Chapter 7
Someone took the suitcase from my hand as I stepped off the plane.
I looked up–and tears welled in my eyes.
I’d thought that after all the disappointment I’d caused them, my parents would still be angry and resent having to come pick me up.
But I never expected to see them already waiting at the airport. There was no blame in their eyes, only deep, aching concern.
“Melanie, you’ve lost weight! Liam must’ve treated you like crap. I told you he wasn’t a good man! He didn’t deserve you!”
My mom smacked my dad mid–rant, stopping him from mentioning Liam’s name again, then gently wrapped her arm around mine.
“You have lost weight. I made your favorite beef stew–once you’re home, I’ll ensure you regain your strength.”
Held in my mother’s warm embrace, I looked up and saw that both their temples were speckled with far more white hair than when we’d last spoken.
Each strand was a silent witness to how much they’d worried.
My eyes burned. I threw my arms around them both, choking back sobs as I promised, “I’m sorry, Mom, Dad. I won’t ever leave you again.”
My father stiffened for a second, then gently rested his broad, warm hand on my back, his voice tinged with helplessness.
“We will always be here, waiting for you to come home.”
I smiled as my mother wiped away my tears and nodded firmly.
Right then and there, I saw it all perfectly–how foolish I’d been to give everything up for someone like Liam. I didn’t just hurt myself; I broke my parents‘ hearts, too.
But from now on, I’ll never be that stupid again.
I won’t love Liam anymore. From now on, I’ll stay by my parents‘ side, making up for all the love and time I’ve lost.
Overseas, my parents enrolled me back in university to finish my studies.
My days were busy with classes, and I came home to joke and chat with them in the evenings. Everything settled into a peaceful, steady rhythm.
But I never expected to run into Liam again.
I thought making Irene move into that villa, giving them a clear path to be together, was enough to show him I had no intention of ever seeing him again.
He’d already found his new ‘medicine.‘ He should’ve let me go.
My gaze landed on Liam, standing in the shadows, and I turned to say goodbye to my friend who had walked me home, then headed straight upstairs without another glance.
But as I passed him, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked me into a narrow stairwell.
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Hot, urgent lips came crashing down toward my face.
My heart sank. The next second, my palm struck his cheek hard.
“Disgusting. Don’t touch me!”
Liam’s head jerked sideways from the slap. The corners of his eyes. were red as he let out a cold laugh.
“Disgusting? Melanie, is that what you really think–or is it that you’ve already fallen in love with someone else?
“Who is he? I’ve been going insane looking for you, and you let another man walk you home?! Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? How can you move on so easily?!”
Smack! Another slap cut him off. I pretended not to see the pain in his eyes, keeping my voice cold.
“Liam, I thought you’d already know who betrayed our love.
“I left so I wouldn’t have to deal with you stalking me, slandering me again and again!
“We’re done. What right do you have to return and act like I owe you anything?”
My words were soft, but each one landed heavy on his chest.
He panted, arms falling to his sides in defeat. When he looked up again, tears were already streaming down his face.
“Melanie, I’m sorry. I panicked. I looked for you everywhere until I thought I was going crazy. And when I saw you with someone else, I just couldn’t take it.
“Please forgive me. I know I was wrong. I’ve already cut things off with Irene.”
His words were jumbled, like a man drowning in despair. He clung to my hand like it was the only thing keeping him alive.
“I won’t lie to you ever again. I’ll give you the wedding you deserve. Whatever you want, I’ll do it. Just else, I forgive me.”
He buried his head into my neck, sobbing pathetically. “Please, Melanie. I’m begging you.”
“But I don’t want it anymore. The wedding and you. I don’t want either.”
My voice didn’t waver. I pushed him away, rejecting his closeness.
“I can design another wedding dress. I can polish a new ring. Melanie, please don’t throw me away!”
Liam looked at me, helpless and pitiful, practically groveling.
“So what?”
I frowned, irritated, and turned my face away from him.
“I never wanted a dress or a ring–never just a wedding. What I wanted was your love.
“But you split that love in two. And even if you want to tell me what’s left now, I’m not interested anymore.”
Clutching at his chest like he couldn’t breathe, Liam crumbled like a man facing a death sentence.
Chapter 7
I shook his hand off and turned to go upstairs.
But just as I took the first step, he yanked me back into his arms.
“I’m not letting you go, Melanie!”
Before I could react, he forced his lips onto mine, overwhelming and
relentless.
I fought back with everything I had, pounding against his chest, but he wouldn’t let go, no matter how hard I hit him.
“You’re mine!”
His hand started moving downward. The stairwell lights flicked on when I was about to collapse in despair.
My father stood at the top of the stairs, face thunderous, broom in hand. He swung it down with all his strength, striking Liam repeatedly. My mother rushed in behind him and pulled me protectively into her arms.
Even as my father dragged him away, Liam clung to my hand, howling like a man gone mad.
He burst into tears.
“Melanie! Don’t leave me! I still love you–I love you just like before!”
My whole body trembled. I clenched my jaw and refused to look at him again. A wave of nausea overtook me, and I doubled over, gagging from the sheer disgust.
Seeing my reaction, Liam’s pupils shrank. His face turned deathly pale, and he collapsed like a man who had lost everything, letting my father
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Chapter 7
throw him out of the neighborhood without a fight.
