TWO YEARS LATER

2023 NOVEMBER 07

SAM

Looking at myself in the mirror, I let out a laugh.

"Hey, you ready--" Her sentence is cut off by her own chuckle.

"Let me do it." She says and comes close to me as she keeps her hands on my tie and does it for me. My breath hitches when she inches closer to tie it. She isn't doing it purposefully but her closeness is doing something to me. I gulp when she smiles and looks at me still in close proximity. Her smile fades and we both continue to stare at each other. My hands automatically find their way to rest on her waist as I feel her body tense on my touch.

"S-sam..." She whispers.

"You look beautiful, Mia," I whisper as she starts to blush and bites her lower lip. She looks away for a few seconds but then looks back at me and leans even closer to my face making my mind blank.

"You look handsome too, babe." I gulp when she pecks my jawline and smiles at me backing a little from my face. She is still in my hold, and I don't know why but my gaze goes to her lips and without my control, I start leaning to her lips. I can feel her stiffen seeing me coming close to her.

"S-sam are y-you sure?" She asks me just when I am about to touch her lips with mine. Her question leaves me stunned. I don't have an answer to this. I don't think I ever will.

She cups my face and makes me look at her.

"Sam if you want to use me as a replacement, I agree because I love you."

"I--"

"Sshh....use me to forget her if you want to."

"I don't want to forget her, Mia. I never will be able to." I say and separate myself from her.

"I-I am sorry but I don't think this relationship is gonna work for us. I will never be able to love you or anyone more than I loved Lienna. It's not fair for you."

I say as I look at her in her eyes and try to make her understand.

"I am your girlfriend, Sam. And I know it's hard for you to love me as much as you loved her, but I am not even asking for that. I know you do have feelings for me, but you are just scared. But don't be Sam, I will never leave you. Trust me, sweetheart."

She says wrapping her hands around me and keeping her head on my chest. I hug her back and let out a breath.

"I am trying, for us. I really am trying to move on and love you Mia but it's unfair to you."

"No, Sam. You care about me and that's another word for love. I can wait as long as you want for you to love me more than you love her." I shake my head and back away from the hug but still keep my hands on her arms and say honestly.

"That's the point, Mia. I won't be able to ever love you more than her." I see her keeping her tears in hearing me say this and it hurts me that I am the reason. But I need to tell her that Lienna is the only one in my heart. Right now I am in this relationship with Mia because I thought that I would be able to love again. Or maybe because I really needed someone to take care of me. And I know Mia is trying too. But I can't do her any more injustice. I know I can't be true to her and Lienna is always gonna be between us and it will always hurt her. And I don't want this.

"Sorry, Sam." She says and I look at her confused but widen my eyes when she suddenly kisses me softly. Her arms go to my nape and she slightly brushes my hair with her fingers while kissing me with her eyes closed. I don't push her but instead, take my hands to her face and cup her cheeks and kiss her back. She opens her eyes in shock but when I close mine and kiss her passionately, we both don't think about anything else.

....

Having my one arm on her waist and her on mine we both enter the grand hall where we are invited for the party. What happened a while back made me realize that I can love Mia, that maybe she will be able to make me love her as much as I loved Lienna. Though I will never forget Lienna, though I will never stop loving her, though she will always be in my mind and heart, maybe Mia will be too. Maybe Mia will somehow become as important to me and help me figure out my feelings.

"Bae?"

"Hmm?" I say looking at Mia.

"Umm you didn't tell me whose party this is..."

"Oh, it's my best friend's party. Conor Lee."

"Wait...Conor Lee?? The one who owns Play Safe?! One of the 10 biggest companies in the world?!" I chuckle at her shocked cute face.

"Umhmm yep. Conor Lee. The famous 26-year-old young billionaire."

Mia has her mouth open wide as I chuckle seeing her cute reaction. We go to a table and stand there as I look at Mia and ask her if everything is ok.

"I am good. Don't worry." She says assuring me as I smile at her.

"Sum?" I look at where the voice came from and shake my head.

"My name is not Sum, Con," I say with a playful roll of my eyes. Conor laughs and invites me for a hug.

"Hey, it's been what like 3 years? I missed you, bro"

"I didn't miss you. All you do is con people." He laughs and hugs me again.

"Anyway, thanks for coming."

"How could I not? And look at you, bro..." I say noticing he has changed quite a bit. He has dyed his dark brown hair to hazel brown and his blue eyes go with the new hair color.

"And what about you?? Bruh I couldn't even recognize you."

"Sam..?" I hear Mia's voice and turn to her. I smile seeing her confused blue eyes and take her hand as I pull her next to me.

"Mia, it's Conor my best friend," I say pointing to Conor who smiles politely and bows his head slightly. "And Conor this is Mia, my girlfriend."

Conor's mouth and eyes open wide hearing me and he jerks his head to me swiftly.

"Your what?"

"My girlfriend. Stop with your act." I say slapping him on the back of his head. He groans and Mia chuckles.

"I mean....you finally have a girlfriend? I thought you would die single. I was seriously getting worried for you nowadays. And she is beautiful."

"That she is," I say and hold her hand intertwining our fingers. Mia smiles and pecks my cheek. Conor smiles.

"Yeah, but my girlfriend is the most gorgeous lady on this planet Earth." Mia laughs while I roll my eyes.

"You found a lady? Or is it your 133rd girlfriend by now?" His jaw drops and he punches my arm but it's barely a punch.

"I never had that many girlfriends! I have been single my whole life, you asshole."

"Yea exactly. How come you are dating now and who is she?"

He smiles, maybe remembering her.

"I really didn't expect it either but when I saw her, I just fell in love with her at first sight. Like seriously, it's not only that she is gorgeous, but she is even more caring and loving."

I smile because I am happy for him. He needs someone like that.

"In fact, I will make you meet her today."

"Oh, she is here too??" Mia asks with an excited voice. Conor nods with a smile. His gaze suddenly sticks to somewhere behind us.

"She is here." He says and goes to our backs as we turn too.

"Hope! Here!" He yells and slightly runs to her. I cannot see who she is as Conor's built body is covering her completely. So, I wait for him to introduce her to us.

"Oh my god, she is so gorgeous." I hear someone say standing next to me. I see a tall brown handsome guy about my age. His eyes are caught in the one he assumes to be gorgeous. "Too bad, she is already taken." Another guy says beside him. He seems to be his younger brother from the identical looks.

"Man, he is so lucky to have her. "

"Yeah, now stop being a simp and let's go. Dad wants us to meet someone."

"Ughh fine. Can't even look at the beauties peacefully at a party! Suck!"

I chuckle hearing them, and shake my head but when I look in front of me again Conor is already standing there facing me.

"So guys meet my love and fiance, Lienna Taylor." I widen my eyes and they just widen more when I look to Conor's left and see Lienna, my Lienna.

...