Chapter 6

My head throbbed. I rolled down the window, letting the wind rush in to carry away the sudden surge of emotions.

"Liam Hayes, I ask for nothing from you. You offered to take me on this trip, you should follow through."

"Turning back will take two hours. Do you expect me to sit in a car all morning?! My body can't handle it, you arrange someone else—"

"I don't trust anyone else." Liam calmly interrupted me.

I was utterly speechless, my eyes welling up slightly.

A twisted ankle, and he said he didn't trust anyone else.

So what were all those years I endured alone—the high fever, the fear of almost being slit, the car accident…?

Did it mean I was tough, capable of surviving without anyone's care?

"Liam, I'm sorry to bother you again."

The car picked up Zara, and Liam helped her in.

I glanced over inadvertently and froze—

Zara had an identical shawl draped over her shoulder, only its color scheme was much prettier than mine, exactly my style.

"Liam Hayes, who chose the shawl for me?"

I asked, enunciating each word.

Zara said, "Miss Kingston, don't you like yours? There were only two left at the counter then. I thought you, being older, might prefer a more mature style, so I picked the younger color first."

She looked apologetic. "Shall we swap?"

I couldn't be bothered with her. My gaze was fixed on Liam.

"You gave me the leftovers? Am I, Aria Kingston, a garbage bin?!"

I ripped off the shawl and threw it out the car window.

Zara looked as if she was too scared to speak. Liam gently patted her shoulder. "It's fine."

He buckled her seatbelt, then got into the driver's seat, saying indifferently, "It's just a different color. You make such a big deal out of everything, no wonder you're always unhappy."

After a long silence, I scoffed.

"So you *do* see that I'm unhappy."

He saw, but he never cared.

The car changed course and headed to the hospital.

By the time Zara emerged after getting a plaster cast, the entire morning was gone, and my planned trip was still at square one.

"Let's have lunch first. Zara is hungry, and you probably are too." Liam said to me, his gaze shifting to Zara in the back seat. "Do you want Thai food or Xinjiang cuisine?"

Zara smiled, asking in an affectedly innocent tone, "Liam, how do you remember I like these two cuisines? You're amazing!"

Liam offered a slight smile.

"If you put your mind to it, it's not hard to remember."

That smile was like a curved blade, carving a deep gash in my heart.

Zara continued, "And what do I like to drink, do you remember?"

"Fresh orange juice."

"What's my favorite fruit?"

"Durian."

"My favorite way to cook ribs?"

"Braised."

"What does Miss Kingston like to eat?"

Liam, who had answered effortlessly, stumbled.

I said coldly, "If you want to be all lovey-dovey, go get a hotel room. Don't be disgusting and flirt in my car."

Liam frowned.

"Do you only have such sordid thoughts in your head? Zara is like a sister to me."

Zara's eyes reddened. "Miss Kingston, I'm sorry if I caused a misunderstanding. I… I won't say anything else. Liam, please pull over and drop me off. I'm not that hungry, actually."

Liam gave me a reproachful look and decisively said:

"It's lunchtime. We're all eating together."

I folded my arms.

"Fine. I want French cuisine."

This time, Liam didn't object, indulging me.

He drove the car to the restaurant entrance but didn't get out.

"Zara isn't used to French cuisine, and her foot is injured, so she needs someone to look after her. I'll eat Xinjiang food with her and pick you up afterward."

Before I could speak, the car glided forward and drove off.

I watched the tail lights under the scorching sun, standing there for a long while.

That car was a birthday gift I bought for Liam in our first year of marriage. I still remembered my excitement and hope that he would be surprised.

But Liam had only glanced at it and never driven it.

Today was his first time.

I waited five years for that dream to come true, only for him to drive off, leaving me behind with another woman.

So, no thank you, Liam Hayes.

I won't always wait for you. I don't *have* to wait for you.

After lunch, I called a cab and my bodyguards, heading to the beach alone.

My itinerary and hotel were already booked; I didn't want to waste them.

During this time, Liam called three times in total, which was a lot for him.

I didn't answer any of them.

The first day, I did all the activities I wanted, went to all the places I desired, and found quite a bit of enjoyment.

The second day, as I walked along the beach, I unexpectedly ran into Zara. Liam stood beside her, carrying bags of food, and was using a tissue to wipe her mouth.

Seeing me, his movements paused.

"When did you arrive? Why didn't you leave a message? Zara and I looked for you for a long time yesterday. She's still recovering from her miscarriage and twisted her ankle, so she's exhausted—"

And what about me? I was tossed around in the car for over five hours yesterday because of her. Was *I* not exhausted?

I suppressed these meaningless arguments, turned around expressionlessly, and walked towards the sea, leaving them behind.

Zara jogged to catch up, her lowered voice dripping with smugness.

"Miss Kingston, you're really boring. No matter how much time you waste on Liam, his heart will only ever be with me."

I chuckled.

"Only with you? You've been with him this long and you still don't know you're just a substitute?"

Watching Zara's face drain of color didn't actually feel that satisfying.

I idly kicked the seawater when suddenly a force yanked me forward, and my feet lost purchase—

Below me was an underwater cliff, bottomless and black!

"Miss Kingston, your high-and-mighty attitude is really annoying. I heard Liam say you're not a great swimmer. I wonder if this will teach you a lesson~"

Zara let go of me and swam away gracefully.

The water at the cliff was icy cold, and I was only a mediocre swimmer to begin with. I panicked instantly.

I choked on several gulps of water, struggling to paddle towards the shore, but a current pulled me further and further away.

Panic-stricken cries came from nearby; it turned out the same rip current had also caught Zara.

But she was much stronger; at least she could breathe normally.

In the churning waves, I saw Liam.

He was rushing towards us, swimming so fast, so fiercely.

I instinctively grabbed his arm, tilting my face out of the water to catch a breath.

But my hand was violently shaken off and pushed away. Before I could even gasp, I plunged back into the sea.

The suffocating sensation rapidly spread through my entire body.

This time, I had no strength left to struggle. I could only watch helplessly as Liam steadily swam Zara to safety nearby.

Darkness rushed in, and I slowly sank into the deep sea…

"Miss Kingston? Miss Kingston? How do you feel?"

I coughed up a mouthful of seawater, opening my eyes to find myself lying on the beach, with my two soaked bodyguards beside me.

I gripped Chloe's hand tightly, staring motionless at the azure sky above, until my eyes stung and a tear slipped from the corner.