One week had passed, but for Olivia, time no longer moved in a straight line. It felt like a maze where every turn led her back to the same place. The night that changed everything.

The memory came in blurred flashes. Disconnected pieces of a scent, and touch… then emptiness. She had protected her virginity for years, believing her first time would be given to the man she loved. But fate, cruel and treacherous, stripped that promise from her in a hotel suite where she believed she was with Peter.

Now she carried the consequences of an unexpected pregnancy, a traumatic breakup with the man she once thought was perfect, and the responsibility of becoming a single mother.

But the heaviest weight was not only in her womb. It was in her heart. How could she tell her parents? How could she face her father, a man with a fragile heart who had always called her "my Pearl"? The pride he felt for his daughter was so deep that Olivia feared the truth would strike him like a blade straight to the chest.

That morning, she went straight to the office. She worked as usual, hiding behind spreadsheets and reports. The corporate world, at least, gave her the comfort of routine. A place where she was still seen as a capable professional, not a woman shattered by secrets.

When she returned home that evening, she found her mother sitting on the couch with an envelope in her hands.

"Sweetheart, Camilla's wedding invitation arrived," she said, handing it to her with a smile.

Olivia stared at her, stunned.

"What do you mean?" she murmured, hesitating. "Camilla is getting married?"

"In three days," Anna said, raising her eyebrows. "I thought it was strange that the groom's name isn't on the invitation."

Olivia took the envelope, her fingers trembling. Her heart began to race. Camilla was her best friend. They had shared secrets, dreams, and sleepless nights. How could she not know about this wedding? And why the rush? Why the mystery?

"That's strange…" she whispered, lost in thought.

"Love comes like that," Anna said lightly, unaware of the weight of her words. "It runs everything over."

Olivia gave a faint smile, but inside her, the chill only grew.

The next morning, at Trident Marine, the assistant entered Liam's office.

"S-sir…" she swallowed hard. "I was reviewing your expenses for this month and… there were two unusual charges on this card." She handed him the sheet. "A high-value expense… and a gynecological exam."

He took the paper between his fingers and read it. The corner of his mouth moved slightly.

"Have it investigated," he said quietly. Firm. Sharp. "I want the full movements of the woman who used this card. Where she went, who she spoke to, times, everything. By tomorrow."

The following day, Liam received an envelope filled with photos, records, a report, and a copy of the exam.

"The heir already exists," he said at last, his tone almost satisfied. "Now all that's missing is the wedding." His enigmatic eyes gleamed. "This involvement with loan sharks…" he murmured coldly. "It will be the perfect weapon."

The three days dragged by. Olivia's body felt more fragile with each passing hour. The nausea didn't let up, and her heart raced every time her mind wandered back to that night. She decided to attend the wedding.

She dressed carefully, beautifully. A long blue gown that highlighted her delicate beauty, making her fair skin and blue eyes glow. The heels supported her elegant posture. A soft lipstick eased the paleness of her lips, completing the image of a stunning woman, even with pain lingering in her gaze. Despite everything that had happened and the cold silence from her friend, she couldn't stay away. After all, they had been friends since childhood.

The luxurious hall was lit like a palace. White flowers filled golden arrangements. Chandeliers reflected off crystal glasses, and a string quartet filled the air with classical melodies.

Olivia walked in at the exact moment the officiant spoke the final words.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Olivia lifted her gaze, and her world shattered.

The groom was her ex-boyfriend.

She gasped as her heart raced. The image felt like a cruel illusion. Camilla, her childhood friend, was smiling beneath her veil. Peter, the man she had dreamed of building a life with, was leaning in to kiss her.

"Oh my God… this has to be a nightmare…" she murmured, barely able to speak.

Beside her, her father's voice pulled her out of the haze.

"Sweetheart… what is going on here?" he asked, confused and distressed, looking from Camilla to Peter, then to Olivia, as if searching for an impossible explanation.

Applause echoed through the hall and cameras flashed nonstop.

Whispers filled every corner. Murmured comments. Sideways glances. Voices that fell silent when she walked by. Not long ago, she had been Peter's girlfriend. And now she was here, forced to watch his wedding. The wedding of her ex, of her great love… to her best friend. To Olivia, it all felt like a cruel performance staged by life itself. And she, reduced to a mere spectator, was forced to applaud her own defeat.

During the reception, Camilla approached her. The bride glowed with every movement, but the light in her eyes was not love. It was triumph.

"Olivia…" she whispered, leaning close with a victorious smile. "It must hurt to realize that while you were crying over him, I was taking everything you lost."

A tight knot formed in Olivia's throat.

"Camilla… we were friends," Olivia said, her voice shaking. "I trusted you. I told you everything. Why did you do this to me?"

Camilla raised her eyebrows, her tone dripping with poison.

"Correction. You were never my friend," she said with a cruel smile. "I just tolerated you. That innocent little act of yours never fooled me. Deep down, you were always just a slut pretending to be an angel."

The words hit Olivia hard, but she forced herself to stand tall.

"You're a snake," she said, taking a deep breath. "And the slut is you, sleeping with a man who was taken."

"Of course," Camilla replied coldly. "While you were playing hard to get and then spreading your legs for some stranger, Peter was moaning my name when I was riding him." Her voice oozed venom.

Olivia's eyes filled with tears. The lump in her throat nearly suffocated her.

"And to think I loved you like a sister," she said, her voice heavy with disappointment. "You two deserve each other."

"You know… I'm curious to see your daddy's reaction when he finds out the whole truth," Camilla said, lifting her chin, victorious. "A conservative man like him… do you think his heart can handle it?"

Olivia felt her legs weaken. The floor seemed to spin beneath her feet. She struggled to stay upright, on the verge of collapsing in front of everyone.

That was when she felt a firm hand on her waist.

The touch was steady and warm, like an anchor.

She turned and met Liam's green eyes.

He pulled her close effortlessly, leaned down, and placed a soft kiss on her lips, right there in front of everyone.

"Sorry I'm late, sweetheart," he said loudly, making sure everyone heard.