Alex couldn't sleep. He paced his apartment, Sophia's text message playing over and over in his mind.
"Meet me at the church tomorrow at 10 AM. Alone."
It was almost dawn. In a few hours, he would have to face Sophia at the church where they were meant to get married. What would he say to her? How could he explain everything that had happened?
And then there was Ethan. The way he had walked out of the hospital room, hurt and angry. Alex had finally heard the words he'd been waiting for his whole life—"I love you"—but now everything was confusing.
His phone rang, making him jump. It was his mother.
"Alex? Are you awake?"
"Yes, Mom. What's wrong?" Alex asked, worried something had happened to his father.
"Your father is fine," she said, as if reading his mind. "But there's something you should know. The police just called. They found something in Mr. Martinez's office."
"What is it?"
"Sophia's diary. She knew about her father's shady business all along. She was part of it, Alex."
Alex felt like the floor had dropped from under his feet. "That can't be true. Sophia wouldn't..."
"The cops have proof. They're looking for her now, but she's gone."
A cold feeling spread through Alex's chest. Sophia's text message. The church. At 10 AM.
"Mom, I have to go," he said quickly.
"Alex, wait—"
But he had already hung up. With shaking hands, he called Ethan.
No answer.
He tried again. Still nothing.
Alex grabbed his keys and ran to his car. The sun was just beginning to rise as he drove to Ethan's apartment. He had to warn him, had to make sure he was safe.
When he reached Ethan's building, he ran up the steps and pounded on the door.
"Ethan! Open up! It's important!"
No answer.
Fear gripped Alex's heart. He tried the door—it was unlocked. That wasn't like Ethan at all.
"Ethan?" Alex called as he entered. The flat was empty, but nothing looked out of place. No signs of a fight like last night.
On the kitchen counter, Alex found a note in Ethan's handwriting: "Gone to the church. I know you said to stay away, but I can't let you face this alone. I love you too much for that."
The clock on the wall read 9:30 AM. Ethan was going to the church—right into Sophia's trap.
Alex ran back to his car and drove as fast as he could. Traffic was heavy, and every red light felt like pain. By the time he reached the church, it was 9:58 AM.
The building stood quiet and empty. No one was meant to be here today—the wedding had been canceled after everything that happened. Yet the front door was slightly open.
Alex took a big breath and went inside.
The church was dim, with only a few lights lit at the altar. Someone sat in the front bench, their back to the door.
"Ethan?" Alex called softly.
The person turned. It was Sophia.
"Hello, Alex," she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm glad you came."
Alex looked around wildly. "Where's Ethan? I know he came here."
Sophia stood up. She chose a simple black dress instead of her wedding gown. "Ethan isn't here yet. But he will be soon, I'm sure. He's always following you around like a lost puppy, isn't he?"
"The police are looking for you," Alex said, trying to keep his voice steady. "They know about your father's business. They know you were involved."
Sophia laughed, a cold sound that echoed in the empty church. "Of course I was involved. Who do you think came up with the plan in the first place? My father is an idiot. He would have been caught years ago without me."
"Why?" Alex asked. "Why did you agree to marry me if you were just using my family?"
"Because your father was getting too close to the truth. I needed to keep an eye on him." She took a step closer. "But then you had to destroy everything, didn't you? You and your sweet Ethan."
"Where is he?" Alex demanded.
Sophia looked at her watch. "He should be here any minute. I sent him a text from your phone, asking him to meet you."
"If you hurt him—"
"You'll what?" Sophia pulled a gun from her bag. "You're not exactly in a position to make threats, Alex."
The church door opened behind them. Ethan walked in, his face lighting up when he saw Alex.
"Alex! I got your message." Then he saw Sophia and the gun. He froze.
"Perfect timing," Sophia said. "Now we can all have a nice little chat."
"Let him go," Alex begged. "This is between you and me."
"No, I don't think so." Sophia waved the gun, pointing it at Ethan. "Move over there, next to Alex."
Ethan slowly walked to Alex's side. Their hands found each other, fingers intertwined.
"How sweet," Sophia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "The two lovebirds together at last."
"What do you want, Sophia?" Alex asked.
"I want the wedding invitation—the real one. Your father's proof."
"The police already have it," Alex said. "It's over."
Sophia's eyes narrowed. "You're lying. I know your father made copies. One for the cops, and one for himself. Insurance, he called it."
Alex remembers his father's words at the hospital: "I had to be careful." Had he made another copy?
"I don't have it," Alex maintained.
"Then call your father and tell him to bring it here. Now."
"My father is in the hospital. He had a heart attack, remember?"
"Then I guess you'll have to figure something out," Sophia said, "because neither of you is leaving until I get that evidence."
Ethan squeezed Alex's hand. When Alex looked at him, Ethan's eyes were full of determination.
"It's going to be okay," Ethan whispered.
And in that moment, despite the danger, despite Sophia and her gun, Alex felt a strange calm. He was with Ethan. They were together. That was all that mattered.
"I've been in love with you for years," Alex said softly, looking into Ethan's eyes. "I was too afraid to tell you."
Ethan's face relaxed. "I've loved you since we were kids. I just didn't know how to say it."
"Enough!" Sophia shouted. "This isn't a romance movie!"
But Alex wasn't listening to her anymore. All he could see was Ethan.
"All those years," Ethan continued, "watching you date other people, saying I was happy for you. It was killing me inside."
"I know," Alex said. "I felt the same way when you would bring your girls around. I would smile and be your best friend, but my heart was breaking."
Sophia raised the gun higher. "I said ENOUGH!"
"If we get out of this," Ethan said, dismissing her, "I swear I'll never waste another moment. No more hiding how I feel."
"We will get out of this," Alex promised. "And I'll never let you go again."
Slowly, they leaned toward each other. Their lips met in a gentle kiss—their first kiss—full of years of desire and secret love.
It felt like coming home.
When they pulled apart, Ethan was smiling. "That was worth waiting for."
"I said STOP IT!" Sophia screamed. Her hand with the gun was shaking.
Suddenly, the church doors burst open. Police cops rushed in, guns drawn.
"DROP YOUR WEAPON!" they shouted.
Sophia spun around, shocked. In that moment of confusion, Ethan pushed Alex to the ground and lunged at Sophia.
There was a loud BANG! The sound of a gunshot filled the church.
Alex screamed as Ethan fell to the floor. Blood spread across his shirt.
"ETHAN!" Alex crawled to him, tears running down his face. "No, no, no!"
Police officers grabbed Sophia, the gun clattering to the floor. More people rushed in—paramedics with a bed.
"Please," Alex begged as they worked on Ethan. "Please save him. I love him. I just found him. I can't lose him now."
Ethan's eyes fluttered open. "Alex," he whispered, his voice weak. "Remember what I said... no more wasting time..."
"Don't talk," Alex said, holding Ethan's hand tight. "Save your strength."
The rescuers lifted Ethan onto the stretcher. One of them turned to Alex. "Are you coming with us?"
"Yes," Alex said, not letting go of Ethan's hand. "I'm never leaving him again."
As they rushed to the ambulance, Alex spotted his phone ringing. It was his father.
"Alex!" his father's voice was urgent. "Don't go to the church! It's a trap! Sophia is—"
"I know, Dad," Alex said, watching as the paramedics put Ethan into the ambulance. "We're on our way to the hospital. Ethan's been shot."
There was silence on the other end. Then his father said, "I'm so sorry, son. This is all my fault."
"We can talk about that later," Alex said. "Right now, I just need Ethan to be okay."
As the ambulance raced through the streets, Alex held Ethan's hand, telling him to stay strong.
"Stay with me," he whispered. "Please, Ethan. I need you."
Ethan's eyes opened again, finding Alex's. His lips moved, forming words too quiet to hear over the ambulance sound.
Alex leaned closer. "What is it?"
With the last of his strength, Ethan pulled Alex down and whispered in his ear. Three words that made Alex's blood run cold.
"Sophia isn't alone."