In order to coax his scheming girlfriend, he burned my beloved painting in public. Ten years of feelings disappeared at that moment.

Chapter 1

1,446 words

A furious shout ripped me from my sleep. "Ava Miller! What gives you the right to be in my bed?!"

I slowly opened my eyes, the sight of Liam Smith sitting at the head of the bed, his face ashen and enraged, coming into focus.

Liam’s chest heaved with anger. "How dare you take advantage of me when I was drunk and crawl into my bed? Who gave you the audacity?!"

He didn’t give me a chance to explain, continuing to seethe with indignation. "You need to understand your place. You’re just the housekeeper. What right do you have to covet me?!"

"The woman I love is Chloe Hayes. You'd better know your limits! You've tainted my love for Chloe, you've polluted everything! If this ever happens again, get out of my house!"

My heart shattered into a million pieces.

And I distinctly remembered that last night, Liam had been the one to make the first move.

It was Liam's 30th birthday last night. Around 1 AM, he returned home, stumbling drunk after a party with his friends.

As I went downstairs to make him some hangover soup, he suddenly grabbed me in a tight embrace.

Liam unexpectedly kissed my lips, whispering softly into my ear, "Ava, I love you…"

I had secretly loved Liam for ten years. In that moment, I was completely defenseless, quickly drowning in his tender affection.

But I never imagined that Liam, sober, would be a completely different person. Every word he uttered felt like a sharp blade, piercing deep into my heart.