Chapter 6

Back at the penthouse, a framed photo sat on the coffee table—a family portrait of me, Liam, Aunt Catherine, and Uncle Richard taken at our college graduation.

Amber had knocked it over and shattered the glass a few days ago, and I hadn't had time to fix it.

I slipped the photo out of the broken frame, sighed, and tore off the section with my face on it.

"I'm sorry, Aunt Catherine. I guess I can't be your daughter-in-law in this lifetime."

I went to my room and started packing for Seattle.

I had a lot of belongings, but I only packed a few changes of clothes.

Once I finished, the penthouse felt suffocatingly quiet.

On the wall hung a photo of Liam and me when we were eighteen. The innocent boy in the photo was looking at me with eyes full of deep, genuine affection.

Suddenly, my phone rang. It was Liam.

My heart fluttered for a split second, thinking maybe he had found his conscience and was calling to check if I made it home safely.

I answered, only to be met with the heavy, breathless gasping of a man and a woman.

"Liam... do you love me, or that little blind girl?"

"You, baby. Always you."

Liam's voice was thick with lust. After they finished, he spoke in a low, lazy tone. "Babe, don't bring her up at times like this. I don't want her ruining our mood."

My heart shattered into dust. Forcing down my rage, I raised my voice. "Liam? Is that you?"

The other end went dead silent. A second later, the call was abruptly cut off.

The floor-to-ceiling window reflected my pathetic, desolate state.

How utterly wretched.

I didn't sleep a wink that night.

The next morning, I called Aunt Catherine to tell her I was leaving for Seattle.

She sounded shocked and confused, but then she remembered the suspicious noises she had heard during her call with Liam the day before.

Over the phone, she let out a heavy sigh, sounding as if she was on the verge of tears.

I declined her offer to send me off, grabbed my suitcase, and took a cab to the airport.

Before boarding, I sent Liam one last Snapchat.

[No one will ever ruin your mood again.]

I forwarded all the Snapchat videos and chat logs I had saved to his account, blocked and deleted him, and switched off my phone.