The morning of her last lunch with Aaron, Keeley dreamed of their wedding day—a nightmare disguised as a memory. Her vision of a small, intimate wedding was quickly shattered. Aaron's mother, Roslyn Hale, took charge, orchestrating a lavish affair at the Plaza Hotel with nearly five hundred guests, most of whom Keeley didn't know.

Roslyn chose Keeley's custom-designed, off-the-shoulder pearl and Swarovski crystal ball gown, leaving Keeley with minimal input. The wedding planner offered limited choices regarding flowers and cake, but otherwise, the wedding proceeded without her participation. Even her bridesmaids were socialites she barely knew, including Lacy Knighton—the irony wasn't lost on her.

Her father, uncomfortable in the expensive tuxedo Aaron provided, walked her down the aisle. The opulent setting overwhelmed him; he contrasted it with his own simple Brooklyn cathedral wedding and park reception under rented tents. At the aisle's top, as the wedding march began, he whispered, "Is this really what you want, honeybun?"

Robert didn't dislike Aaron, but he'd worried throughout the engagement about Keeley's lack of control over her own wedding, fearing her in-laws' treatment of her. Keeley smiled reassuringly, "Of course it is! I love Aaron more than anything. I want to be with him forever." Linking arms, they began their procession.

As they approached, Aaron's handsomeness seemed enhanced, whether by the tuxedo or his genuine smile, Keeley couldn't tell. Her heart felt ready to burst.

The dream shifted. Lacy, in a floor-length wine-colored bridesmaid dress, stood over a helpless Keeley, pinning her wrists to the floor with gold, diamond-studded shackles. Keeley cried for help, but the onlookers remained passive. The crowd vanished, leaving only Aaron a few feet away. As Lacy stabbed her, Keeley begged for help, but his cold eyes remained unmoved.

"She's worth more than fifty of you," he said calmly. "You should be honored she's even bothering to kill you."

Hundred-dollar bills rained down as Lacy cackled maniacally, leaving Keeley to drown in her own blood. In the distance, a baby cried; the sound grew so loud that blood poured from Keeley's ears. Soaked in red-stained money, the cries continued.

Keeley woke screaming, drenched in sweat, needing another shower despite having showered before bed. It was her worst nightmare since her "rebirth." The stress, she realized, was finally cracking her. But why now? Today was the day she'd finally have less contact with Aaron.

The dream's dreadful feeling lingered all day. Lunch with Aaron was more painful than usual; his cold expression echoed Lacy's attack in her nightmare. Did he know Lacy was responsible for her death in the dream? He hadn't cared when she killed her father, even helping cover it up.

Over the past month of daily lunches, Keeley's rage had subsided, viewing him as a mere nuisance. The dream reignited her original feelings, unleashing waves of hostility.

He frowned, joining her at the table. "What's wrong with you today?"

What was wrong was that she'd forgotten how much she truly hated him. Reluctantly accepting his presence due to fear of Lacy, the month was over. He needed to leave her alone, or she might attack him.

"You better follow through on our deal," she said tartly. "Don't talk to me after this."

A fleeting expression of hurt, perhaps imagined, was replaced by annoyance.

"Not this again."

His words angered her. "You promised me. One month, then you'd leave me alone."

"When did I ever say I would leave you alone?"

Keeley realized he hadn't. Their deal was a month of lunches; their post-lunch arrangement remained unspoken. She should have known better.

Tears of frustration welled. Why couldn't graduation come sooner? Why did this man torment her? Why wouldn't he listen?

She banged her head on the table repeatedly. "Why? Why? Why?"

"Stop that!"

"No," she said flatly, continuing despite the headache.

Aaron seized her shoulders, pulling her upright until her head rested against his chest.

"Let me go!"

"Why are you hurting yourself?" he growled. "Are you stupid?"

Yes. She was stupid for ever loving him.

"I'm doing this because I'm sick of you following me. I'll stop if you promise to leave me alone until graduation."

"Not happening."

He lifted her to her feet, grabbed her backpack, and practically dragged her from the student lounge.

"What are you doing?" she yelled.

"You need to get your head checked."

"I'm not crazy!"

"That's debatable, but you just hit your head multiple times. At the very least, you need ice or Tylenol."

His hands on her waist made her nauseous. She broke free, avoiding his dark eyes.

"I'll go to the nurse's office myself."

"Keeley…"

She smelled the blood, heard the crying from her nightmare. Maybe she was losing it—Aaron had driven her insane.

She was done. Waiting until graduation wouldn't work; honesty was her only option.

"Don't say my name! You don't have the right! I'm serious; I want nothing to do with you. I've told you countless times, and you still bother me. The police might not believe me, but I can still report you for stalking. At the very least, it will inconvenience you. Get it through your thick skull! I. Don't. Like. You. For the last time, LEAVE ME ALONE."

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