Chapter8
“Ava, I know what he did was unforgivable. I’m not asking you to forgive him. But he… he needs you. Please, just come. You’re the only one who can reach him.”
His words struck a chord within me. I knew I couldn’t just abandon him, not when he was hurting like this.
“Where are you? I’ll come get you,” I said, grabbing my keys.
Mark picked me up a few minutes later.
“Tell me everything.” I said, my voice trembling with a mixture of apprehension and
concern.
Sarah’s funeral had been a few days ago. Liam had completely shut down. He refused to leave his apartment, refused to speak to anyone. He’d even blocked all his friends‘ numbers.
Mark had been checking in on him regularly, worried sick. But yesterday, Liam stopped answering the door.
“He’s in a dark place, Ava. He keeps talking about how he doesn’t deserve to be happy, how he betrayed you both. I’m terrified he’ll do something stupid.”
I didn’t say a word as Mark drove me to Liam’s apartment.
The door was unlocked.
We found Liam sprawled on the floor, surrounded by empty bottles.
“Liam? Buddy, it’s me, Mark. Look who’s here!”
Liam didn’t react.
I knelt beside him, my heart breaking at his condition.
“Liam? Liam, it’s me, Ava. Don’t you recognize me?”
He remained unresponsive.
14:31
Our Wedding, the Other Women Wore White
8.4%
Chapters
Mark’s eyes widened in alarm. “Ava, he… he wouldn’t… What if he’s…”
I shook my head, refusing to believe it. I grabbed Liam’s arm, my voice sharp. “Liam! Get up
right now, or I swear I’ll…”
Suddenly, his eyes flew open, and he sat up abruptly, clutching his arm and wincing.
“He’s okay!” I exclaimed, relief flooding through me.
But before I could react further, Liam pulled me into a tight embrace, burying his face in my hair. “Ava? Ava, you’re here. You still care,” he mumbled, his voice thick with unshed
tears.
I froze, unsure of how to react.
Mark, relieved and exasperated, punched Liam lightly on the shoulder. “You scared the hell out of us, man! Don’t ever do that again!”
Liam ignored him, his grip on me tightening. “Ava, you’re here. It’s a sign, right? We can start over. We can be together again.”
His words broke through the fog of worry that had clouded my judgment. I gently disentangled myself from his grasp, my voice firm. “Liam, it’s over between us. Stop this.”
He looked at me, his eyes filled with pain. “You… you don’t mean that. Why did you come
then?”
