I used to be devoted to Marcus. I would have given him anything, done anything for him.

But he, himself, had woken me from that foolish dream.

Thinking back on everything he’d done since Diana returned, it was all for her. He’d completely forgotten that I was the one he was supposed to spend his life with.

My response infuriated him. "What's that supposed to mean? You're not willing? You need to understand, Diana is my friend, and she's hurting. You will make this right for her, or this wedding is off!"

He slammed the door on his way out.

Seething, I went down to the private gym in our building. After just one lap on the track, my phone rang. Sebastian Blackwood.

I hesitated for two seconds, picturing his perpetually cold, unreadable expression, then answered.

"Once you're a Blackwood, you're mine," he said, his voice a low growl without any preamble. "You run, and I'll drag you back in chains."

His first words were a threat.

I remained silent, and he continued. "Send me your identification. We're getting the marriage license." He paused. "I don't want you backing out."

Sebastian, of all people, was acting strangely vulnerable.

I had imagined a thousand ways he might use this marriage to torment me, to settle old scores between our families.

But all I could manage to say was, "I'll see you at the wedding, Mr. Blackwood."

The moment I hung up, Marcus appeared behind me.

"You're inviting Sebastian Blackwood to our wedding? I forbid it!" he snarled, glaring at me as if I were the enemy. "Sophia Quinn, didn't I tell you to stay away from him? That man is poison. He has designs on you. If you insist on having him there, don't blame me for what happens!"

Before I could utter a word, he had already issued his ultimatum.

Marcus had always despised Sebastian with an inexplicable hostility. When we first started dating, he’d flown into a jealous rage because Sebastian and I would trade insults over text messages. I had gradually cut off contact to appease him.

But for him to say Sebastian had designs on me?

I was about to ask what he meant when Diana appeared, draping herself over Marcus’s arm. "Marcus, you're hurting me..." she whimpered.

Only then did I notice they were holding hands.

Marcus coughed, a flicker of discomfort in his eyes, but he didn't pull his hand away. Diana looked up at him with adoration, then turned to me with a falsely apologetic smile.

"Sophia, I'm so sorry. Marcus and I were just rehearsing for the ceremony. Please don't misunderstand." Her eyes then filled with crocodile tears. "I won't tell anyone that you hired men to beat me up, or that you desecrated my mother's grave… but please, don't take it out on Marcus. A true love like yours shouldn't be tested like this."

I had no patience for her pathetic act. I turned to leave.

"Since you're so desperate for attention," I said over my shoulder, "Maybe I'll send some men to visit you tonight. And I'll pay a visit to your mother's grave myself."

SLAP!

Marcus struck me across the face, the sound echoing in the quiet gym. "Sophia Quinn, how can you be so vicious?!"

His face was dark with rage, his chest heaving.

Me, vicious? He believed the lies of a woman he barely knew over the five years we had spent together. My loyalty, my love, had earned me nothing.

A surge of fury washed over me. I was about to retaliate, but Diana stepped between us, positioning herself as Marcus's protector.

"Sophia, please," she begged, "Once the wedding is over, I promise I'll give him back to you. Just be merciful. Don't hurt the people I care about, and please… don't hurt Marcus."

She made a show of nearly collapsing to her knees.

Marcus immediately wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her up as he glared at me. "Stop it, Sophia! Stop acting like a spoiled princess throwing a tantrum! You know how much I hate that. If you still want to marry me, then stop causing trouble!"

He warned me to stay away from them until the wedding.

I didn't expect to hear from Marcus the next day, but his call came, filled with venom. "Sophia Quinn, did you really dig up Mrs. Williams's grave?! I never knew you were that kind of monster!"

Confused, I had my assistant investigate. The truth was more shocking than I could have imagined.

Diana's mother... wasn't dead.