Knock! Knock!! Knock!!!

"Savannah?" A voice shouited from outside, pounding harder against the door.

I groaned and buried my ear deeper into the pillow, turning to the other side of the bed as though I could block out reality with a bit more fabric.

"Sav, wake up! You're going to be late!"

The voice pierced through the haze of my half-asleep state.I peeled one eye open. Outside, the sky was still dark-early morning, the kind of time when sane people should still be asleep.

A heavy weight across my waist reminded me I wasn't alone. Roman's arm.

Freeing myself from it was a war of sorts, hishold was iron,even in deep sleep. With a quiet grunt. I finally managed to slip out of his grip and sit up, rubbing my forehead.

The knocking persisted. But now the voice was clearer.Lizzie.

I grabbed a robe from the chair, wrapping it tightly around me,concealing every inch of my bare skin. The sash cinched around my waist as I tiptoed across the field of discarded clothes scattered on the floor.

Memories from yesterday had me blushing like a virgin. How careful he had been. How slow he had taken things. How he made sure I was comfortable as if it was our first time.

I glanced at his sleeping form. He was asleep on his belly with one hand still pressing down on the side I just vacated.

Another knock had me jerking out of my thoughts,my eyes flying straight to the door.

"Savannah! Are you dead in there?!" Lizzie's pounding grew frantic.

loud enough to rattle the doorframe. Roman stirred behind me, his voice

groggy with sleep.

"Who the hell is that?"

"Lizzie," I whispered back as I opened the door.

She stood there, hair in wild disarray, hands on her hips,practically steaming with annoyance. For a split second, I swore smoke puffed from her ears.

"Dude! I've been knocking for hours!" She threw her arms out,eyes wide.

"We were asleep," I said quickly, angling myself to block her view so she wouldn't get an eyeful of Roman sprawled naked across the sheets.

Lizzie's gaze flicked over me from head to toe. Then,slowly,the corners of her mouth curled upward into a devilish smirk, her previous annoyance disappearing. "Ah. I see."

I rolled my eyes. "What is it, Lizzie? Why are you trying to break down the door at dawn?"

"The makeup artist is here," she announced, her words coming fast. "Chloe's finished hers, and now it's your turn. The other bridesmaids are here too. They're all waiting for you."

Her words barely registered. Makeup artist. Bridesmaids. Chloe.My heart thudded unevenly in my chest.

"What are you talking about? The wedding isn't happening. Didn't Dean tell you?"

For a second, Lizzie bliked at me. uncomprehending. As if I was speaking mandarin.

No. No, please. This can't be happening.

Her brows furrowed. "What? That's not true. The wedding's pushing through. Dean even sent Chloe a gift a few minutes ago.He said-and I quote-he can't wait to see her."

The world froze. Everything went on standstill.

It was like someone had slapped me across the face with an iron palm.A sharp ringing filled my ears, drowning out everything. My vision tilted.threatening to send me clawing at the ground.

Dean. No. He wouldn't. He couldn't.

But Lizzie's expression was solid, certain, unshakable.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't think.

There was a sharp ringing in my ear and my vertigo threatened to send me spinning.

I can't believe he'd still marry her after everything she did.

Lizzie tilted her head, studying me with narrowed eyes. "You know

what? I think I get what's going on here. You probably banged your head against the headboard while at it last night and scrambled your brain,Totally understandable. I once did it with this guy and-"

I cut her off sharply. "Dean is still marrying Chloe?" My voice rose,breaking.

"Of course he is. Why wouldn't he? Is something wrong?"

The question was innocent, but it pierced me like a knife. She didn't know. She had no idea about the mess, the betrayal, the lies. The deal with me,Dean and Chloe.

I pressed a hand to my mouth, forcing down the sob clawing its way up my throat. Then, somehow, I managed a tight smile. "You're right. I'm...saying nonsense. I'll be there in a few minutes. Thanks, Lizzie."

Before she could answer, I slammed the door shut and leaned against

it. My chest heaved, lungs on fire as if I'd run a marathon. I expelled a deep breath that left my chest burning and my head spinning.

"He's still pushing forward with the wedding," I whispered to the empty room, clutching my chest. "Is he insane? Obsessed? Bewitched?What the hell is going on?"

"Well, damn. Hate to say this,but..."

I jolted at the voice. Roman stood across the room, towel slung around his hips, droplets of water clinging to his face and some parts of his hair.His dark eyes held a glint of something between pity and smugness.

"...I told you so."

The words were a very sharp blade, cutting clean and merciless.

He crossed the room casually, like he hadn't just shattered what little was left of my heart. "Dean would accept anything as long as she's the one giving. Didn't I tell you that?"

I wanted to scream. I wanted to claw the truth out of the air until it made sense. Instead, I tugged at my hair, the frustration spilling out of me in jagged breaths. "How is he so stupid?"

Roman didn't even flinch at my outburst. As if he ever did that."He's in love. Besides..." He picked up his phone from the bedside table,scrolling as though this was nothing more than morning gossip. "He told me at the rehearsal dinner that he only got close to you to get closer to blondie. It's like he's programmed to love her no matter what she does."

The room tilted. My knees wobbled. My stomach knotted so hard I thought I'd vomit.

Everything.Everything between me and Dean... had been a lie? The happy moments. The sad moments. The intense moments.

Everything was fake?

So when I cried, when I begged, when I gave him pieces of myself I could never get back, his eyes had always been on her. Chloe.My sister.

A laugh bubbled in my throat, hysterical, bitter, but it stuck there,choking me. Never making it out.

"Sav." Roman's voice sliced through the chaos in my head. "You need to get ready. You're her maid of honor."

I whipped my head toward him, anger blazing. "Whose side are you even on, Roman? You're supposed to be on my side. Why the hell do you want this wedding to happen anyway? What do you eyen cara?"

cracked, shrill even to my own ears.

His gaze snapped to mine, sharp and unyielding. "Yes, Iwant the wedding to happen. And you want to know why?" He stepped closer,his presence heavy, overwhelming. "Because once this farce is over,you can stop pining after that weasel. And I can finally have you. All to myself.Is that answer enough for you?"

The air between us pulsed, thick and suffocating.

I couldn't speak. I couldn't even think. His words reverberated through me, dangerous and possessive, like a chain clamping around my heart.

Roman leaned in slightly, his eyes darkening. "Now..." His voice dropped to a low growl. "I'm going to give you sixty seconds to walk into that bathroom and get ready for your sister's wedding."

I gulped.

His stare burned into mine, daring me to test him.

"...Or else."