Chapter 3

Through the rising steam, Liam's chiseled features gradually became clear.

He dried his wet hair, and when he saw his phone in my hand, a flicker of stiffness crossed his face.

"What made you suddenly decide to check my phone?" He lowered his gaze, his deep voice betraying little emotion.

Feigning nonchalance, I put the phone back.

"Just on a whim, I thought I'd try your lock screen password."

"And did you?" He moved closer, the pleasant scent of his shower gel instantly filling my nostrils.

I nodded, handing him the phone.

"I did. And I was quite satisfied."

"All my passwords are your birthday, you know." Liam took the phone, flipped it face down on the table, and tried to pull me into his arms.

It was like he was trying too hard to prove his loyalty, only making his guilt more obvious.

I lowered my eyes, deftly sidestepping his embrace.

A flicker of concern crossed his face.

"Eleanor, you don't seem very happy today."

"Liam, I dreamed last night that you fell for someone else and didn't want me anymore. I'm still a bit shaken from it," I said, tilting my head back, trying to read his expression.

Liam's face registered a moment of stunned surprise, then he quickly reassured me:

"Dreams are always the opposite of reality. Eleanor, I will never abandon you, otherwise—"

As he spoke, his face gradually overlapped with the image of that young man in my memory, but his eyes no longer held the same clear sincerity they once did.

I cut him off abruptly.

"You don't need to swear, I was just kidding. It was just a dream, it's not real."

He seemed to let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and his expression relaxed a little.

Liam was truly terrible at lying.

Otherwise, his gaze wouldn't have darted away, his voice wouldn't have wavered when he spoke.

We were both trying our best to maintain the superficial beauty of this relationship, but inside, it was already hollowed out.

Eventually, he would tire, and the tenderness would fade.

I could cling to the present, I could temporarily suppress my emotions, I could pretend not to notice.

But what about the baby?

I had to make a decision soon.