You may now kill the Bride

visitor

Lexi was lost in thought, staring blankly at the papers in front of her. Her mind was a jumble of doubts and fears, her heart heavy with the weight of her engagement. She was trapped, and she didn't know how to escape.

A knock at the door broke the silence, and Lexi's head jerked up. "Come in," she called, trying to sound focused.

But as the door swung open, it wasn't her assistant who stood in the threshold. It was Jake, a hesitant smile on his face. "Hey, I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd drop by," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I hope that's okay."

Lexi stared at him, taken aback. She hadn't seen or spoken to Jake since their coffee date, hadn't allowed herself to think about him. But now, as he stood in her office, she was flooded with memories. The way he made her laugh, the way he truly saw her.

"Of course it's okay," Lexi said finally, waving him in. "It's good to see you, Jake."

As he sat in the chair across from her desk, Lexi couldn't help but study him. He looked the same, yet different. There was a maturity to him now, a quiet confidence. And as their eyes met, Lexi felt a pang in her chest. She had let this man go, had walked away from him. And now, as she sat across from him, she couldn't help but wonder what if.

They chatted for a bit, catching up on each other's lives. Jake was in law school now, and Lexi found herself genuinely happy for him. He deserved every good thing, deserved so much more than a girl as broken as she was.

As he prepared to leave, Jake turned back to her. "I'm glad I stopped by," he said, his eyes serious. "You look...troubled, Lex. Is everything okay?"

Lexi forced a smile, feeling a lump form in her throat. She wanted to tell him, wanted to pour out her heart. But how could she burden him with her problems? He had his own life now, his own path.

"I'm fine, Jake," she lied, trying to sound convincing. "Just stressed with the wedding and all."

Jake studied her, as if he could see the lie. But finally, he just nodded. "Well, if you ever need anything...I'm here, Lex. Always."

And with that, he was gone, leaving Lexi alone in her office. She stared at the closed door, feeling a chill run down her spine. She had let Jake walk away once before, had chosen a path of duty over love. And now, as she sat there, she realized she was on the verge of making the same mistake.

Because as she looked down at her engagement ring, she felt a wave of nausea. She couldn't marry Reg, couldn't tie herself to him for life. Not when a part of her would always love Jake.

And with that thought, Lexi made a vow to herself. She would end things with Reg, no matter how hard it was. She would find the strength to choose herself, to choose love.

Just as she was about to call Reg, her phone buzzed with an incoming text. Her heart sank as she saw his name on the screen.

"Hey, darling. Just got out of a meeting. I was thinking of coming over tonight. I have a surprise for you."

Lexi stared at the words, feeling a cold dread wash over her. What kind of surprise could he possibly have? And as she sat there, her heart pounding in her chest, she realized one thing - she couldn't let him come over. Not now, not when she was so close to finding the courage to end things.

With trembling hands, Lexi typed out a response. "Hey, I'm not feeling well. Can we raincheck for tomorrow?"

She hit send and waited, her breath caught in her throat. And as the bubbles appeared on the screen, she knew she was running out of time.

"Of course, my love. Feel better."

Lexi let out a shaky breath as the text bubble disappeared. She had bought herself a day, but she knew it wouldn't be enough. She had to find the strength to face Reg, to tell him the truth. And she had to do it before he discovered her secrets.

Because as she stared at her phone, she realized one thing - she wasn't the only one hiding something. And she had a feeling that when the truth came to light, only one of them would walk away unscathed.