Stolen Bride: Her Childhood Sweetheart Came to Die

They threw me out without a second thought. I stood at the entrance of the banquet hall, staring at the city lights stretching into the distance.

I stood there as memories flooded back, years collapsing into moments. I remembered the first time I saw Lillian.

She had big, loose curls and wore bold red lipstick. Her gray business suit fit perfectly. She was stunning.

The more I got to know her, the more I realized her personality matched her appearance. She was passionate, determined, and full of fire.

Lillian told me her dream was to become a CEO, to achieve financial freedom and escape the fate of being just a housewife. She said her life was meant for ambition and success.

That version of her had completely captured my heart. So I worked up the courage to confess.

"Lillian, will you be my girlfriend? I'll treat you right. I'll spend my whole life making you feel like a princess."

Lillian looked down and asked, "Then, would you be willing to take care of our home? For me?"

Her eyes locked on mine, bright and unwavering. Everything around us seemed to fade away, as if only the two of us existed, along with the pounding of my heart.

"I will. For you, I'd do anything, even if it meant dying."

I meant every word, and she could see it.

She smiled. "I will."

Hearing those words, I cried from sheer joy and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Lillian, I'll make you the happiest person in the world."

Lillian nodded. "I hope you mean that."

After that day, Lillian moved in with me. Lillian's situation was different from mine. Her parents had passed away when she was young.

She'd been on her own since college. When she moved in, she held me and cried.

"Thank you, Gavin. Thank you for giving me a happy home."