Chapter 3

Sophia took a deep breath, forced down the pain, and stood to call a car—when a pair of hands came around her from behind.

“Sophia, why didn’t you wait for me? Are you upset? Then let’s go try your wedding dress. The custom one is here. If you don’t love it, we change it.”

Liam pulled her into his arms, ruffling her hair like she was something precious.

“No need. Pick whatever you want.”

On the wedding day, she would be gone.

So what the dress looked like didn’t matter.

Liam caught her distance and signed carefully, fingertips tense:

“Sophia… you don’t seem excited about our wedding. Do you… not want to marry me?”

She wanted to laugh. To scream. To throw the photos and videos in her phone straight into his “devoted” face.

Yes. I’m not marrying you.

You’re the one who cheated. You’re the one who crushed what we had into mud. You’re the one who killed every last bit of anticipation.

What right do you have to ask me that?

The words burned on her tongue.

But she swallowed them hard.

Not now.

She would give him the biggest “surprise” at the grandest moment.

Inside the bridal atelier, as soon as Sophia and Liam walked in, the head consultant personally drew back the curtain to reveal the dress waiting for her.

“Miss Ross, Don Costa’s Paris custom gown has arrived. Please review it and let us know if any details need adjusting.”

Before the sentence even landed, a sign language interpreter stepped forward and relayed it in signs.

The staff whispered, impressed:

“Don Costa is so thoughtful—he even hired a sign interpreter just for her.”

“And look at that dress. The main stone is a purple diamond he bought at Sotheby’s, specifically to set into this gown.”

“He even bought out the designer’s entire schedule this year—just for this one dress.”

Their envy curved Liam’s mouth into a satisfied smile as he slid an arm around Sophia’s waist.

“Baby, do you like it?”

A massive purple diamond sat at the center. A five-meter train spilled behind it, dusted with smaller stones that shattered light across the room.

Sophia brushed her fingers over the fabric.

She couldn’t deny it—the dress was exactly her taste.

Back when they were in love, she’d told him she loved purple, loved long trains.

He remembered every detail. That’s why the dress was perfect.

Too bad perfection couldn’t stitch back the crack inside her.

“Sophia, look—inside the diamond, it says S&L Forever.”

“Diamonds last forever. I carved our names into it. That’s my love—forever.”

Sophia’s eyes flicked to the stone. The delicate script was there.

She turned to Liam’s eyes—full of devotion—and her heart gave a small, stupid tremble.

Softly, she asked:

“Your love for me… will it really be forever?”

Liam signed fast, terrified a delay would become suspicion:

“I, Liam Costa, will love Sophia Ross forever. This life, no end. If I break this vow, may I burn for it.”

How moving.

If she hadn’t seen the fresh bite-mark under his collar last night.

He’d already broken the vow—yet he could still perform.

Did he ever get tired?

Sophia turned her face away.

Liam was about to say more when his phone rang.

His expression shifted. He stepped aside to answer.

When he came back, apology sat on his face:

“Sophia, something urgent came up. You try the dress first. Tell the consultant any changes. The driver will take you home after.”

After talk by signs, he didn’t even hug her like he always did. He rushed straight out and into the car.

The second he left, the staff practically glowed.

“God, his vow was insane. That’s real love.”

“Even with an emergency, he still made sure everything for her was handled… what kind of perfect man is this?”

Sophia almost laughed at the irony.

Liam never used to leave her behind for work.

And when he came back from that call—his eyes had that unmistakable heat in them.

What “urgent business”?

Just his little Kitty calling him in.

Sophia pulled a flat smile and turned to leave.

The consultant hurried after her. “Miss Ross, you haven’t tried it on yet.”

Sophia shook her head, calm:

“No need.”

Because on the wedding day, there would only be a bride’s “corpse.”

The dress—

won’t be needed.