Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. “Can you
answer your phone next time? Did you buy
your phone for show? You don’t know how
worried I was.”
“Starting today, my husband and I are moving
in with you to take care of you until you get
<
better.”
“No refusal allowed. No buts.”
Her expression was serious and determined.
Her bright, cheerful, and caring nature was
hard to resist.
No wonder Liam loved her.
I looked at the figure standing behind her, his
eyes cold, narrowed, as if looking at a
stranger.
Even if he was as cold as ice, even if he was
a million miles away, I still craved his warmth,
even if it wasn’t meant for me. Just to see
him, one more day, one more moment.
I don’t know if it was Sarah’s care or my own
selfishness.
I let them move in.
This house, once our marital home, was
decorated to Liam’s preferences.
Sarah’s eyes widened. “Wow, Lily, your
aesthetic is… unique. It’s all dark and
く
depressiny. Dlack anu gray, To Color at all.
Because my world had no light.
I said softly, “Because my fiancé liked it, so I
decorated it to his liking.”
Sarah frowned. “You should have your own
opinions. Why cater to him in everything? My
husband listens to me about home decor. It’s
so cozy! I make him sleep on pink sheets.”
I looked down, remembering that when we
first lived together, I loved pink; our sheets,
cups, toothbrushes, and bowls were all pink.
Even his underwear, but he never wore them.
He even slept on the floor rather than on the
pink sheets. I had to change them to another
color before he slept in the bed again.
I asked stiffly, almost self–flagellatingly,
“Really? Did he sleep on the floor?”
Sarah scoffed, glancing at Liam. “He wouldn’t
dare.”
“He even wears pink underwear now.‘
<
Liam looked embarrassed and patted her
head to stop her.
“What’s wrong with pink sheets? If your
fiancé sleeps on the floor because of that, it
only means he doesn’t love you enough.”
“You searched for him for years, you poor
thing, what a jerk.”
After a long silence, I agreed.
“You’re right.”
“He probably didn’t love me enough.”
As soon as I said that, I felt Liam’s gaze on
me for a moment.
He said coldly, “Then, Miss Jiang, you should
gracefully exit. Don’t interfere with other
people’s lives. If possible, disappear from his
sight forever. Self–deception only breeds
disgust.”
Liam’s words were blunt and hurtful.
Self–deception. I was deceiving myself.
My eyes welled up. Liam’s words were like
<
knives, stabbing me repeatedly.
He was right. Love and hate were choices. No
one forced me to wait, so I should bear the
consequences alone.
My once–unbreakable love was now ethereal.
Sarah sensed the tension and tried to smooth
things over, pulling Liam into the bedroom.
Her warning was barely audible.
“You’re asking for it. You know Lily isn’t
feeling well, and you’re still so mean.”
“Don’t provoke her anymore, do you hear
me?”
Liam scoffed, his voice dripping with
sarcasm, “Putting on an act.”
I was stunned, speechless for a long time.
The wound on my forehead still throbbed,
mocking my wishful thinking.
After that argument, I rarely saw Liam. Maybe
he was avoiding me.
We lived under the same roof for half a
L
month, but our encounters were few.
I became increasingly silent, spending most of
my time alone.
Sarah often kept me company, cooking
different meals and making me take my
medicine.
I selfishly wished she wouldn’t be so kind,
because her kindness made me feel like a
homewrecker.
But how could I be reconciled!
I envied the way Liam smiled at her, the way
he treated her. I even wanted to gouge out
my eyes.
I even had despicable thoughts. If Liam died, I
could delude myself.
I started spending more time in the living
room, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.
But it was as if he sensed something; he
hadn’t appeared for days.
I asked Sarah, “Where is he?”
<
She was busy texting, her smile sweet. “He
hasn’t been back in three years. He has a lot
of work to do; he’s not been coming over
lately.”
I was stunned, incredulous.
Chapter 2
“Liam came back three years ago?”
Why didn’t I know?
“Yeah, to discuss our wedding.”
My mouth fell open, my eyes lifeless. The
words, he came back, he came back, echoed
in my numb brain.
I was freezing, wanting to scream, but only a
hoarse gasp escaped my lips.
Sarah’s words were like a slap to my face.
The next second, she excitedly jumped up.
“Lily, quick, change your clothes! Let’s go to
The Moonlit Inn. Liam wants me to take you
to meet someone. I just saw the picture; he’s
incredibly hot!”
L
She pulled me back to the room and quickly
changed my clothes and applied light
makeup.
I let her do it because I wanted to see Liam.
We arrived, and Sarah sat next to Liam,
winking at me, urging me to be bold.
I remained silent, finding a seat. The angle
allowed me to see Liam’s every move.
Watching his lips curve slightly as Sarah
teased him, Liam’s long fingers idly traced
her waistline in the dim light.
Sarah let out a soft gasp and started to
nibble on his neck. Liam captured her hands
and kissed her fiercely.
Their kiss was passionate. I turned away,
unable to watch.
My hands clenched, my tears spilling
uncontrollably. My last line of defense
crumbled.
Liam was the one who ended things abruptly.
<
I was the one trapped.
I was slightly relieved the lighting was dim; no
one would see my humiliation.
I looked away and met a pair of amused eyes. “Hey there, neighbor who almost sliced their
wrists in the bathtub,” said Jackson, a smirk
playing on his lips.
My eyelids twitched. Three years ago, he was the one who broke into my apartment and
sent me to the hospital, staying with me for a week. But he always spoke to me
sarcastically, chilling my attempts at
gratitude. Even in the elevator, we ignored
each other.
Jackson continued, “Geez, we’ve been
neighbors for over four years, and you pretend you don’t know me?”
I frowned, “No, thank you for what happened
three years ago.”
His lips curved into a smile. He raised an
<
eyebrow, mimicking my soft voice.
