The Ex Who Became My Boyfriend's Boss

Lily's pov: "Still looking at it?" Liam asked. I glance down at the silver bracelet wrapped around my wrist. "It is pretty," I admit. "Pretty, yes,” his lips curved into a smile. “But not as beautiful as the Lily I'm looking at.” A laugh escapes me “You know, no matter how many times you say things like that, my heart still isn't used to it.” "I guess I should do it everyday then," says Liam. "Always a teaser," I laughed again. His fingers brushed against mine across the table. The simple gesture warms my chest more than anything at that moment. Liam had a way of making me feel special without even trying. Maybe that's why I fell for him. Three years ago, I never thought I'd be celebrating an anniversary with another man. Before Liam, there was Brett. We spent four years building a future together. I loved him with everything I had, and I believed he loved me just as much. Then, one day....everything changed. Brett stopped answering my calls, he ignored my messages. At first, I thought he was busy. Then I convinced myself something terrible had happened to him. I waited. I searched for him, I hoped.... until I found out one day that Brett had left for Switzerland and he was never coming back. And as if that wasn't enough, rumors about him began to spread. It shattered everything I knew about him. Moving on wasn't easy, it took me two years to stop loving him, two years to stop believing he'd ever come back to me with an explanation. By the third year, I was finally rebuilding my life. That's when Liam came into my life. He works as a driver, earning an honest living behind the wheel. He isn't rich and he never pretended to be. What he lacked in money, he made up with kindness, patience and the ability to make me smile on my worst days. He never tried to compete with my past. He simply gave me reason to believe that my future could still be beautiful, and somehow I fell completely in love with him. For the first time in years, I wasn't haunted by unanswered questions or memories I couldn't escape. My future no longer felt uncertain, it felt real. Peace had quietly found its way back into my heart, and I believed nothing could ever take that away from me again. Today marks one year together, one year of choosing each other and one year of happiness and as Liam reaches across the table and squeezes my hand, I couldn't help but think everything has finally fallen into place. The dinner was simple and nothing about it seemed extravagant at all, but somehow, that made it perfect. Dinner ended far too quickly, maybe it was because I was enjoying myself or maybe Liam has a way of making time disappear whenever he’s around. As we stepped out of the restaurant, he reached for my hand, like he always does, naturally. The cool night breeze brushed against my skin as we walked through the streets together, none of us seemed eager to go home. “So” Liam ran a hand through his dark hair and smiled. “Did I pass the anniversary test?” “Anniversary test” “Every boyfriend has one,” he says. “Be honest, so I can improve more.” I brush a blonde curl away from my face and look at him. “And what happens if you fail?” He sighs dramatically. “Then I spend my life wondering what went wrong.” “I pretended not to think. “You passed.” “Just passed” “With distinction, happy now. You officially passed with highest honors.” “Well… that's what I'd like to hear. In fact, I expected that exact response.” He placed a hand over his chest and let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "I was worried I'd have to appeal the results," he said. "Good thing the judge is merciful." I laugh harder. Then he looked at me, the teasing disappeared from his voice, and suddenly he sounded more serious. “You know this has been my favorite year, right? I smile. “Because of me?” “Mostly” “Mostly?” I asked. “What do you mean, mostly?” “Well, in all honesty, the food also helped.” I hit his arm lightly. He laughs before taking my hand again. “I'm kidding,” his expression softens. ”It was because of you. Just you”. “You've made my life better, Lily.” My heart skipped. “Liam…” “I'm serious,” he continued, his thumb brushed under my knuckles and then he removed his finger. I inhaled “There are days when everything goes wrong, then I talk to you” I swallowed “And somehow things don't seem so bad anymore.” He paused. Then, he says “I love you Lily” “I love you too.” Then we shared a brief kiss. For a brief moment, the rest of the world faded into the background. It felt like nothing could disturb the happiness we found together. I truly believed the hardest chapter of my life was finally over. I was so busy looking at Liam that I almost didn't notice the man on a dark suit, standing a few feet away near the curb. A phone pressed against his ear, a dark suitcase beside him. "Yeah, I just landed," he said. The voice sent an old chill through me, it sounded so familiar. "I arrived in Britain an hour ago" My steps slowed. Liam notices immediately. "Are you okay?" I nodded, but my eyes had drifted back to the stranger. He ended the call, picked up the suitcase. Then he slowly turns around. Time stops. My heart sank immediately. It was like everything had disappeared for a moment. The city, the traffic, the lights, the people, even Liam. All gone. Because after three years, after every unanswered text, after every sleepless night and every tear, I cried, trying to forget him. The stranger lifts his head. And I found myself staring into the eyes of the one man I had never truly gotten over. Brett.