LYNN
I stood frozen at the top of the staircase, my heart pounding in my chest. Below me, I could hear the unmistakable sound of Javier’s voice as he laughed.
“Come on, Uncle Ethan,” Javier chuckled, his tone light, almost mocking. “You really think she’s your wife? Lynn is my fiancée.”
Ethan’s voice was calm, but I could hear the sharp edge beneath. “If Lynn is your fiancée, then why are you getting married to someone else?”
Javier shrugged with casual ease, his grin never faltering. “It’s complicated. I’m just helping Nora out. You know how it is, Lynn understands. She’s on board with the plan.”
I barely registered his words. I was too busy staring at them both—Javier standing there with a grin, his hand casually resting on the back of a chair, and Ethan looking at him with a furrowed brow. The weight of the conversation was starting to sink in, and I felt like I was suffocating under the pressure of it all.
Ethan took a step closer to Javier, his voice lowering slightly, trying to make sense of the situation. “But if you’re marrying Nora, then whose wedding is it? Because that wedding next week was supposed to be you and Lynn, right?”
Javier shrugged again, as if this whole situation was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. “We have an understanding, Uncle. Lynn knows the situation with Nora. She’ll give me a little time.”
An understanding? The words hit me like a slap in the face. My pulse spiked, a mix of anger and disbelief surging through me. He really thought I was okay with this?
I couldn’t stay silent any longer. My feet moved before my mind could catch up, and suddenly I was standing at the foot of the stairs, facing both of them. They turned toward me, and I could see Javier’s grin falter just slightly before he regained his composure.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said, my voice trembling with a mix of anger and disbelief. “I’m not your fiancée, Javier. I’m his wife.”
Ethan’s eyes widened. His confusion turned into a mix of disbelief and curiosity. Javier, on the other hand, took a step back, his expression now shifting from amused to genuinely surprised.
“What?” Javier muttered, his voice low, almost disbelieving. “What the hell are you talking about?”
I stood taller, no longer caring if I made a scene. “Yes, I’m his wife, Javier. His. Not yours. Your uncle’s wife!” I let my words hang in the air, and I saw the realization flicker in his eyes, followed by a flash of anger.
Javier’s face tightened, and a brief, uncomfortable glance passed between him and Ethan. He cleared his throat before speaking again. “Lynn, if this is about Nora, you already know it’s not like that—”
“It’s exactly like that,” I snapped. “You’re marrying her. You don’t care how I feel about it. You think you can just walk into my life, drop this bomb on me, and expect me to stand by your side while you marry someone else?”
For a second, Javier’s confident mask cracked. I saw guilt flash across his face, but it disappeared just as quickly, replaced by the usual nonchalance. “I’ve already explained it to you,” he said, his voice almost apologetic. “This is just temporary. I’ll marry you next year, after Nora and I get everything sorted out.”
“That’s not good enough, Javier,” I said, my voice suddenly cold. “I’m not going to be your second choice. You don’t get to expect me to wait around for you while you decide who you want. I’m not some backup plan.”
