Chapter 9
A month later, Liam didn’t show up. The day we were supposed to finalize our divorce, he left for a business trip to Seattle. I knew he was stalling.
During this time, he quietly tried to make amends, sending coffee, flowers, and bracelets, as if we’d returned to those days years ago when he’d done everything he could to help me escape the trauma of losing my parents. But I refused him each time.
One day, he suddenly appeared outside my new apartment building at 3 a.m., calling me to come down. He said he was worried I was upset and afraid I might do something drastic.
It felt like a joke.
“Liam, just like I don’t fully know you, you don’t really know me, either.” [
“You think I’d fall apart? But the truth is, I’ve felt more fulfilled and happier than ever since cutting ties with you two.“]
The Nina who once needed Liam’s shelter at eighteen no longer feared life’s storms.
Liam’s eyes turned red, searching my face desperately for any trace of insincerity. Finally, he seemed to break, unable to control himself, and shouted, “I’m sorry! It’s me! I’m the one who needs you, who can’t live without you! Nina, please, come back to me!“]
I had the building staff remove him.
After things quieted down for nearly a month, with Liam still in Seattle, I sent him a clip from the recording of him and Gianna in the car–the juiciest part. He returned the very next day.[]
“Nina, let’s go get the divorce certificate tomorrow. But before that, can I take you out for one last dinner?“[]
I agreed. Consider it closure for the Liam of my eighteenth year. Without him, I might have followed my parents back then.
Our last meal was at home. Liam had prepared a full spread of my favorite dishes. From the choice of ingredients to the seasoning, everything matched my tastes perfectly, just as it always had. But it no longer tasted the same
ame.
His phone suddenly lit up, showing Gianna’s name. He looked at me nervously and explained, “I’ve broken up with her. She’s also moved out from upstairs.”
I kept my expression neutral. “That’s your business; no need to tell me.“]
The phone continued ringing insistently. I remembered how Sara had mentioned running into Gianna at the hospital yesterday, and I couldn’t help but smirk.
“Are you sure you don’t want to answer? She might need something urgent.”
Hesitating, Liam answered the call on speaker to show his “innocence.”
Gianna’s words, however, instantly changed his expression.
“Liam, I’m pregnant!” she said, her voice brimming with joy. “I want to see you
now!”
Liam looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. He shouted into the phone, “How is that possible?“]
Glanna, caught off guard by his reaction, started sobbing. “Liam, I’m not lying! I’m really pregnant. You forgot that on the day we broke up, we…
Liam, agitated, cut her off. “Didn’t I use protection? How could you be pregnant?!“]
Gianna retorted indignantly, “How would I know? Anyway, I’m pregnant, and it’s yours. Don’t think you can escape this! I’ll go to your firm and cause a scene if I have to–let’s see who gets embarrassed then!“]
Liam’s face darkened as he hung up, his gaze settling on my calm, unsurprised expression. Realization dawned on him.
“Did you…. have something to do with this?”]
As morally flawed as he was, he was still sharp. I had poked holes in the condoms, but if he’d truly felt remorse and cut ties with Gianna, none of this would have happened.[]
I didn’t answer him. Standing up, I said, “I’ll be going. Go see her–you wouldn’t want to push her to the edge and risk your career over it.“]
I never imagined he’d lose his composure and knock me unconscious as I was about to step out the door.]
