Before Rebecca could finish, Max declared, "I would marry you! Because I've always loved you, and only you. She's not even a fraction of what you are.
"But Violet has been with me for three years. I need to be responsible."
That night, I finally realized Max's feelings toward me.
It was responsibility, not love.
And Max's only true love was his childhood sweetheart, Rebecca.
Later, when Rebecca wanted to learn design, Max used his connections to secure her a position at the top company where I worked, even though she was a complete novice.
That marked the beginning of our longest period of silence.
I didn't even have the chance to tell him I was pregnant.
Rebecca found out I was designing the wedding house and asked Max for the address.
On New Year's Eve, when no workers were on site, I was alone inspecting progress. A flash of lightning revealed Rebecca had somehow appeared behind me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, but she didn't answer.
Instead, she said, "Violet Lyons, why are you stealing Max from me?"
Her expression under the flashing lightning seemed eerie.
I sensed danger and tried to flee, but she grabbed my hair and slammed me to the ground, crazed.