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Married Before Midnight - Married Before Midnight by Sienna Quinn - Chapter 74
Author: Novels Audio
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Married Before Midnight
Chapter 74: The Groom’s Burden
Mason Lee stood in the dimly lit attic of his rented apartment, the peeling wallpaper and creaking floorboards a stark contrast to the pristine elegance of the Carter family home. A half-empty bottle of whiskey sat on the rickety desk beside him, untouched—not out of restraint, but because the weight in his chest made even the thought of drinking unbearable. He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply as he stared at the wedding checklist Olivia had given him. Flowers. Tuxedo. Rings. Guest list. Each item was a reminder of the lie he was living. His phone buzzed, and Vince’s name flashed on the screen. "You still alive up there, or did guilt swallow you whole?" Vince’s voice was laced with amusement when Mason answered. Mason gritted his teeth. "I’m fine." "Sure you are. Listen, we need to talk. Meet me at Lou’s Diner in twenty." Mason didn’t argue. He needed air—needed to get out of this suffocating room that smelled of dust and regret.
--- Lou’s Diner was a greasy spoon with cracked vinyl booths and coffee strong enough to strip paint. Vince was already there, lounging in a corner booth like he owned the place. He smirked as Mason slid in across from him. "You look like hell." "Feel like it too," Mason muttered, rubbing his temples. Vince leaned forward, his smirk fading. "You’re not getting cold feet, are you? Because we’re too deep for that." Mason’s jaw tightened. "I know what I signed up for." "Good. Because in 3 days, you’re marrying Olivia Carter, and we get what we came for." Vince tapped the table for emphasis. "Now, let’s go over the groom’s checklist. You need a best man. That’s me." Mason scoffed. "You think Olivia’s family won’t find it suspicious if my only ‘family’ is the guy who introduced us?" "Who else you got?" Vince challenged. "Your drunk of a father? Your brother who hasn’t spoken to you in five years? Face it, Mason. I’m all you’ve got." The truth stung. Mason had spent years distancing himself from his past, but now it was catching up to him in the worst way. "Fine," he muttered. "But you keep your mouth shut at the wedding. No jokes, no winks—nothing that makes Olivia or her family question us." Vince held up his hands in mock surrender. "Scout’s honor." Mason ignored him, pulling out the checklist again. "I still need to finalize the tux, arrange transportation, and—" "And pretend you’re not marrying her for the money," Vince finished, swirling his coffee. Mason’s grip on the paper tightened. "I don’t need the reminder." Vince studied him for a long moment before sighing. "Look, I get it. Olivia’s sweet. Too sweet for this. But business is business.
Once the bakery’s expansion is under your name, you can walk away clean." Walk away. The words twisted in Mason’s gut. He thought of Olivia’s smile, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about their future. The way she had no idea that future was built on a lie. "Yeah," Mason said hollowly. "Clean." --- Later that evening, Mason found himself standing outside a tailor’s shop, staring at his reflection in a crisp black tuxedo. The salesman beamed. "A perfect fit! The bride will be speechless."
Mason forced a smile. If only she knew. His phone buzzed—Olivia. "Just picked out my dress," her text read, followed by a string of heart emojis. "Can’t wait for you to see it. 3 Days feels like forever!" Mason’s thumb hovered over the screen. He should reply. Should say something sweet. But the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he typed: "Me too." It was the biggest lie of all.