CUBAN HIRE (CARTEL GXG)

THE WEDDING CRASHER'S RETURN

Olivia took a shaky, deep breath, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions churning inside her. The delicate flowers woven into her braids framed her face, bringing out the deep brown of her tear-filled eyes. She absentmindedly pressed her palm against the flowing fabric of her wedding dress, the soft material barely soothing the tension coiling in her chest. Her vision blurred as tears threatened to spill, but the playful jokes from her makeup artist kept her on the edge, holding back the flood. This was a moment she'd imagined her whole life—being a bride, walking down the aisle—but not like this. Not with her heart shut out of the equation.

The gentle rustling of fabric caught her attention, followed by a familiar voice, soft and warm like a balm against her frayed nerves. "Hey, beautiful."

Olivia jolted, the sound sending a wave of emotion crashing through her. It was Phoebe. The gentleness in her voice broke whatever fragile composure Olivia had been clinging to. She crumbled, the weight of everything finally overwhelming her as the tears she had fought so hard to contain began to fall freely.

"Hey, hey, shh..." Phoebe whispered soothingly, quickly moving to Olivia's side and wrapping her arms around her from behind. The embrace was tight, steady, and unwavering, exactly what Olivia needed in that moment. "We're in this together," Phoebe murmured against her hair, her arms tightening as she pressed her cheek against Olivia's.

Olivia sniffled, wiping at her eyes with trembling fingers, her voice breaking as she whispered, "I'm scared."

Phoebe shifted around to face her, her eyes soft yet fierce, locking onto Olivia's as if she could will her strength into her. "I know, baby," she whispered, her tone firm yet filled with compassion. "But we've got this. It's just a contract, that's all. We're alive, and we're together." She cupped Olivia's tear-streaked cheeks, her thumbs gently wiping away the tears that had fallen, her touch tender as if collecting each one like something precious, absorbing Olivia's pain into herself.

"But there's no way out," Olivia muttered, her voice cracking as more tears slipped free, her eyes squeezing shut as the rawness of her fear surged up, overwhelming her. "There's no way out, Phoebe," she repeated, her face creasing in anguish.

Phoebe's heart ached for her. She held Olivia's face tighter, bringing their foreheads close as if to create a bubble where only the two of them existed. "There is a way out," she whispered, her voice fierce with determination. "When we're in America, we'll get help. It'll be easier there, safer. But for now, we have to play along. We have to survive this, Olivia," she said, her voice soft but resolute, like a vow she was making to them both.

Olivia's tears slowed as Phoebe's words sank in, offering a fragile lifeline in the chaos. She nodded weakly, her chest still tight but loosening slightly at the comforting thought of escape, of hope, no matter how distant it felt. Phoebe's hand slid down to clasp Olivia's tightly, holding on as if to ground them both in the reality of the moment.

"You have to be strong," Phoebe continued, her voice now a whisper, her eyes pleading with Olivia. "If not for yourself, then for me. For us."

A fresh wave of tears welled in Olivia's eyes, but this time they weren't from fear or helplessness. They were from the depth of the bond she shared with Phoebe, the love and loyalty that had carried them through so much already. She nodded again, this time with more conviction, even if her heart still felt heavy. The thought of surviving this, of getting through it for Phoebe, gave her the strength she didn't know she had.

Phoebe leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Olivia's forehead, her lips lingering for a moment as if pouring all her strength into her. "We're going to be okay," she whispered, her voice as steady as ever, though Olivia could sense the tremor of fear Phoebe was trying so hard to hide.