Chapter 6

I lied to myself that I was just passing by, parking my car outside Liam's office building.

My morbid curiosity was acting up, compelling me to see for myself.

To see who this person was, the one who could make Liam so obsessed with her, the one who kept him constantly on edge, juggling us both.

The twilight sky was painted with streaks of red and gold, like trailing tassels. Sera, bathed in that brilliant light, walked into my view.

She was so young, with just a touch of makeup, her face alight with a bright, unapologetic smile, radiating an indescribable youthful energy.

Just like in those photos, she was vibrant, lively, young, and beautiful.

And I, paying the price for staying, already had wrinkles at the corners of my eyes, which I tried to hide with foundation, only making it more obvious.

I was trapped in a mundane marriage, trapped in lies and suspicion, trapped in a hollow love.

Liam, in his perfectly tailored suit, looked even taller and more distinguished as he walked ahead. Sera, tripping along behind him, still clutching a pile of files, was babbling on and on.

To outsiders, Liam seemed unapproachable and aloof, sometimes unreasonably harsh, even borderline cruel, with his subordinates.

The crisp autumn breeze made Sera shiver, and she unconsciously pulled her arms around herself.

The next moment, Liam turned, and silently draped his jacket over her shoulders.

My heart lurched, my fingers freezing mid-air.

On my phone screen was the number I couldn't bring myself to dial.

I suddenly remembered when I first came here.

Having no parents, no friends, just wandering in an unfamiliar world – it was a terrible feeling.

I spent my days persistently following Liam, hoping to complete my mission quickly and return to my own world.

But Liam was like a block of impenetrable ice, rejecting my confessions over and over again.

I tirelessly stayed by his side. He would often frown and say he didn't want to hear my voice, so I would just follow him in silence.

I discovered that he was just as lonely as I was.

In the desolate, empty alleyways, only our footsteps echoed, always giving me a false sense of companionship.

For three years, he remained distant and cold, and I was on the verge of giving up.

Until the moment he threw himself over me, protecting me, that I finally realized how much he loved me.

Later, he cupped my face and told me:

"My entire life before this, I've been so incredibly lonely. That's why I've been afraid to express love, afraid to commit, because I'm a coward, afraid of being abandoned."

"I'm afraid to say 'I love you' lightly. But if being willing to give up everything for someone counts as love, then I love you."

"If you still like me, let's be each other's only one. Let's never leave each other, okay?"

The world was so quiet, I could only hear our heartbeats.

His handsome face, shrinking and expanding in my vision as he leaned closer, I blushed and closed my eyes, willing to drown in the moment.

Liam was terrified of being alone.

He said he only wanted me by his side, that even doing nothing, just being together, made him happy.

But now, it seemed he no longer needed me.

Everything actually had signs.

Last time, when I celebrated Liam's birthday, Sera had called too, but back then, I didn't know who she was.

In the silence, the sudden ring of the phone was jarring.

Liam hesitated for a few seconds before answering.