Part 2I Married His Rival Instead

"Fiona! What the hell is your problem in the middle of the night?"

Garrett stormed over, slamming his hand down on my suitcase.

His forehead was creased in deep, angry lines, his eyes flashing with the irritation of someone whose authority had been challenged.

"Just because I couldn't make it to dinner with your parents? I explained it to you! It was an emergency! Can you stop being so incredibly dramatic and unreasonable?"

Amber hobbled behind him, using her uninjured foot to nudge my suitcase.

"Fiona, Garrett works so hard to provide for you. You shouldn't stress him out over minor things. Running away like a teenager every time you get upset makes him look really bad."

She sighed, playing the role of the mature, understanding friend.

"We're just like siblings. You treat me like some kind of threat. Isn't it exhausting?"

I stared down at her foot resting on my suitcase.

She was wearing a pair of limited-edition designer sneakers. I had pulled strings with a friend abroad to get them imported last month, intending for Garrett to wear them at our wedding.

Now they were on Amber's feet.

"Nice shoes," I said quietly.

Amber’s smile stiffened, and she instinctively shrank behind Garrett.

Garrett immediately stepped in front of her.

"I gave them to her! She sprained her ankle and couldn't wear her heels, so I grabbed a pair from the closet. It’s just a pair of shoes, Fiona. Do you have to keep score on literally everything?"

He pointed a finger at my face, his voice rising.

"You used to be different. When did you become so materialistic? So impossible?"

"Impossible."

That was the verdict on the seven years of my youth I had given him.

To help him launch his software startup, I had dropped out of my master’s program to write code late into the night, ruining my stomach in the process.

To save money for his company, I hadn't bought a single piece of clothing over fifty dollars in three years.

And now, he gave my wedding shoes to another woman and called me materialistic.

I let go of the suitcase handle.

"She can keep them."

I opened the door and walked out into the cool night air.

Behind me, Garrett's furious voice echoed down the hallway.

"If you walk out that door tonight, don't expect me to come crawling back! And you can forget about signing the marriage license next week!"

I stepped into the elevator and pressed the lobby button.

The early morning air was brisk.

I pulled out my phone and dialed a number I knew by heart, even though I hadn't called it in years.

"Willie."

The line went dead silent, save for the sound of heavy, unsteady breathing.

After what felt like an eternity, a deep, gentle voice answered.

"I'm here. Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes," I said, watching the streetlights flicker past. "For the wedding next Wednesday... can we change the groom's name to yours?"

Willie let out a low, soft laugh, carrying a steady, comforting warmth.

"As long as you're willing, Fiona, the seat next to me has always been yours."

After hanging up, I took a cab straight to our startup's office.

Hannah was already waiting for me in the conference room.

She slammed a thick stack of legal documents onto the table, practically vibrating with rage.

"Fiona! Finally! I thought you were going to let that parasite drain you dry!"

I picked up the pen and signed my name on the equity transfer documents.

"I'm taking my patents and my core client data. The empty shell that's left? Garrett can play CEO with it all he wants."

Hannah watched me sign with a grin, giving me a massive thumbs-up.

"Hell yes! I've been waiting for this day. I couldn't stand him and his little pick-me sidekick. By the way, check out what Amber just posted on her Instagram."

She slid her phone across the table.

It was a selfie of Amber wearing my silk bathrobe, sitting at my vanity.

The caption read: "Day one of recovering at big brother's house. Even the air smells sweet here~"

Garrett had liked it instantly and left a comment: "Take your medicine. I'll bring you those pastries you like from the bakery downtown tonight."

Hannah rolled her eyes.

"The bakery downtown? The line there takes two hours. And he claimed he was too busy to meet your parents?"

I pushed the phone away, completely unfazed.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

I handed the signed documents back to Hannah.

"Expedite the filing. I want my name completely severed from this company within three days."

My phone buzzed.

It was a text from Garrett.

"Are you done throwing your tantrum? Amber needs a follow-up exam at three. Come drive us. Her leg is messed up and I can't carry her the whole way."

I stared at the screen for three seconds.

Then, I blocked his number.