9
The next morning, after finishing breakfast, I nervously made my way next door.
I stood outside for a long time, hesitating, before finally mustering the courage to knock.
The door opened quickly.
*Liam stood there in a robe, his eyes swollen and his face tired.
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When he realized it was me, his expression lit up with joy for a brief moment–only for it
to quickly shift into panic.
He blocked the doorway, his voice hoarse as he stammered, “Did… did you need something? I’ll clean up and come over in a minute.”
Then, almost inaudibly, he added, “If that’s okay?”
“I want to come in.”
Liam bit his lip, clearly wanting to refuse, but eventually, he stepped aside and opened the door.
As soon as I walked in, the strong smell of alcohol hit me.
Empty beer bottles cluttered the coffee table, and cigarette butts were scattered across the floor.
I turned to look at him, surprised, only to see him standing there with his head down, his hands trembling at his sides.
“Please… don’t break off the engagement,” he said, his voice shaking so much it was hard to hear.
There was something so fragile in his tone that I couldn’t bring myself to say anything hurtful.
I walked over and gently patted his head. “I just want to talk.”
At that, Liam finally looked up, his eyes filled with tears he hadn’t let fall.
“Before that,” he said quietly, “I want to show you something.”
I didn’t refuse as he took my hand and led me upstairs.
At the end of the hallway, he stopped in front of a door.
When he pushed it open, my heart jumped to my throat.
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09:59 on 3 Feb M
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The walls were covered with photos of me, even screenshots of every post I’d ever made
on social media.
On the bed sat a life–sized doll that looked just like me.
I spun around in panic, but Liam had already closed the door and was leaning against it.
“Annie,” he said softly, his voice trembling, “maybe you don’t remember me, but I’ve never forgotten you.”
“Do you remember the little boy you saved seventeen years ago?”
“The one whose stepmother beat him and left him to die on the street? You were the one
who brought him home.”
Memories came rushing back.
I stared at him in disbelief. “You mean… you were that boy?”
Seventeen years ago, on my way home from school, I found a bruised and battered boy
in an alley.
I brought him home, and my parents called in the best doctors to treat him.
He ended up staying with us for three months. I shared everything with him, even treating
him better than I treated my own brother.
Then one day, his father–who had just returned from overseas–came to take him back.
My parents only agreed after his father promised he’d never neglect the child again.
After that, I never saw him again.
Liam nodded, a single tear sliding down his cheek.
He rushed forward and wrapped me in his arms, burying his face in the crook of my
neck.
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“I’ve never forgotten you,” he said, his voice muffled. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t even be alive today.”
“After I took over the company and finally had the ability to come back for you, I found out you’d moved. And then I heard… you were with him.”
Liam’s voice cracked. “Call me crazy, call me a freak if you want–I don’t care. Just… please, give me a chance to stay by your side. That’s all I’m asking for.”
His tone was so raw, so desperate, that I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.
His hot tears dampened my skin, and before I realized what I was doing, I hugged him back, gently patting his shoulder.
“Okay,” I whispered. “I’ll give you a chance.”
“Really?!”
His eyes lit up with a joy so pure it was almost childlike. He cupped my face like I was something fragile, something precious.
In those deep, earnest eyes, there was nothing but me.
“So… is that why you drank all night? Because of what happened with Ethan and me?”
Liam looked down, his voice low. “I couldn’t stand seeing you cry for him.”
“Idiot.”
“It’s over between us. It’s been over for a long time.”
But Liam’s sincerity made it impossible for me to keep anything from him.
After a moment of silence, I looked into his eyes, bracing myself.
“I… I was pregnant before. Does that bother you?”
