Stamped, But Not Real

A huge wedding photo dominated the wall.

Maggie, strapless gown and all, was wrapped around Vincent like they were soulmates.

Noses touching. Eyes locked. Total fairytale vibe.

Vincent burst in from the living room.

"Serena, you should crash in the guest room. Maggie's not feeling great. This one gets good sun, so I figured she could stay—"

His words hit the brakes when he spotted the photo.

He stiffened. "It was just to calm her family. That's all."

The marriage certificate? Just helping out.

The photos? Pure PR.

Serena stared him down, ice cold.

Vincent scrambled, reaching for her hand. "It's not what you think. I just—"

She backed off.

"Don't touch me."

First time in six years she'd ever pulled away.

His chest clenched. He opened his mouth—

But Maggie stormed in, voice shaky and tear-soaked.

"Miss Saun, please don't fight with Vincent. It's my fault. I shouldn't have come. I'll leave right now..."

Vincent cut in, stepping between them.

"This has nothing to do with you."

Maggie's tears spilled fast.

"Vincent, you've already done so much for me. I can't be the reason she's upset. Maybe I deserve this—maybe it's karma for all my screwups. I'll take it."

Her puffy eyes and broken look hit him hard.

He softened.

"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, no one's forcing you into anything. Serena won't be mad. You're staying. End of story."

Serena let out a cold, crooked smile.

"Of course I'm not mad. This is your house now, after all."

She turned and walked out.

Maggie whimpered behind her. "Vincent, is she still mad at me...?"

Vincent stayed quiet.

Serena's words rattled something in him. He chased after her, grabbed her wrist.

"What's that supposed to mean? Her house? Maggie's getting forced into some sketchy marriage—she's being harassed. I was just trying to help. You're a woman too. Can't you just try to understand? Do you have to be so jealous and dramatic right now?"

Before she could clap back, a loud crash exploded from the bedroom.

Vincent's face dropped. He shoved past Serena and bolted.

"Maggie! What are you doing?"

Full-blown panic.

Maggie was on the floor, crying hard. Blood streaked down her wrist.

"Just leave me alone. No one cares about me anyway. If dying makes Miss Saun stop hating me, at least I'll have peace..."

Vincent ripped the broken glass from her grip, pressing on the cut.

He spun toward Serena, shouting—

"This what you wanted? You happy now? Feel even a little guilty? No wonder people say you're heartless. You didn't shed a single tear when your dad died. How could someone that cold ever care about anyone else's life?"

His words hit like a punch to the gut.

Serena froze. Her whole body went cold.

Her dad had been a drunk. The beatings were constant.

So when he died in that accident, she didn't cry.

Relatives called her a monster.

Vincent had been the one who held her through it—who swore she wasn't broken.

Now he was the one tearing her open.

Whatever love she had left? Dead.

"Vincent, I never said she couldn't stay. I wasn't being dramatic. I stepped back because I'm SEVERELY ALLERGIC to seafood."

Only then did he notice the rash blooming across her wrist where he'd grabbed her.

Her eyes were red—not with anger, but from the weight of what he'd just thrown at her.

Guilt flickered across his face.

"I..."

But Maggie started thrashing, her voice raw and wild.

"Vincent, don't stop me! Just let me die..."

Blood started dripping again.

Vincent didn't think—he scooped her up and ran.

"I'm taking you to the hospital. I won't let anything happen to you!"

Serena didn't move.

Just stood there.

Silent.

Watching them disappear.