Chapter 4
1042 Words
Since that debate competition, my relationship with Liam grew naturally, like a plant nurtured by sunlight and rain. Together, we studied in the library and discussed the boundaries of art and law at the campus café. He would accompany me to art supply stores, and I would sit in on his headache-inducing Contract Law Courses.
He was unlike any boy I had ever met. Intelligent but not arrogant, confident yet humble and polite.
Most importantly, in his world, everything was clear, bright, and orderly.
Being with him made me feel safe, respected.
On a drizzly Friday after class, I stood under the eaves of the teaching building, staring at the rain that blurred
the world around me, feeling a tinge of helplessness.
“Waiting for the rain to stop?”
A familiar voice came from behind. I turned around to see Liam holding a black umbrella, smiling as he
approached me. Raindrops had soaked his shoulders, but he didn’t seem to care.
“Yeah,” I shrugged helplessly, “Looks like I’m stuck here for a while.”
“That won’t do,” he said, stepping beside me. Raising the umbrella high, he covered both of us, creating a
small world just for us. “I was just about to head to a nearby restaurant. They’re famous for their rotisserie
chicken. Care to join me, Ms. Stuart?”
His invitation was formal yet tinged with a playful charm, making it hard to refuse.
The restaurant was elegant, its décor enhanced by oil paintings and soft lavender lighting, creating an
atmospheric feeling.
We sat across from each other, sharing stories from our childhoods.
Outside, the rain drizzled rhythmically, while inside, the air was warm and comforting.
“Try this,” Liam said, placing a piece of their signature rotisserie chicken onto my plate with a serving spoon. “It’s their specialty, and it tastes amazing.”
I took a small bite. The crispy skin and tender meat were so delicious that I couldn’t help but praise, “This is amazing!”
We enjoyed our meal, chatting happily. I felt like a bird freed from its cage, finally able to breathe freely. I
almost forgot about the man named Alexander Warren and the shadow he cast over me.
But just then, I felt a piercing gaze, sharp and unavoidable, like a needle pressing into my back.
My smile froze instantly.
Instinctively, I lifted my head and looked past Liam’s shoulder toward the diagonal corner of the restaurant.
There, in a corner booth by the window, Alexander Warren sat casually.
Dressed in a black casual suit, he appeared less formal but carried an air of dangerous nonchalance.
Across from him was an incredibly glamorous woman, her wavy hair cascading down her shoulders, and her full lips unmistakably familiar. I recognized her as his third ex-wife, a famous model.
Our eyes met.
He didn’t smile. His expression was blank as he simply stared at me.
That gaze made me extremely uncomfortable, as if I were an object he owned, temporarily taken by someone
else to toy with.
The woman beside him seemed to be saying something, but he wasn’t listening at all. His entire focus was on me.
I quickly looked down, my heart pounding uncontrollably. Why was he here? Could this be a coincidence?
“What’s wrong?” Liam noticed my unease and asked with concern.
“Nothing,” I forced a smile. “I’m almost done eating.”
“Alright, I’ll go settle the bill.” Liam didn’t press further and walked to the cashier.
I didn’t dare look up again, but I could feel that icy gaze never shifting away. Only when Liam and I left the
restaurant side by side did the oppressive pressure finally ease a little.
“Shall we take a walk in the park up ahead?” Liam suggested. By then, the rain had stopped.
“Sure.” I needed the fresh air to calm my nerves.
We entered the park, strolling along the damp paths left by the rain.
Suddenly, Liam stopped, gazing deeply into my eyes. In a soft voice, he said, “Ellia, there’s something I want
to tell you.”
Curious, I looked at him, waiting for him to continue.
He took a deep breath, his eyes sincere yet slightly nervous. “Actually, from the moment I first saw you, I liked you. I know this might seem sudden, but I don’t want to miss the chance. Will you be my girlfriend?”
My heart skipped a beat, unsure how to respond.
I stared into Liam’s clear, earnest eyes, feeling his genuine emotions.
He embodied everything I longed for: normalcy, brightness, and pure love.
Yet, in that moment of hesitation, another pair of eyes flashed through my mind—Alexander’s cold, possessive eyes.
A thought crystallized in my mind: I must choose light.
I smiled and nodded firmly. “I will, Liam.”
Liam’s face lit up with joy, and he hugged me tightly. In his warm and safe embrace, I felt a fleeting sense of
solace.
However, as we embraced, I caught a glimpse by chance—a black Bentley parked silently by the park’s entrance. It was the same car I had seen at Aunt Carol’s house,
and it belonged to Alexander.
A chill ran through my blood instantly.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, at a family gathering at Aunt Carol’s house, I overheard a
conversation between my uncle-in-law and his brother.
“Alexander is dead set this time.”
“For that woman named Anna? Didn’t she take a knife for him? That should count for something.”
“Gratitude?” My uncle-in-law scoffed. “In his eyes, there’s only profit. Anna can’t have children anymore, so she’s useless to him. I
heard he’s already instructed his lawyers to prepare an agreement—money to make her disappear for good.”
Hiding behind the door, I covered my mouth, stifling my shock.
Anna was Alexander’s first wife.
The woman I had heard of, who had bravely taken a life-threatening blow for him, was now being discarded coldly with a sum of money.
Leaning against the cold wall, I felt a bone-chilling sense of despair.
That man was utterly heartless.
- Writer
