Chapter 5

I nodded blankly. "Okay."

Chloe stood by, a triumphant smile playing on her lips.

Liam led Chloe to the dining table, attentively serving her water, his face tender—a stark contrast to his earlier coldness.

Chloe silently went into her room.

After dinner, Chloe, on a whim, asked to see my room.

I had no right to refuse.

Liam directly led Chloe into my room.

Chloe entered, looking around with a disgusted expression, then suddenly fixed her gaze on the painting on the wall.

The painting showed two people: me in my early teens and Liam in his youth.

Liam had painted it himself when we were younger.

When he made that painting, Liam had earnestly promised me, "Ava, we'll always be together, just like us in this painting, framed together, never to be separated."

For all these years, I had believed him.

But Liam had long forgotten his vow.

The two figures in the painting were beautiful, yet Chloe frowned with displeasure, her face sullen. "Liam, I don't like this painting. Take it down and burn it!"

Liam paused for two seconds, then readily agreed. "Okay."

I panicked, rushing forward to stop him. "Liam, this painting is very important to me. Please don't burn it!"

Liam dismissed my concern, waving my hand away and saying heartlessly, "It's just a painting. Something I drew carelessly when I was a kid. What's so important about it? Besides, Chloe doesn't like it. Even if it were priceless, I wouldn't allow it to be here!"

Liam wouldn't be reasoned with. He forcefully took the painting off the wall.

I grabbed his arm, my eyes red, pleading humbly, "Liam, please, I beg you, don't burn it! If Chloe doesn't like it, I'll move it out of her sight. Just please don't burn it!"

Liam cruelly shook off my hand, ignoring my pleas, and stubbornly carried the painting to the yard, setting it ablaze until it turned to ashes!

I ran frantically to the yard, watching the painting burn fiercely on the ground. My heart felt as if it had been cruelly gripped, then brutally torn out and thrown into a freezing wasteland.

A chilling cold instantly enveloped my entire body.

That fire not only destroyed a painting but also severed the obsession I had held for over a decade.

The last flicker of hope in my heart finally collapsed completely.

That night, I locked myself in my room, silently packing my luggage.

But I had no family left, no one. Where could I go after leaving here?

As I packed my clothes, a business card suddenly fell out of my pocket.

I picked up the card from the floor, paused, and then remembered the man I had met last night.

Julian Reed, a powerful figure in the city.

With his help, could I find another place to call home?

Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I dialed the phone number on the card.

The call was answered quickly, and Julian's deep, magnetic voice suddenly sounded. "Hello, who is this?"

My breathing quickened, and my heart pounded.

I unconsciously gripped my fingers, stammering, "Mr. Reed, hello… I'm the girl you… you met by the roadside yesterday."

"Yes," Julian asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Uh…" I was so embarrassed I felt my toes curl with mortification, but I still mustered my courage. "Mr. Reed, would you be able to help me find a job?"

For the past few years, I hadn't worked. Only because Liam had once said he would support me for life, wanting me to stay home and keep him company. I had foolishly given up my career to focus on caring for Liam's daily needs.

I had essentially become his personal assistant.

Looking back now, it was ridiculous.

Julian on the other end of the line pondered for a moment, then spoke in a deep voice. "I happen to be looking for a secretary right now. Are you interested?"

"But I don't have much experience…" I said, lacking confidence.

Julian didn't mind at all. "I'll arrange for someone to train you."

I didn't want to miss this chance at independence, so I accepted, feeling both nervous and excited.

Julian gave me three days.

In three days, I would officially report to Reed Industries.

I had planned to leave the Smith residence tonight, but after being caught in the rain last night and my wound becoming infected, I suddenly developed a high fever, shivering uncontrollably.

I abandoned the idea of leaving tonight, took some cold medicine, and decided to sleep first, planning to leave early tomorrow morning.

I curled up in bed, praying for the fever to break quickly.

In a daze, I heard a knock on my door, and Liam's cold voice suddenly echoed from outside. "Ava Miller, open the door."

I dragged my weak body out of bed and opened the door.

Liam stood at the doorway, with no intention of coming in, only coldly ordering me, "Go downstairs and buy a box of condoms for Chloe and me."

My chest tightened, my heart felt like it was being cruelly squeezed. I asked him in a hoarse voice, "It's so late, can't you order delivery?"

"No. Chloe specifically wants you to go." His words were as cold as ice.

My eyes were vacant, and I clenched the hem of my clothes so tightly that my nails nearly dug into my flesh.

I remained silent for a long time, then nodded blankly. "Okay, I'll go."

It would be the last thing I did for him before I left.

I dragged my feverish body out the door, trembling, constantly forcing myself to stay upright so I wouldn’t collapse by the roadside.

After buying the condoms, I returned home, weak, and knocked on Liam's door.

It was Chloe who opened it.