Chapter 4
Liam yanked me straight out of the studio.
He sneered, his cold eyes stabbing into me.
“Gabriella, Andy is my cousin. You? Kiss him? You think you’re worthy?”
His words nearly tore my heart apart.
The moment our eyes met, his hatred almost crushed me.
I rubbed my wrist, red from his grip, blinking back the sting in my eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t know who he was. I was just playing by the rules.”
Right then, a tall figure stepped in front of me, blocking him. Andy Caillet squared up to him.
“Whether she’s worthy or not, I’ll decide. Don’t touch her, Liam.”
I froze, staring at Andy’s back. My gaze slid past his shoulder–Liam’s eyes locked on me, the chill in the stabbing straight into my heart.
“Andy, what do you even see in her? Greed? Schemes?”
Andy shot back, voice tense. “So what, Liam? You got hurt once, and now you see ghosts everywhere?
“And stop harping on profit. The Caillet family’s loaded–we couldn’t spend it all in ten lifetimes.”
With that, he grabbed my hand and brushed past Liam.
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Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw his face stiffen.
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Once we were outside, Andy let go of my hand and, feeling apologetic, tried to explain.
“Gabriella, Liam lost control because he once pretended to be poor, dated a scholarship girl, and got burned. Don’t take his words to heart.”
“Yeah.” I forced a small smile, pretending I was fine. I didn’t tell him–I was that scholarship girl.
Thinking I didn’t believe him, Andy continued softly, “Liam was crazy about her. He even tattooed her name over his heart. Later, he had surgery to get the skin replaced.”
“He thinks she’s disgusting. I think she’s bad luck too.” His gaze burned into me. “But you’re different-
Pain surged in my chest, unstoppable.
The tattoo on my right atrium with Liam’s name seemed to ache too.
Peeling skin, carving flesh. It must’ve hurt like hell back then.
I swallowed my tears and cut Andy off.
“Thanks for helping me out today. Colleagues, after all. ”
That one word, “colleague,” choked whatever he was about to say. His eyes, bright a second ago, dimmed instantly.
I turned and left him standing there.
By the time I packed my stuff and went to HR to process my resignation, the HR rep threw a voluntary resignation form at me with a cold face.
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“Mr. Caillet agreed to terminate your contract at the end of this month. If you leave now, it’s voluntary. No severance.”
My mind went blank. I couldn’t afford to lose that money. Treatments,
and meds–they expensive. I couldn’t touch my savings either.
I changed my mind on the spot. “I’ll finish out the month.”
Only four days left. I couldn’t afford to be stupid about money.
The HR woman sneered, glanced at the coffee nearby, then ordered, “This is for Ms. Sullivan. Mr. Caillet ordered it. Since you’ve got nothing to do, deliver it.”
On the coffee bag was Liam’s handwritten note.
“Less ice, less sugar. Cut back on coffee, sleep more.”
The words were warm. Once, that warmth was mine too.
I grabbed the coffee and headed to Sandra’s office.
As I walked, old memories crept back.
I remembered his phone, packed with notes about my favorite things.
“Gabriella likes watermelon and hates vinegar. Loves strawberries, but not strawberry–flavored candy…”
A mix of sadness and bitterness welled up inside me.
Did he take notes on Sandra’s likes too? Did he brew hot tea for her during her period? Massage her stomach? Did he hold her and sing to her when she was down?
Then I felt stupid.
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She was his fiancée. The one he chose to spend his life with. Of course, he did. Probably gave her even more.
My eyes stung.
I shook off the discomfort, knocked on her door, and walked inside.
“Ms. Sullivan, your coffee, from Mr. Caillet.”
She reached out, then suddenly froze. Her sharp gaze locked onto my slightly open collar.
I looked down, following her eyes–there it was. The tattooed Liam on my chest.
