The day after the wedding felt like a blur to Liv. She had expected everything to feel overwhelming—the ceremony, the pressure, the expectation. But what she hadn't anticipated was the silence that had settled between her and Alex.
They hadn't spoken much since the wedding, and even though they were now legally bound as husband and wife, there was a distance between them, as if they were strangers. The weight of the situation was starting to settle heavily on Liv's shoulders. She was in a marriage with a man she barely knew, living a life that wasn't hers, and it felt like every moment was a performance.
Alex, despite his polished demeanor and charming smile, was nothing like the carefree man she'd imagined him to be. His words were measured, his gestures deliberate. There was an air of formality between them that Liv couldn't shake, as though he had placed a barrier around himself to keep her at arm's length.
She had always assumed that a wedding—especially a marriage of this caliber—would come with a certain level of intimacy, a closeness. But with Alex, it felt as though they were both playing a role, and neither was ready to break character.
That morning, after a restless night filled with questions and regrets, Liv had woken up early. The suite they had been assigned was luxurious, overlooking a picturesque view of the city, but she couldn't enjoy it. The walls seemed to close in on her as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She wasn't Emily. She wasn't even close. But the more she wore the mask, the more she felt like she was losing herself.
She had just finished getting dressed when a soft knock at the door interrupted her thoughts.
"Liv?" It was Alex again, his voice soft but with an underlying urgency. "Are you awake?"
She sighed and made her way to the door. When she opened it, Alex stood there in a tailored suit, his hair slightly tousled, his expression unreadable.
"I was thinking we could go for a walk," he said, his gaze flicking over her. "The weather's nice, and it might help… clear our heads."
Liv hesitated. A walk with Alex? Was that really what she wanted? Was it even possible to talk to him without feeling like she was living in someone else's life?
But then again, this marriage wasn't going anywhere if they didn't start learning to communicate.
"Sure," she said, trying to sound casual. "A walk sounds good."
They walked in silence at first, the sound of their footsteps echoing on the cobblestone streets outside the hotel. Liv had never imagined herself walking down these paths—so close to the edge of this high-society world, yet so distant from it all.
The city stretched out before them, its buildings towering above, casting long shadows over the streets. Liv's heart raced as she glanced at Alex out of the corner of her eye. The air between them was thick with tension, but neither of them spoke a word.
"Tell me something about yourself, Liv," Alex finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was softer now, and there was a slight shift in his posture as though he was trying to relax. "I don't know much about you. What do you like to do when you're not… pretending to be Emily?"
Liv paused for a moment, unsure of how to respond. How could she answer that question? How could she tell him that she wasn't who he thought she was, that she had stepped into Emily's life only because of an unexpected twist of fate?
"I… I like quiet things," she said slowly, choosing her words carefully. "Reading, taking long walks, spending time alone. Simple things."
Alex nodded, his gaze thoughtful. "That sounds nice. I can't say I'm much of a reader, but I do enjoy the occasional quiet moment."
They continued walking, the silence between them now comfortable, but there was an undercurrent of something more—an unspoken understanding that neither of them was saying the whole truth.
Eventually, they reached a small park, a quiet green space away from the hustle of the city. Alex led her to a bench, and they sat together, their shoulders barely touching. Liv could feel the weight of his presence beside her, the way his every movement seemed calculated, deliberate. He was a man used to control, to getting what he wanted.
"I don't think I've properly introduced myself," Alex said, his voice suddenly more serious. "I'm not sure if you know this, but I didn't want this marriage. Not at first."
Liv turned to look at him, surprised. "What do you mean? I thought you and Emily were…"
"Engaged," he finished for her, his tone dry. "Yes, we were. But that was a marriage arranged by our families. It was never about love. It was about business, connections, alliances." His expression darkened for a moment. "Emily and I were never going to work. I knew that, and she knew it. But it was expected of us."
Liv's stomach twisted at his words. She couldn't even imagine what it must have been like for him, being forced into a marriage with someone he didn't care about. She had only just realized how much more complicated things were than she had initially thought.
"So, you didn't want to marry her?" Liv asked, her voice quieter now.
"No," Alex said simply, his gaze locked onto the horizon. "But my family insisted. They've always insisted. And now… well, now I'm married to you, and I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do with that."
Liv's heart skipped a beat. Was he saying that he didn't want to marry her, either? That this marriage was just as much of a burden to him as it was to her?
"I didn't want this either," Liv admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "But I had no choice."
Alex's gaze softened, and for the first time, Liv saw a flicker of something in his eyes. Was it sympathy? Understanding?
"I didn't ask for this, Liv," he said gently. "But now that we're here, we have to make the best of it. For both of us."
Liv swallowed hard. She wasn't sure what she had expected from this conversation, but it wasn't this. She had hoped for some clarity, some direction. But all she had now was uncertainty.
They sat in silence for a while, the weight of their words hanging heavy between them. Neither of them was ready to face the truth, but somehow, they both knew it was coming. They were bound by more than just a marriage certificate. They were bound by the past, by their families' expectations, and by the lies they had told themselves.
For better or worse, they were in this together.