Chapter 8
As I walked out of the complex, Gianna’s words still echoed in my mind. My strength drained away, and I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I collapsed against Sara.]
Twelve years ago, the summer after college entrance exams…
My parents had planned a trip to Hawali for us. The day before we were to leave, I went out with Liam for shaved ice. In the two hours I was gone, my father’s mistress showed up at our house. With a visible baby bump, she told my mother that she and my father had been together for years. Now that she was pregnant, she demanded a rightful place for herself and her unborn child.]
My mother, already struggling with depression, snapped and ran to the kitchen to grab a knife, threatening to kill herself. My father tried to stop her, but the blade struck his artery. He fell to the ground, and my mother knelt over him, sobbing and laughing hysterically, before finally taking the knife to her own throat.[]
Liam and I returned just in time to witness this scene. He quickly turned around and covered my eyes, but I still saw it. There, lying in the center of our living room, were my parents, their half–packed suitcases beside them, crimson blood pooling from their bodies and seeping across the floor until it reached my feet. That was the day all innocence and happiness shattered for Nina.
For years, I couldn’t escape the shadow of that day. Liam stayed by my side throughout it all. He used to tell me I was his first and last love, that we’d go from school to marriage and, one day, to our graves together. But before we could reach the grave, our love had already died.]]
After successfully registering for divorce, I felt an enormous weight lift from me, as if I had finally closed a painful chapter . As we left the registry office, Liam murmured,
“I never told Gianna about your past. She found out some details from Cooper, but she made up the rest.”
“I never hated you. I meant it when I said you were my first and only love.“]]
“Spare me, Liam,” I scoffed.
“Do you think that makes you sound romantic?” []
“Do you think that cheating while ‘loving me‘ makes you less despicable?”
“Or is it that you’ve played the role of a loving husband for so long, you just can’t stop?”
“I didn’t–I really did love you!“[]
“Enough, Liam! Stay away from me. Your love doesn’t matter anymore. Because it’s worthless.”
Desperation filled his gaze.
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“One month from now, remember to come back for the final registration. Jacob will send you the finalized divorce papers.”
I turned and walked away. He didn’t follow. He simply stood there in silence, barely whispering a “sorry” into the void.[]
Our Wedding, the Other Women Wore White
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Chapter 9
