Chapter 3Not Your Backup Bride

After getting the divorce certificate, I moved out West by myself.

I didn't contact my family for three years.

A little while ago, they reached out to tell me that Carter and Serena were getting married.

Serena was the one who called.

"Maya, you have to come back for my wedding. I'll only feel like I haven't wronged you if you're there."

I stayed silent for a long time before saying, "Fine."

The day I arrived home, the weather was beautiful.

As soon as I pulled my suitcase through the front door, Serena came running out of her room.

"Maya!"

Her steps were light and quick.

It was late autumn, but she was only wearing a thin slip dress.

Behind her, Carter strode quickly, holding a coat.

"Why can you never remember to put your slippers on? If you do this again, I'm going to..."

His voice suddenly stopped.

He saw me.

This was the first time we had seen each other since the divorce.

Common courtesy dictated I should say hello.

I turned and gave him a faint nod.

After three years, Carter looked exactly as I remembered.

Only, the coldness in his eyes had been replaced by a lingering tenderness.

He nodded back, shifted his gaze, and draped the coat over Serena's shoulders.

"You two catch up. I need to go handle some work."

Serena stepped up to me and affectionately linked her arm through mine.

"I was so worried you wouldn't come. I'm going for my dress fitting tomorrow, will you come with me?"

I pulled my arm away with a blank expression. "I'm busy tomorrow."

Serena looked disappointed. "Is it really important?"

"Yes. Very important."

She thought for a moment. "Then let's reschedule for the day after tomorrow. Come home early tomorrow after you're done..."

"I'm not staying here," I interrupted. "Tell Mom and Dad I'll be pretty busy the next few days, so I won't be staying at the house."

With that, I grabbed my suitcase and walked away without looking back.

I hadn't walked far when a car slowly pulled up beside me.

The window rolled down, revealing Carter's handsome face.

"Get in. I'll drop you off."

I politely refused. "No thanks. I'm fine."

He was stubborn. Since I wouldn't get in, he just drove slowly alongside me.

"It's hard to get an Uber around here. Get in."

Looking at the endless road ahead, I finally compromised.

I got in the car and gave him an address.

His brow furrowed slightly. "Why aren't you staying at The Belvedere?"

"I don't like it."

The condo at The Belvedere was the one given to me in the divorce settlement.

But what he didn't know was that I had already sold it.

Carter's eyes darkened, but he didn't ask any more questions.

When we arrived at my apartment building, I got out, and Carter followed.

He grabbed my suitcase, showing no intention of handing it over. "Let's go."

"I can take it up myself."

I tried to pull the suitcase back, but it wouldn't budge.

He scanned the surroundings. "Are you having financial troubles?"

This place was more than a few steps down from The Belvedere.

"No."

He simply dragged the suitcase toward the entrance. "Which building? What floor?"

Carter was a persistent man. When he wanted to do something, no one could change his mind.

I stopped fighting it and led the way in silence.

We got in the elevator and went up.

Standing at my front door, I took the suitcase from him. "Thank you. It's not a good time today, so I won't invite you in."

"Wait."

I looked back.

"These past few years... have you been doing okay?"

Looking into his sincere eyes, I felt a wave of dizziness.

In my memory, he had never spoken to me with that tone of voice.

Just as I was about to answer, the door suddenly opened from the inside.

A tall, strikingly handsome man appeared in front of us without warning.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, tall and lean—he looked like walking pheromones.

He reached out a long arm and pulled me into his embrace. "What took you so long, hm?"

He leaned in to kiss me.

The moment his lips touched mine, Carter's furious voice rang out from behind:

"What are you doing?!"

But the man had no intention of stopping. He laid a deep kiss on me before slowly turning his head to look at Carter, still holding me tight.

But his words were meant for me: "I've only been gone a little while, and you've already found your next target? You really know how to keep a guy on his toes~"

I shoved him lightly, but he didn't budge an inch.

I had no choice but to look at Carter. "Whatever it is, we'll talk next time."

Carter's hands balled into fists at his sides, his lips pressed into a thin line.

It was the precursor to his rage.

But before he could explode, I was pulled inside.

The door clicked shut.

The man in front of me leaned in dangerously close.

"If I recall correctly, your flight landed at 11 AM. It's currently 2 PM. Three hours, and you're already meeting up with your ex-husband?"

I lightly poked his firm waist.

"Liam..."

He immediately caught my hand. His voice dropped low. "Don't try to brush this off."

I gripped the edge of his shirt, looking down in silence.

A large hand gently lifted my chin. The second our eyes met, Liam let out an exasperated laugh.

"I haven't even started punishing you yet, why are you crying?"

I sniffled. "I missed you so much..."