5 hours before the wedding. .

For the past three days Olivia wasn't herself.

Her smile was gone.

She wasn't exactly acting like the typical bride-to-be.

There was no feeling of excitement or giddiness within her.

In fact, she just wanted to get this whole wedding over with.

She felt bad to have had such a mentality on her wedding day because Tyler didn't deserve that.

As Olivia sat in her hotel suite, surrounded by her two bridesmaids, her mind went back to Fitz saying goodbye.

This would happen often.

She would be going about her day, trying to get back to her normal routine..her normal life, and then the thought of him would just hit her like a ton of bricks.

"Hellooo. Liv. Olivia!." Abby snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Oh..sorry."

"You good?"

"Yeah no of course, I'm great."

"You were a bit far away just now. Is the nerves finally kicking in?" Abby laughed and handed her a flute of champagne. "Take this. It should help."

"Thanks."

She listened to them talk about how great this day was going to be.

Putting on the biggest fake smile she could muster, Liv stood up.

"I'm just gonna go see how my parents are holding up."

They were all staying at the hotel which was also the wedding venue.

Abby smiled and replied, "Their only daughter is getting married in a few hours, I bet they're emotional wrecks."

"Probably, which is why I think I should check up on them."

"Okay. Just be back in time to start getting ready."

"Sure."

Wearing sweatpants and a hoodie, Olivia made her exit and headed down to her parents suite. She knew her father went out to pick up a few family members which was great because Olivia needed her mother.

Knocking a few times, her mother opened the door.

"Baby girl. Come on in."

"Hey mom."

Olivia walked straight to the bed and collapsed on it face down.

"Livvie? Are you okay?" Evelyn asked standing over her.

"No." Came the muffled replied.

Evelyn frowned and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Is there something wrong?"

Olivia didn't respond.

"Hey.. if you're feeling nervous about today that's fine." She ran her hand up and down Olivia's back. "But once you walk down that aisle and see that man standing there, waiting for you, you'll be just fine. All these nerves will wash away."

With Evelyn's hand on her daughter's back she could feel the thunderous pounding of her heart.

Her daughter wasn't one to get worked up like this.

"Livvie, you've got to relax. Just breathe and calm down. Today is going to be great. A joyous celebration."

Olivia turned around and sat up, legs crossed and hands in her lap she faced her mother.

"Mom I can't." She confessed with a hurt look on her face.

"What are you talking about honey? What do you mean you can't?"

"I can't do this. I can't go through with it. I can't marry Tyler." She was almost out of breath after her admission.

"Sweetheart it's just nerves. Shake it off, come on."

"No mom it's not. I'm serious. I can not marry Tyler. Not today, not ever."

"What do you mean you can't marry him Livvie? What does that mean?" Evelyn was confused to say the least.

"It means that I'm not ready settle down with him."

"Livvie you've got me confused now. You guys have been together forever. You love each other. What made you decide on this?"

"I.. It's complicated."

"Your wedding is in a few hours Olivia."

"I'm gonna call it off."

"What!?"

"I can't go through with it. I have to decide what's best for me and that's calling off the wedding."

"Okay seriously what is going on. Did you and Tyler have a fight?"

"No."

"Then what Olivia? What is happening right now?"

"Mom please.." Her voice broke.

"If you didn't want to marry him why didn't you say something months ago. Why wait until a few hours before you say your vows?"

"Because I wasn't being honest with myself and I took everyone else's feelings into consideration except my own. I was trying to avoid hurting Tyler and being judged by everyone in our lives including you and dad."

"Livvie, no one would've judged you if you're not ready for marriage."

Olivia shook her head, disagreeing. "It's not just that mom."

"Then what is it? Talk to me."

"You won't understand. You might even be ashamed to call me your daughter."

Now Evelyn's concern intensified.

"Olivia.. I'm your mother. You're my baby girl, my only child whom I love so so much. I could never be ashamed to call you my daughter." She reached out to hold her hand.

Silent tears rolled down Liv's face. She looked her mother in the eyes.

"I'm in love with another man."

It felt like her insides were being squeezed as she finally said the words out loud.

"I had an affair and I ended up falling in love." She continued due to her mother's silence.

"How long has it been going on?" Evelyn asked.

"Since September. I didn't set out to cheat on Tyler but I just.. It just happened. I met this intelligent, smart, wonderfully intriguing man and he just..I can't even explain it. When I'm with him the world around us disappears. There is no right and wrong. Just a private oasis of our own. I tried mom. I tried hard, so hard to not fall for him but I did and at times I wished we never met. I wished our paths never crossed because if it didn't then none of this would've happened. But it did." Olivia wiped her tears away.

"Livvie I'm.. speechless."

"The night I went home from my bachelorette party I asked to see him. We decided then to end it. I told him I was marrying Tyler and I pleaded with him to let me go because I wanted to do the right thing. So he did. He let go, but now, after cutting ties with him.. I miss him."

"Olivia you know this isn't right and it's not fair towards Tyler."

"I know that and I feel like a horrible person."

"So fix it."

"By doing what mom? You can't possibly expect me to go through with this wedding knowing I'm in love with someone else."

"You say you miss this man but Livvie, can you really miss something you never had?"

"No but I miss what we almost had."

"Almost? And yet here you are. Hours away from getting married."

"You're disappointed in me." Liv stated sadly.

"Not in you but your actions. You could've ended your relationship with Tyler sooner if you knew you weren't in love with him anymore but you stayed with him while falling for another man. Now, I know you and I know you probably didn't mean for this to happen but to wait until your wedding day to break up with your fiancé is cold Olivia."

"I thought I could do it mom. I thought that if I get married I'd forget about him and continue to build my life with Tyler but I was wrong. I didn't realise just how hard I fell for him, until now. I can't seem to get him out of my head. His face, his voice. The way he notices literally everything about me, even the little things and the things I try to hide. He's attentive. He listens. He gets me and understands me on a level no one else is able to. He makes me super giddy and I'm just so comfortable around him."

Evelyn was shocked. Never has she heard Olivia talk that way about Tyler and they've been together for a long time.

She blinked a few of her own tears away. "You're really in love."

"I am."

Evelyn gave her daughter a hug because she could see that she needed it. Olivia was caught in a difficult situation and see needed her mother's support.

"Tyler won't take this well."

"I know."

"He loves you."

"We're just not meant to be. It was good while it lasted but unfortunately it turns out that he's not the one for me."

"Have you thought this through? I don't want you to make any decisions you'll end up regretting." Evelyn realises Olivia is her own person. A grown woman and she can't tell her what to do.

So if she was going to call off the wedding, Evelyn just wanted her to be sure. It's not easy ending a relationship with a man you loved for so long and was on the brink of marrying.

"It's all I've been thinking about so yes, I'm sure. Tyler will probably end up hating me but I can't blame him. It's what I deserve I guess. I'll just have to bear the consequences of my actions."

"Oh Livvie.." Evelyn squeezed her daughter's hand.

"Dad's gonna be upset isn't he?"

"Maybe, but this isn't about your dad or me or whoever. This about you and your happiness. Your future and what's best for you."

"I don't even know how to tell Tyler."

"Well time isn't exactly on your side here baby. So you gotta think and you gotta think fast."

"I'm going to go see him."

"What about all the guests..?"

"Let me just face Tyler first mom."

"Okay. Good luck. I don't love you any less because of this Livvie. You're my daughter. Besides, you're doing the right thing instead of going ahead into a marriage you don't want to be in. A loveless marriage based on lies and deceit is one of the most destructive things two people can find themselves in."

"Thank you momma. I love you too."

"Now go wash your face and take a moment to yourself before you go and see Tyler."

xxx

Fitz had been a broken man since that night he said goodbye to Olivia.

It was final.

Their time together had run out.

She was starting a whole new chapter of her life with someone else and there was nothing that he could do about it because he respected her. He respected her choice.

Loving her wasn't the only reason he was accepting her choice but also he didn't want to be the reason for her life falling apart.

She would've had to face a lot of backlash from a lot of people if she had chosen him and he didn't want that for her.

He didn't want to bring her any heartache and pain.

Fitz chose to bury himself in work to keep his mind occupied and not think about Olivia 24/7.

Today Fitz didn't go to work. Instead he got up early, went to the gym then took his truck and went on a long drive around town with Booger.

He knew her wedding was today and he needed time on his own in order to come to terms that she'll be a married woman in a few hours.

The memory of her. Her kisses. Her touch. Her infectious laughter... He had to let all of that go in order to move forward.

But he was fighting a losing battle.

He had never fell so hard for a woman before.

She was one in a million and fuck it she couldn't be his.

Fitz got home from the drive and felt like he was suffocating because he was just reminded of all the amazing times they had there in his house.

In the bedroom, in the shower, on the couch, talking for hours in the kitchen while he cooked for her.

So much for clearing his mind.

Fitz contemplated sending her a text or even calling just to wish her well but ended up deciding against it.

Some time later Fitz's doorbell rang unexpectedly.

Booger was barking in the direction of the door as Fitz strolled to open it.

"Okay boy calm down. Go lay down, go." The dog trotted away.

He opened the door and couldn't believe his eyes.

She was supposed to be getting married. It's her wedding day!

It took him a second to register that Olivia had tears rolling down her face as she stood there looking vulnerable.

"Livvie, what's wrong? What happened?" He took her hand and pulled her inside, closing the door.

Through the tears she gave him a weak smile. "I chose you."

"No. Olivia.. You're supposed to be getting married."

"I can't."

"What about the wedding? What about Ty--"

She shut him up. "The wedding's off. I told him...about us."

"Livvie. ." He wrapped his arms around her securely. "Are you okay?"

"I am now."

After he guided her to his couch and held her for some time he figured they needed to talk.

"Are you sure about this?"

"I am."

"You just walked out of a 4 year long relationship. No matter what, that couldn't have been easy."

Olivia created a small space between them. "I thought you'd be happy."

"Of course I'm happy but I didn't give up anything for us to be together. You're the one that had to make some life changing decisions and I hate that. I hate that you had to do that all on your own."

"It was difficult but I just couldn't make the mistake of marrying a man that I'm not in love with."

"So how did he take it?"

Olivia released a deep sigh and shook her head. "Not well, obviously. I mean I knew he would be upset but..."

"But what?"

"He was furious. After I gave him the ring back he.." She broke eye contact.

"What Liv? Did he hurt you?" Fitz asked. His protective instincts kicking in immediately.

"No, but the way he lashed out at me.. I thought I could take it, his anger, but I couldn't so I just left. He was trying to come after me while causing a big scene. Luckily my mom interjected. She took me back to their suite but I told her that I couldn't be there. So I came here."

Fitz moved closer to her and held her hands in his. "I'm so sorry Livvie. This is why I chose to walk away when you asked. To avoid you any pain."

"It's okay Fitz. It's over now. I don't think I can go back to the house. In fact I don't think I can face anyone right now."

"You can stay here."

"Thank you."

"Eventually Tyler will probably be wanting to talk Livvie. You guys should have a decent talk in order to officially call it quits and move on from one another. Maybe not now because right now he needs time to heal his own pain of losing you."

"I have never seen him so hurt and upset but does it make me a cruel person that I don't regret my decision? It's not like I didn't love him but what I feel for you is just so much more and I couldn't start a life with him knowing that I'll never love him the way that I love you."

"Are you definitely sure that it's over between you guys? What if you have that talk and he's had a change of heart. What if he wants to work things out?"

"That's highly unlikely. Fitz are you doubting us all of a sudden? What, is the excitement of you wanting me over now that you've got me? Did I make a mistake by putting everything at stake to give us a chance?"

"No Olivia, please don't talk like that. I'm genuinely so happy to have you but we gotta be realistic here. Let's step outside of our little bubble and look at things from all angles. You have a very long history with Tyler and you'll most likely be facing a lot of pressure from family and friends trying to push you two back together. I just want you to be absolutely sure. Look I know how strongly we feel about each other and although we've been seeing each other for months, I can't expect you to just casually walk into an actual relationship with me after just ending an engagement. You need time. Time on your own to digest the turn your life just took. Time to make peace with the fact that you left your fiancé hours before your wedding. You need time with your family to talk things through, not that you owe them an explanation for your actions but because that's your family and they love you and I don't want there to be a rift between you because of the fact that you chose to be with me. I do love you, so much and I'll be here always but I think you need to just take a little time to yourself and I kinda think that I need to as well. Our relationship will be judged and tested by the harsh reality of life so I want us to be ready. Once we decide to make this work, we have to be ready. Rushing into a relationship now just because you broke things off with Tyler won't be helping. Physically, mentally and emotionally you have to be at peace to go into another relationship. So I want us to take things slow in order to really build a solid relationship that can withstand anything that gets thrown our way. I don't just want you to be my girlfriend but my best friend as well and for that we need a solid foundation."

"I just want to be with you..but you're right. I already kind of feel overwhelmed with everything that's been happening and I don't want us to move too fast only to run out of steam and fail. I want to appreciate what could have."

Fitz pulled her into his lap and hugged her tightly.

She tipped her head down to meet his lips as they share an emotional kiss.

Fitz broke the kiss to stare into her eyes. "I'm so in love with you Livvie. I promise I'm not going anywhere."