Chapter 6

In my confusion, he took off his jacket and wrapped it tightly around me, gesturing for me to go inside, indicating he would handle this.

In the alternating light and shadow, I subconsciously looked up.

His brows were furrowed, his expression stern, but his eyes were utterly clear. He stood before me, like a sturdy oak against a storm, telling me firmly, "Don't be afraid. I've got you!"

Suddenly, I felt a powerful force pushing through me, like a parched soul finally getting a drink of water.

This was a feeling I had never experienced in my eight years with Liam.

I composed myself, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

It was time for Liam and me to finally put an end to this.

"Just go. I don't want to see you anymore."

Finn, sensing the mood, picked up the grocery bag from the floor and went inside, not lingering to hear the rest.

"Liam, I don't love you anymore. Yesterday, when I saw you put that ring on Brittany's finger, in that moment, my heart completely died."

"You stole my last bit of hope and dreams for love, leaving me too afraid to ever love again."

Liam slowly picked himself up from the ground, blood even trickling from the corner of his mouth. He leaned weakly against the wall, pale and drained, silently watching me.

"We're adults. We need to take responsibility for our actions. Don't come looking for me again. We're… done."

In that moment, my heart felt strangely calm, like a still spring pond, without a ripple.

No tears in my eyes, no pain in my heart.

Perhaps this was what it felt like to no longer love.

Liam, on the other hand, stumbled closer, grabbing my hands tightly, begging bitterly: "Chloe-belle, I messed up. Yesterday, I was drunk, it was an impulse. I… I… I like you."

"Listen to me, I… I truly don't like Brittany anymore. You're the one I like, Chloe-belle!"

"If I didn't like you, why would I have gotten engaged to you, why would I marry you, Chloe-belle…"

Liam choked out his explanation, his brows tightly furrowed, tears tracing clear paths down his face.

I had waited eight years for Liam to say he liked me.

In the past, I would have excitedly thrown myself into his arms, clinging to him, wanting to tell the whole world that I, Chloe Davies, was the happiest girl alive.

But all of this came too late, far too late.

Even if a wounded heart heals, it's still covered in scars.

Peel back that fragile outer shell, and all you see are wounds.

"Liam, just go! Like this Brown Bear, we can never go back." With that, I swiftly pulled my hands free, without hesitation, and turned to go home.

The last flicker of affection I had for Liam vanished with the heavy "thud" of the door closing.

Liam's knocking on the door continued, irritating me. I glanced towards the kitchen. Finn was wearing an apron, and I could hear the faucet running as he washed something.

"Why are you still here?" I asked coldly.

He seemed to pause, his practiced movements stopping. He pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped his hands.

"I'll leave after I make you something to eat."

Finn's voice was clear, with a faint, mesmerizing hint of a soft murmur.

I hung his jacket on the hanger by the door, then went to my bedroom to change clothes. While I was there, I called Maya.

On the other end of the line, I heard a noisy crowd and blaring music. She was probably at a bar.

Maya didn't say anything; she must not have seen my call and answered by mistake.

I hung up, then sat on the sofa, hunched over, pressing the heel of my hand hard into my forehead, my breathing heavy.

Liam was still knocking, but the sound was softer, the frequency slower.

After a while, the knocking stopped. I heard the sound of a cardboard box being moved outside the door. He must have left.

Finn came from the kitchen, carrying a bowl of noodle soup. It had greens, ham, and a perfectly fried soft-boiled egg.

"Eat up. I hope it's to your taste." He thoughtfully touched the side of the bowl to check if it was too hot, then placed the forks to my left.

I'm left-handed, and he actually knew that. Maya must have told him.

After all the commotion today, I was indeed a little hungry. I politely thanked him, picked up my forks, and started eating small bites, chatting with him as I did.

Finn was a student in the sports department at my alma mater, a year younger than me. After graduation, he tried his hand at entrepreneurship and now worked as a full-time coach at a Taekwondo club near the company.

So, he was a junior.

I remembered Maya once had a crazy obsession with Taekwondo, joining a class on a whim and even dragging me along a few times.

"Chloe, once I get my Taekwondo black belt, I'd like to see anyone try to bully you. I'll just kick them away!" she'd say, hitting the air with muffled thuds.

"Have we met before?" I put down my forks, forcing a smile, looking directly at him.