like someone’d ripped out my heart. That was my baby, my flesh and blood–dead because his dad lied.
I clenched my fists, tears spilling: “You happy now, Ryan? That explanation good for you?”
He just gaped, speechless. Then my wedding team showed up, dragging me toward the dressing room. “C’mon, bride! Makeup’s gonna be late!” “Gotta get you in the dress, stat!”
Ryan snapped out of it, grabbing my arm: “The hell’s this? You’re getting married? To who? You’re my wife!”
Zane’s top male makeup artist pried him off. “Hey! Your own wife’s right there. Back off Mr. Sterling’s bride!” The stylist pulled me behind him, both dudes blocking Ryan.
‘I’m faking it!” Ryan yelled. “Alia’s my real wife!”
Kayla shrieked: “Ryan, you said after the wedding you’d announce me as your wife!” She tried to grab him, but he
watted her hand.
flashed my new marriage license: “Your ‘wedding‘ is a scam. Mine’s legit. Remember that fake license you gave ne? Total bootleg compared to the real thing. Maybe stop scamming your stepsister with fakes.”
Kayla freaked, grilling Ryan: “Is she telling the truth? Did you fake our marriage too? We’re going to the courthouse
omorrow to check!”
Ryan looked ready to explode, but Kayla wouldn’t let up. They started screaming at each other in the lobby while I followed the team to change.
When I stepped out in my white gown, Ryan was waiting, sneering: “I know the truth, Alia–Liam’s not dead. You’re bullshitting me!”
I was speechless. Dude had a death certificate in his hand, but he was grinning like I was lying. Then his smile got smug: “Kayla showed me a video. He’s fine in the hospital, told me he’ll recover soon.”
My jaw dropped. My son was days from being buried–how the hell was there a video?
16:38
