LIAM Read Free Page B

me. I want to tell her about what I just saw, but she interrupts me.
    “I’m very happy with Robin. If you love me, you should be happy for me.”
    “But Robin, he—“
    “It’s inappropriate for you to act this way, Will—I mean Liam. Please, leave me. Take a break. Don’t take any more pictures today.”
    I feel my heart breaking into a million pieces.  
    “We’ll talk once Robin and I get back from our honeymoon, okay?”
    I shake my head. Before I can say anything else, Julie and the other bridesmaids burst into the powder room. The girls are laughing as they surround Mandi, like a swarm of flies honing in on honey.
    Julie has fixed her hair and dress. There’s no way to tell that she had snuck off to fuck her friend’s new husband earlier.
    I can’t believe this is happening.
    “See you later, Mandi…” I leave the room and pass Robin in the hallway. He’s standing very close to one of the castle staffers. The young woman, slender and blond, laughs as he whispers something in her ear. She’s my age, or younger even.
    “You have a beautiful laugh, Alice,” Robin says to her. Fucking creep.
    Rage bubbles in me. I see red, and I’m going green like the Hulk. Close up, I see that the bastard hadn’t even bothered to zip up his pants.
    “Oh hey, Scooby,” Robin says when he notices me.
    “Hey, Robin. It’s actually Shaggy, and… fuck you,” I say before socking him in the eye.

 
     
     
     
     
     

Six: Mandi
(24 years old)
     
     
    “You don’t deserve my Mandi!”
    I’ve never seen Willie—I mean Liam go green like this before. I rush over to kneel beside Robin.
    “Oh my god, Robin!”
    Cue the waterworks and theatrics.
    Part of me wants to throw my arms around Liam and kiss him. He’s done something that I’ve wanted to do for the longest time—give Robin the beating he deserves.
    Yes, I know about the cheating. I’ve known about it for ages.
    And frankly, my dears, I don’t give a damn.
    My mother worked her whole life, breaking her back over a sewing machine while we slept. When our father left her, she had barely a cent to her name. Carl and I had to live in a shitty neighborhood. And to this day, Mom is still working. Plus, her heart has never mended after Dad left her.
    I don’t ever want to be hurt like Mom.
    And I won’t be, because I don’t love Robin.
    Why am I marrying him then? You’ve guessed it; I only love his money.
    Julie can go suck Robin’s cock all she wants. At the end of the day, only one thing matters: I’m going to be Mrs. Wickham, the new wife of one of the wealthiest and most successful hedge fund managers in NYC.
    Plus, girl here hasn’t signed a pre-nup and will not have to sign a post-nup.
    Ka-ching!
    Call me a gold digger. Call me a sellout.
    I call this survival. I want a life where I’m free, where I have all the time in the world to do whatever I want because the money is taken care of. I want to be able to support Mom and help Carl out if he ever needs help.
    Robin’s money can get me all of that and luxuries that go by the name of Jimmy Choo, Edie Parker, and Hermes… You get it?
    “Are you okay, darling?” I help Robin get up. He reeks of Julie’s perfume, a distinct blend of roses and skank.
    I don’t get it. Do they really think I’m that stupid? I mean, I’m good at acting all ignorant and gullible, but still. Geez, are his pants unzipped?
    Robin pouts at me. God, I hate it when he does that. It’s so damned unattractive. I give him my best sympathetic look. Then he looks over at Liam.
    I glare at my poor Liam. He’s all shaken and flushed. He stares at me with apologetic, puppy dog eyes.
    That sad little boy—he’s still there, right there, just looking at me and begging for forgiveness.
    I wish I could hug him, but I have to be steely. I’ve played all my cards right for two years just so today could happen.
    “Get out of here, Liam.”
    He gnaws on his bottom lip. Tears roll down his cheeks.
    These words will be hard