1.
Liam Caldwell had consumed my thoughts for six years. We reunited at Oxford’s grand 100-year alumni reunion.
By then, I was gaunt and ill, and he couldn’t recognize the ghost of the girl I once was.
He, too, had a beautiful woman by his side.
My classmates started teasing, dragging me over to toast him.
Liam instinctively recoiled, a sneer twisting his lips:
“God, what trash are they letting in now? Don’t want to catch whatever she’s got.”
He only knew I had abandoned him six years ago.
He didn’t know that on that very day, I went to prison for him.
Oxford’s 100-year alumni reunion. The organizers had spared no expense, inviting all the successful elites.
The event caused quite a stir, even trending on the city’s social media.
When I received the invitation, I was baffled. Weren’t they only inviting accomplished individuals from all walks of life?
A loser like me, who had served time, hardly qualified…
But thinking of that secret wish in my heart, despite my hesitation, I put on a white shirt with dark green slacks, tidied myself up, and headed to the venue.
Stepping into the grand hall, it was filled with successful people, toasting and chatting.
Even the air hummed with the scent of money and power.
A cold dread settled in my stomach. I shouldn’t have come.
But then I remembered I’d finally see him, and all my unease transformed into a burning longing in my eyes.
I looked up and immediately spotted Liam Caldwell.
His tailored suit and glasses made him look more composed, his eyes devoid of the youthful awkwardness from years ago.
He exuded the aura of a successful elite in his conversations.
In that instant, my heart hammered against my ribs, a tiny, bitter ache blooming in my chest.
It took me a long moment to force myself to look away.
I stood there, wavering, filled with anxiety.
I wanted to approach him but didn’t dare, only stealing glances occasionally.
The next second, a classmate dragged me over directly:
“Look who it is! Isn’t this Aria Hayes, our high school’s ‘it’ girl? Where have you been all these years? Why did you just disappear?”
“We asked everyone, but no one knew which college you went to…”
“Don’t tell me you became a stay-at-home wife?”
My classmates barraged me with questions, but I couldn’t utter a word.
The surrounding crowd turned, their gazes sharp, scrutinizing the woman before them as if she were a joke.
My half-worn shirt, faded slacks, and scuffed shoes.
Over the years, I had learned to accept such scorn and disdain.
The only thing I found unbearable was Liam’s ice-cold stare, like a chilling blade meant to pierce through me.
A slight curve of his lips—a blatant sneer.
“I mean, Oxford is a top international university, how did a beggar like this sneak in?”
“Are those clothes from a street vendor? Don’t you worry about dirtying the floor?”
“This reunion is for celebrities. Did you steal your invitation or something?”
Brooke Kingston, standing beside Liam, spoke with a harshness that made me want to lash out.
We were in the same class once; pretending not to know me was one thing.
I didn’t understand why Brooke was barking at me like a rabid dog.
Lost in thought, Liam Caldwell scoffed from the side:
“I came here today only to see old classmates. Unrelated people should just stay away. Frankly, I’m afraid of catching something contagious.”
As he spoke, he cautiously retreated a few steps, as if a mere glance from me could infect him with some illness.
Some of our former classmates exchanged puzzled looks.
They couldn’t understand why two people who were once inseparable had suddenly become so distant and repulsed by each other.
Back then, they were the campus’s recognized power couple.
I lowered my eyes, silent for a long time.
My hands were clenched tightly behind my back, and my ears buzzed with snippets of conversations:
“If I were Liam Caldwell, I’d choose Brooke Kingston too. One’s an heiress, the other can’t even afford food. Any idiot knows how to choose.”
“Aria Hayes used to be the prom queen, but look at her now, living like a stray. Her shoes are practically falling apart.”
“If I were her, I’d become a kept woman. With that face, she could easily rake in a fortune… It’s not pretty, but it’s quick money.”
“That was *before*! Now that she’s been in trouble, even had a body count, who would want her?”
The voices of the crowd flooded my ears.
Suddenly, I felt stripped bare, exposed to everyone’s comments.
Every word, laced with venom, carried the familiar coldness and contempt I should have been accustomed to.
My face paled. Just as I was about to turn and leave, someone grabbed my arm.
I turned to see Brooke Kingston approaching with a glass of wine, a triumphant smile on her face.
“Tsk, tsk! So pathetic! You’re like a roach now, even *I* feel sorry for you.”
“Stop pretending. You’ve achieved your goal.”
I lifted my eyelids.
“Then why are you still here? Aren’t you just asking for it?”
Brooke laughed triumphantly.
Then, as if remembering something, she raised an eyebrow and sneered:
“Are you hoping to play the victim and get Liam’s pity? Don’t dream about it! He’s mine now!”
She stepped closer in her heels, leaning in with a malicious grin:
“Ha! He always helped you before. This time, who do you think he’ll help?”
***
### 截断点
2.
The moment she finished speaking, she slapped her thigh hard, let out a piercing shriek, then clutched her face and staggered back, faking being attacked.
Even after all my experiences in prison, seeing all sorts of conniving people, I had to admit Brooke’s performance was breathtakingly good.
Before I could say anything, Liam Caldwell rushed over, his previously cold eyes now filled with concern.
His gaze trembled, and his voice softened:
“Brooke, who hit you? Does it hurt?”
Brooke remained silent, her eyes welling up, accusingly fixed on me.
Following her gaze, Liam’s expression hardened, and his voice turned to ice:
“Aria Hayes, what the hell is wrong with you?”
“Don’t think for a second that these pathetic tricks will make me look at you twice.”
“I must have been blind back then. Now, you’re not even fit to clean my shoes!”
“I’m warning you! If you go near Brooke again, I’ll make sure you regret it!”
People truly are fickle. One moment he was full of tenderness for Brooke, the next he was glaring at me with fury.
But I hadn’t done anything.
If he just looked closely, he’d see her face was perfectly clear, no redness, no handprint.
But he didn’t. He condemned me without a second thought.
I habitually picked at the edge of my fingernail, a small comfort that helped ease the gnawing pain in my heart.
Six years ago, Liam’s trust had been for me.
Six years later, his trust belonged to someone else.
I smiled silently, nodding slightly.
My submission seemed to momentarily startle Liam. A few seconds later, he understood and his brows furrowed even tighter.
“Don’t think that pathetic act will fool me.”
“You’re one thing to my face and another behind my back. You can trick others, but not me. If you dare hurt her again, I’ll break one of your hands.”
The surrounding sounds seemed to vanish, leaving only his cruel, heartless words.
Mixed with the onlookers’ gawking expressions, they felt like a whip lashing my face, stinging fiercely.
He used to fuss for half an hour if I merely scraped my knee on a bike.
Now, a baseless accusation was enough for him to threaten to break my hand.
It turned out six years really could change everything.
I was no longer the proud woman I once was.
And he had finally become the man he aspired to be.
Brooke was utterly satisfied with Liam’s reaction. Still clutching her face and feigning pain, she continued to provoke me with her eyes.
When I first got out of prison, I thought nothing could hurt me anymore.
Today, I realized I was wrong.
The only person who could truly wound me was the man standing before me.
The man I had thought of for two thousand days and nights, whose face I’d trace in my mind whenever I couldn’t sleep.
I had re-read his college notes countless times, the edges of the notebooks frayed and worn from daily handling.
I had imagined our reunion in many ways, but never like this.
I met his gaze directly, a faint smile on my lips:
“I hear you, Mr. Caldwell. Don’t worry, as long as your dog doesn’t bite, no one’s foolish enough to go looking for trouble.”
“Aria Hayes, what do you mean? Are you calling me a dog?!”
Brooke demanded, furious, dropping her hands from her face in her haste.
“I didn’t say it was you, but I can’t stop you from claiming it! Some people, even in human skin, aren’t truly human.”
“You…”
“Enough!”
Brooke was about to retort further but was cut off by Liam’s sharp command. He sighed indulgently:
“Alright, Brooke, let’s not waste our time here. The dean is looking for me… I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
His deliberately lowered tone and eyes smoldering with desire made Brooke blush instantly, and she melted into his embrace.
They walked past me, arms around each other, heading towards the dean’s office.
Some familiar classmates came up to say hello, and I smiled and responded as usual.
But as I turned away, the smile slowly faded from my face.
Just then, my best friend Maya Davis called. The moment I answered, her excited voice rang out:
“Did you see Liam Caldwell? Did you explain everything to him face-to-face?”
“Don’t worry too much. Given how he used to feel about you, I’m sure you two will reconcile once the misunderstanding is cleared…”
The sunlight outside was blindingly bright.
I shielded my eyes, feeling a pang of discomfort. I didn’t know how to tell Maya.
“Aria, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?”
“Listen to me, you need to go talk to him. Whatever the outcome, we can’t have regrets…”
My steps faltered. This was precisely the reason I’d come, despite knowing the invitation felt off.
But now, was there any point in finding him?
I wasn’t sure, but my feet seemed to have a mind of their own, leading me directly towards the office.
3.
As I approached, I softened my steps. The old dean’s booming voice carried through the door:
“Liam, the next time we meet will be at your wedding with Brooke. I hear you’re planning a grand ceremony for her, the whole alumni network is buzzing about it! I wish you a long and happy life together, filled with joy and children!”
“As long as Brooke is happy, Dean. You must come to the wedding!”
“Dean, you absolutely have to be there!”
Liam’s voice was as steady as ever, but Brooke’s was laced with the sweetness of an expectant bride.
Hearing this, I felt that the misunderstanding from six years ago, whether explained or not, no longer mattered.
The summer cicadas buzzed relentlessly, making my head spin. I had to lean against the corridor wall to walk steadily.
As I walked, something dripped from my face.
One after another, tears fell into the air.
I reached up and wiped my face, realizing my hands were wet with tears.
I had never intended to start a teenage romance in high school.
Just surviving took all my strength, but then I met Liam Caldwell.
For three years, as desk mates, he filled my dark world with light through his meticulous care.
I was overjoyed, yet terrified.
Afraid that happiness would be too fleeting.
Until that blood-stained summer after high school, when the beautiful dream was shattered by reality.
My drunk stepfather tried to assault me. In the struggle, my mother was knocked unconscious.
Liam, who had rushed over, in a panic, accidentally plunged a knife into my stepfather.
At that moment, he tried desperately to hide his fear:
“Aria, my family has connections overseas. We can disappear, no one will find us. My mom can fix this…”
My eyes were full of tears, and I looked desperately at the boy’s slender yet resolute back.
I softly comforted him:
“Okay! Okay! I promise, we’ll go!”
After a long moment, I forced myself to compose, then calmly instructed him:
“Liam, go back quickly and pack your documents and luggage, book your flight. We’ll meet at the airport later.”
Liam, unsuspecting, turned and left.
Behind him, where he couldn’t see, I dialed Mrs. Caldwell’s number:
“Mrs. Caldwell, you were right. Liam and I really aren’t a match…”
Later, Liam waited at the airport until dusk but I never showed up.
Only a few sparse words from me:
“Liam Caldwell, I don’t want to go live a hard life overseas with you. Go by yourself.”
Just as he was about to turn back to find me, his family dragged him onto the plane.
That same night, I was sent to prison.
Dazed, I stumbled out of the reunion venue, and my mother’s rehab facility called again:
“Ms. Hayes, your mother’s medical bill for this month is due. It’s already five days overdue…”
“Okay! I’ll pay it as soon as possible. Please, just give me a few more days…”
I uttered these pleas almost every month, and the nurses at the facility were practically numb to them.
The money Mrs. Caldwell initially gave me had all gone to the medical facility during my time in prison.
My mother’s life was sustained by expensive medications every day. No matter the cost, I never considered giving up.
I had already lost everything.
I couldn’t lose my mother too.
Two years ago, after being released from prison, I found it incredibly difficult to find work due to my criminal record and lack of a college education.
I could only work as an inn manager at a small boutique inn while taking on odd jobs. But even with that, the money wasn’t enough to cover living expenses.
I smiled ironically.
I didn’t know if I was mocking my own uselessness or the hopes I had before coming here.
My gaze drifted over a large billboard by the road, and I stopped, staring at it for a long time.
A moment later, I swallowed my inner turmoil and dialed the phone number listed.
That night, I used my looks to get a job as a server at The Onyx Club.
Half an hour later, seeing Liam Caldwell and his group, all suited up, I immediately regretted it.
I could be looked down on by anyone.
But I absolutely didn’t want him to look down on me.
Perhaps it was their last pre-wedding bash.
Brooke, dressed in barely-there clothing, sat directly on Liam’s lap, her slender fingers tracing suggestive circles on his body.
The club lights were dim, obscuring their expressions.
Whether the air conditioning was too hot or for some other reason, Liam frantically loosened his tie, his other hand pressed tightly against Brooke’s waist.
Even from a distance, I could hear Brooke purring as she kissed Liam’s neck:
“Just two more days until we’re married. How do you want to play tonight?”
Liam didn’t immediately respond. As if noticing he was being watched, he shot a cold glare towards the bar.
I glanced over, then quickly lowered my head. But my hand slipped, and the glass crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.
The next second, Brooke raised an eyebrow, arms crossed, and walked towards me, still radiating that arrogant demeanor.
“Just today, a classmate suggested you become a kept woman, and you immediately went for it?”
“So impatient? Couldn’t even wait a single night?”
4.
At that moment, several people behind her also crowded around, asking indifferently:
“Brooke, who is this person? Do you know her?”
Brooke glanced at Liam. Seeing his expression unchanged, she sneered and replied:
“Know her? Of course I do! This, everyone, is Liam’s high school sweetheart!”
“You’re all friends, so go ahead and get acquainted!”
A chorus of laughter erupted.
I ignored them, my eyes downcast, picking up the glass shards from the floor.
“I’m talking to you. Why aren’t you speaking?”
Brooke didn’t like being ignored, especially not by me. In her fury, she suddenly shoved me.
Half-squatting, I was pushed violently to the ground, my palms landing squarely on the shattered glass.
“Ah—!”
Excruciating pain shot through me, and I couldn’t help but cry out. Bright red blood dripped onto the floor.
Liam’s eyes narrowed slightly, a fleeting spark of something unreadable in them before they settled back into an unreadable coldness.
The bar was noisy, but the mocking and taunting voices of the crowd still drilled into my ears, every word.
“She’s so desperate, she must be broke. Why don’t you be generous, Brooke, and give her some money?”
“People will say you’re a forgiving and magnanimous current girlfriend!”
At this, everyone burst into laughter again.
Their contemptuous stares, mixed with the dim light, pricked me like needles.
Brooke didn’t reply, but the triumph in her smile was impossible to suppress.
Liam tilted his head, as if a thought had struck him, and suddenly spoke:
“You said you didn’t want to go overseas and suffer with me. Was it just to live this ‘good life’ domestically?”
He emphasized the words “good life” at the end of his sentence.
Before I could answer, Liam added:
“This life might not be great, but it really suits you. After all, your mother used to serve drinks in a bar too…”
The surrounding noise abruptly ceased. After a moment, it resumed its clamor.
“I heard this woman was so trashy. Turns out it runs in the family, inherited from her trashy mom…”
“How could Liam Caldwell have ever fallen for such a woman? She must have won the lottery in a past life.”
“But this trash didn’t appreciate it and dumped Liam. Now look at her, she deserves this!”
The words “trashy,” “slutty,” and similar insults echoed in my ears, but my world seemed to have hit a mute button. I only heard Liam Caldwell’s last sentence.
I looked up in disbelief, my gaunt face framed by wide, red-rimmed eyes.
At this point, I couldn’t distinguish whether my trembling was from his words or the pain in my palms.
Six years ago, I had a high fever in the pouring rain, and he carried me for thirty minutes, crying, begging me not to die.
Six years later, he stood with his fiancée, stripping away my dignity, allowing me to be publicly humiliated.
In a daze, icy liquid mixed with ice cubes rained down on me.
One cup after another, red as blood, they shattered against me, sending glass shards flying.
The metallic tang of blood mingled with the rich aroma of alcohol, creating a suffocating net that choked me.
Pain spread through my heart, and I gasped for breath.
My chest rose and fell rapidly, as if I were back in prison, being bullied for the first time.
The difference was, back then, others hurt me, and I still held a sliver of hope.
Now, the very source of that hope was hurting me, and he was slowly fading in my heart.
I remained silent, my pale lips bitten raw.
I slowly rose, leaning on the bar.
A flicker of malicious satisfaction crossed Liam’s eyes, and his lips curved slightly:
“You used to be quite outspoken, why are you so quiet now?”
“Because…”
I looked directly at him:
“My time is precious. If you want to talk to me, it’ll cost you.”
Brooke scoffed, and a round of mocking whistles filled the air.
Liam’s eyes darkened, and he nodded slowly:
“Fine! If you kneel down and clean everyone’s shoes, I’ll give you a million dollars.”
5.
With that, he flung his arm, and a black card hit my face with a sharp sting.
But compared to the ache in my heart, it was nothing.
“Come on, I keep my word. Clean the shoes, and this million is yours!”
His face glowed with a triumphant smile, a stark contrast to my trembling pallor.
I desperately wanted to ask, *Liam Caldwell, do you hate me that much?*
But my gaze fell on the blood-stained black card.
Thinking of my mother’s crushing medical bills, the words died in my throat.
Whatever.
As long as he was happy.
Everyone in this section had fallen silent at some point, craning their necks to watch the spectacle.
“Mr. Caldwell, you’ll need to sign a document proving this money is mine and cannot be reclaimed by any means later.”
My voice was flat, devoid of emotion.
Liam, enraged, laughed humorlessly, his eyes filled with bone-chilling coldness.
After a long moment, he bared his teeth, squeezing out a gritted-teeth reply:
“Fine!”
With that, I limped over to him and knelt directly.
I picked up a dry cloth to clean his shoes. In the profound silence, the sound of dripping blood seemed amplified.
Drip by drip, it splattered on the floor, blossoming into tiny crimson flowers.
It was as if I’d forgotten the wound on my hand, forgotten the pain. I just mechanically repeated the motion of cleaning shoes.
Everyone lined up, and I didn’t even need to stand. I just stayed on my knees, working.
One after another, the bright red blood gradually turned a dark, bruised purple.
Everyone’s faces were twisted in sarcastic smiles, except for Liam’s, which was as dark as impenetrable ink.
Another person stepped forward. Just as I was about to bend down again, he abruptly stopped me.
“Stop cleaning! The money on the card is yours!”
I acted as if I hadn’t heard him, my face blank, ignoring him.
Liam suddenly exploded in rage, his eyes bloodshot:
“I said! Stop cleaning! Are you deaf?!”
Looking at his face, a mix of shock and fury, I felt a strange curiosity. He was the one who forced me to my knees.
Why was he unhappy now?
I suddenly smiled, replying:
“I have to. I need the money.”
The man furiously shoved me to the ground, roaring, his eyes bulging:
“Money! Money! Is that all you care about?!”
My body felt like it was breaking apart, my knees scraped and bleeding.
I mocked myself internally. This money was certainly not easy to earn. But I slowly picked myself up.
Just as I was about to kneel again, Liam, looking like a madman, his face twitching, let out an animalistic growl:
“Get out! Take the card! Get out of here!”
I shakily got to my feet, glanced at the man with the shattered expression, and carefully tucked the blood-stained black card into my pocket.
Before I fainted, I saw Maya’s tear-streaked, anxious face.
I woke up again in a hospital. The wounds on my knees and palms had been properly treated.
Maya, her eyes red and swollen, was sitting nearby, tidying the bedding.
Seeing my eyes open, her first reaction was joy.
Then her pretty face immediately fell:
“Aria, if you needed money, you could have told me. How could you…”
“They were too cruel…”
Before she could finish, Maya’s voice caught in her throat, and her shoulders began to tremble with sobs.
My lips twitched, and I sighed inwardly.
I knew my mother’s rehab expenses would be a black hole. My own life seemed hopeless, but I couldn’t drag down my only friend.
Maya had already helped me too much.
I raised my bandaged hand, wiped away her tears, and forced a smile:
“Maya, I’m fine…”
“See, Mom’s medical bills for the next two years are covered. The rehab facility won’t bother us anymore…”
“There’s even a little left over. Enough to get you a beautiful wedding dress…”
By the end, my pale lips trailed off, and my eyes held a shattered look.
Maya’s heart ached seeing me covered in wounds, trying to smile through tears.
But she didn’t dare cry in front of me.
She pretended something was in her eye, turned away, and silently wiped her tears.
I didn’t expose her, just waited quietly. A moment later, Maya composed herself and turned back around.
“Maya, could you go to the rehab facility for me? The nurses must be getting impatient.”
I handed her the black card.
Maya didn’t immediately take the card. Instead, she asked:
“You didn’t tell Liam Caldwell, did you?”
A bitter smile touched my lips.
“At this point, it doesn’t matter whether I tell him or not, Maya. It’s truly over between us…”
“Why?! If you just tell him, he’ll understand! He’ll love you again!”
Maya’s eyes turned red with urgency, her knuckles white from clenching her hands.
“But I don’t want him to.”
I slowly turned my head, my eyes blazed with a fierce determination. My voice, though dry and hoarse, carried an unshakeable resolve.
“I don’t want his guilt, his amends, or his pity.”
“Everything between us ended last night.”
6.
“But…”
Maya still wanted to say something.
But I interrupted her:
“Maya, I’m hungry… I really want your homemade soup. Please, make it for me.”
My pale, frail, and pitiful appearance made Maya’s heart ache, and she immediately called the grocery store to order ingredients.
Once Maya’s silhouette disappeared, the smile slowly faded from my face.
A moment later, a nurse instructed me to go upstairs to pick up my lab results.
As I took two steps up the stairs, I heard a familiar male voice from a room:
“Brooke, are you feeling better? If this hospital isn’t good enough, I’ll send you to another one.”
Liam pulled her close, his stubbled chin rubbing against her cheek with an indulgence that was both familiar and alien to me.
It was familiar because he had shown me such tenderness six years ago.
It was alien because I had never experienced such deep, ingrained indulgence from him.
I had made my decision. I had said I’d let go.
But seeing this, my heart wrenched, and an uncontrollable ache spread through my entire body.
I slowly placed a hand over my chest, biting my lip tightly.
“Liam, did we get too carried away last night? It was all my prank, I’ll apologize to Aria Hayes later, okay?”
Brooke said this, but her eyes were fixed on Liam, taking in his every expression.
Liam frowned, a little perplexed:
“Why apologize? She deserved it!”
“Besides, I already gave her money.”
“She’d have to let how many men touch her to earn that million dollars?!”
The hallway was noisy, full of footsteps coming and going.
But Liam’s voice cut through everything, falling clearly into my ears, even his indifferent tone.
Tears welled in my eyes, and finally, unable to hold them back, they streamed down my face.
The hand clutching my chest gently covered my mouth, veins bulging on the back of my hand, an uncontrollable tremor evident.
His answer seemed to please Brooke.
She leaned in and kissed his lips.
Soon, soft moans and his ragged breaths could be heard from the hospital room.
I closed my eyes, leaning against the wall, and stumbled away.
That afternoon, when the doctor said there were no other major issues, I took advantage of Maya’s trip to the rehab facility to discharge myself.
As I carried my luggage through the corridor, I overheard the nurses at the station discussing:
“Mr. Caldwell is truly the best man in the world! He not only booked the entire floor for Ms. Kingston but also put aside millions in business to stay by her bedside every day, feeding her fruit and washing her feet!”
“Exactly! What’s even crazier is that Ms. Kingston isn’t even seriously ill, she just threw up last night…”
“Speaking of which, poor Ms. Hayes downstairs was brought in covered in wounds and had no one by her side…”
Aria gave a bitter laugh, her chest feeling clogged with a mouthful of bitter gall, dense and suffocating.
Stepping out of the hospital, I took a long look at the floor Liam Caldwell had booked.
My eyes flickered with emotion, eventually dissolving into a soft sigh. Then I resolutely turned away.
Back at my rented apartment, the air was filled with the comforting aroma of chicken soup.
The chill I felt seemed to be suppressed by the room’s warmth and scent.
I put down my luggage and quickly reheated the soup in the kitchen.
Then I went to the bedroom and pulled out a dusty cardboard box from under the bed.
After staring at it for a long time, I finally uncovered it and took out the contents one by one.
The first item was a collection of corrected exam questions, meticulously copied by Liam. Back then, my stepfather always caused trouble at home, distracting me, so my test scores were poor. He had frantically tutored me.
The second item was a thermos lunchbox Liam had given me. School lunches were expensive, so I never ate there. I’d prepare my meals and bring them to school every day, and he specifically gave me the lunchbox so I could have a warm meal.
The third item was a small white dress Liam had given me. That summer, he said he wanted to see me in a white dress, but I was always covered in bruises, so I never dared to wear it. He thought I was just shy and even got annoyed.
The fourth item…
One by one, the items were placed into a metal basin, where the flames licked and consumed them, turning them to ash.
Along with them went the indelible past and the agonizing, soul-deep love that had consumed my days and nights.
When Maya came home, all she saw was a pile of ashes and an empty cardboard box.
Dusk fell. I huddled in a corner, knees drawn to my chest, the cramped room swallowed by a deafening silence.
Maya pressed her lips together, asked nothing, just held me close, murmuring, “It’ll be okay.”
7.
With the financial pressure temporarily eased, I returned to the inn after my injuries healed.
One day, the manager called, saying some VIP guests had booked the entire place, and I needed to quickly get everyone to clean up.
I didn’t dare delay. After a flurry of activity, the continuous sound of car engines reached the front door.
I looked up and saw Liam Caldwell swaggering in, arm-in-arm with Brooke Kingston.
Seeing me, Brooke gave a snarky laugh:
“Why are you always a persistent ghost? Don’t tell me you knew Liam was going to propose to me and deliberately stalked us here?”
Liam said nothing, just tilted his head, scrutinizing me.
I didn’t want to cause any trouble, nor did I want to lose my only means of survival.
I could only speak in a hushed tone:
“Ms. Kingston, you’re joking. I’m the inn manager here. I wish you both a happy, long-lasting marriage.”
Brooke burst out laughing at my words.
Liam, on the other hand, his expression darkened, his eyes dark and unreadable, betraying no discernible thoughts.
“Liam? You were too rough last night. I can barely stand today… Anyway, you have to give me a massage later…”
Brooke’s fingers traced suggestive circles on Liam’s chest, but her eyes were fixed on me.
Liam scoffed, pulled her closer, and his fingers squeezed her backside.
He whispered into her ear:
“Don’t worry, I’ll massage you until you melt later…”
Their explicit flirting made several servers secretly blush, and even the friends following them couldn’t help but tease.
“Liam really knows how to have fun! He and Brooke have different moves every day. I hear she’s all sore…”
“Oh, you don’t know? Young love is about restraint; adult love is about passion.”
“They’ve gone through several bed frames…”
With that, this friend even turned to me and specifically instructed:
“Servers, make a note: Mr. Caldwell’s room needs a specially reinforced bed frame!”
Seeing me nod obediently, he gave a sarcastic laugh and strolled away.
Several married staff members immediately crowded around, whispering:
“Mr. Caldwell seems so refined, is he really that wild in bed?”
“Who knows? Ms. Kingston has a round and shapely backside. They must be wild in bed together…”
The whispers continued behind me, but I acted as if I hadn’t heard, keeping my head down and organizing their luggage.
That night, the inn was brightly lit, adorned with fireworks and balloons.
Champagne and wine bottles sparkled on the tables.
Liam Caldwell, in front of everyone, dropped to one knee, gazing deeply at Brooke Kingston.
“Brooke, thank you for overlooking my past and lifting me from my lowest point. Will you spend the rest of your life growing old with me?”
Brooke clutched her lips with both hands, too emotional to speak, just nodding repeatedly.
A chorus of shouts erupted: “Kiss her! Kiss her!”
Liam smiled and stood up, about to take out the engagement ring.
The next second, his smile froze, and his face darkened.
Brooke quietly asked:
“Liam, what’s wrong?”
He shook his head, his face filled with annoyance:
“The custom-made ring is gone…”
Everyone’s expressions changed, and they bent down to help search. Just then, Brooke looked at me with ill intent.
“Aria Hayes, was it you?”
“You acted indifferent during the day, but then secretly stole our engagement ring?”
I instinctively retorted:
“I didn’t! Stop making baseless accusations!”
“Ridiculous! A prominent socialite like myself wouldn’t falsely accuse a server! Search her!”
Seeing the crowd closing in behind me, my face changed.
The humiliating flashbacks from prison flashed through my mind. I turned frantically, staring intently at my colleagues.
But they all shrunk back a step, unwilling to meet my gaze.
The manager even advised:
“Aria, why don’t you just put up with it and let them search you?”
At this, a snicker broke the silence.
A crushing sense of absurdity welled up in me, my heart pounded against my throat.
I struggled violently, the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, my vision blurring.
“Wait!”
Liam Caldwell’s voice was low.
Brooke’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of resentment crossing her face, but she still told the others to stop.
A faint flicker of light sparked in my deadened eyes. Just as I was about to thank him.
Liam had already walked closer, his eyes dark and intense, and then he spoke:
“I’ll do it!”
My breath hitched. The light that had just appeared in my eyes instantly dimmed. I took a step back, hissing:
“Don’t touch me!”
8.
Then, I raised my eyebrows, looking at Brooke Kingston, my eyes burning as I hissed:
“You search me!”
Liam’s lips thinned, and fury surged in his eyes.
Brooke, with a malicious grin, slowly walked over.
Pretending to search me, she pinched and prodded, deliberately torturing me.
I clenched my teeth, enduring it, but my trembling body and the glistening in my eyes betrayed my fear.
I stubbornly refused to lower my head, staring unblinkingly ahead.
Time ticked by, and the crowd gradually grew uneasy.
After a long while, Brooke, having had her fun, finally spoke with a laugh:
“The ring must be hidden. Lock her up for the night; she’ll confess tomorrow!”
Just then, a friend, worried things were going too far, quickly advised:
“Forget it, let’s just call the police. She doesn’t look like a thief.”
“What do you know! She’s a convicted felon with a record…”
With that, she turned to Liam, pretending to ask:
“Liam, what do you say?”
Liam’s face was complex.
His eyes flickered with conflict, disappointment, and contempt. Finally, all those emotions dissolved into a sigh:
“If she can steal once, she can steal again. Lock her up for now.”
“You have no right to confine me…”
Before I could finish, someone clamped a hand over my mouth, dragging me into a pitch-black storage room. Before leaving, they deliberately smashed the lightbulb.
“Let me out! I’m not a thief!” The door slammed shut. In that last instant, I saw Liam Caldwell’s cold, contemptuous face.
I kept pounding on the door, my knuckles numb even as wooden splinters pierced them.
Liam Caldwell’s detached voice came from outside:
“We’ll let you out when you confess.”
The footsteps gradually faded. I heard a colleague whisper:
“Manager, did Aria really go to jail? I can’t believe she’s a thief…”
“Whether she’s a thief or not, she really did go to jail…”
I fumbled my way to a corner and slowly slid down the wall.
The tears I’d held back for so long silently streamed down my face in the dark, one by one, disappearing into the cracks.
My heart felt like it was on fire, flames licking through my veins, consuming my entire body.
I was in agony, desperate, yet I couldn’t say a word.
My mother’s words echoed repeatedly in my mind:
“Aria, this is our fate…”
I shook my head vigorously, mumbling incoherently:
“No! I won’t surrender to fate! I won’t…”
For a long time, suppressed sobs filled the room, like a dying animal’s final wails.
I don’t know how much time passed when my phone suddenly vibrated, startling me awake from my drowsy state.
I glanced at the number and instantly sobered up. When I answered, the nurse’s voice came through:
“Ms. Hayes, your mother is feeling well today and wants to video chat with you.”
Ever since my mother suffered a head injury from my stepfather that night, she had been mostly disoriented for years, rarely having clear moments.
Hearing this, I eagerly agreed, “Yes, yes!”
Immediately, I scrambled up, banging on the door, shouting loudly:
“Let me out! Let me out!”
The only response was the bone-chilling air.
When the video call came, I quickly turned on my phone’s flashlight and answered.
Through the screen, my mother’s frail face appeared:
“Child, why is it so dark where you are? My eyes aren’t good; I can’t see you.”
I forced a smile, suppressing the tightness in my nose, and spoke:
“Mom, the power’s out here. It’s okay, I’m doing fine…”
“Good! As long as you’re well, you’re my biggest worry…”
“I’m really well. I even got a bonus this month…”
We spoke across the screen, one feigning comfort, the other feigning ease.
After a long while, I hung up the phone, and the smile on my face slowly faded.
The next day, just as I was about to use the last 1% of my phone’s battery to call 911, Maya’s call came through. The moment I answered, it was a heartbroken sob:
“Aria! Auntie’s gone…!”
“Gone?! What do you mean? Tell me clearly!” I roared back.
“She jumped!”
9.
The next second, my phone died and slid from my grasp, smashing onto the floor.
In that instant, my last pillar of support crumbled.
I felt like a hollowed-out shell, collapsing to the ground, utterly drained.
Remembering my mother’s frail, pale face, I struggled to my feet and rushed towards the door, kicking and pounding on it relentlessly.
“Let me out! Please, I beg you!”
I knelt on the floor, my fingers turned to claws, desperately scratching at the door, my voice filled with pleading and despair.
But there was still no movement outside the door, no sign of it opening.
Hot, fat tears streamed down my gaunt face, falling into my pale lips. I broke down in agonizing sobs.
“Ah—!”
“Open the door!”
“Open the door, quick!”
Just then, Brooke Kingston’s sneering voice came from outside:
“Want out? Fine! Tell the truth, did you steal the ring?”
“If you admit it, I’ll let you go!”
My body stiffened. A few seconds later, I suppressed the surging blood in my body, gritted my teeth, and spoke each word distinctly:
“I stole the ring, yes, I stole it! There, are you happy now? I’ll admit to anything you say! Please… let me out!”
At this, a resounding burst of mocking laughter erupted from outside the door.
“Since you’ve admitted to being a thief, just wait patiently to be taken to the police station!”
I heard her pick up the phone and dial 911:
“Hello, officer, we have a thief here. She stole my million-dollar ring. The address is…”
The conversation outside clearly reached my ears. I stood there, stunned, slowly sliding down the door.
My face was streaked with tears of despair.
I don’t know how much time passed before the door opened, and several police officers appeared.
I knelt directly, vigorously bowing my head to the ground to the newcomers, tears streaming down my face as I begged:
“My mom’s gone… Please, I beg you…”
Long periods of crying had made my voice hoarse, almost unable to speak.
One of the female officers helped me up, gently comforting me.
“Don’t rush, take your time.”
I gripped the woman’s hands tightly, choked back a sob, and spoke with almost all my remaining strength.
“My mom… she’s gone. Please, let me see her first…”
The officers’ expressions hardened. They exchanged glances, then helped me into their car.
Brooke exclaimed, “Hey!” wanting to stop them:
“Shouldn’t you take my statement first?”
“Ms. Kingston, that’s our business. No need for you to worry.”
Brooke was about to say more, but Liam Caldwell, who had just come downstairs, pulled her aside:
“What’s going on? Why all the commotion?”
A quick-witted friend in the crowd blurted out:
“The thief’s mom died, and she was making a scene wanting to leave. So, Ms. Kingston called the police and they took her away.”
Liam Caldwell’s movement of adjusting his cuffs froze. He turned around, his face full of shock.
“Her mom died?”
Brooke tried to cover it up, but it was too late. The friend had already blurted out the answer.
“Yes! She’s been crying and making a fuss all morning!”
Liam Caldwell’s face instantly turned ashen. Without even straightening his coat, he rushed out like a whirlwind.
All the way, I cried silently, radiating a profound deadness.
After an unknown period, the car stopped at the rehab facility’s entrance.
Before it had even fully stopped, I flung open the car door and jumped out.
The ground was slick with rain. I stumbled and fell a few times before rushing into the rehab facility.
I flung open the door to her room, but it was empty.
I spun around and ran towards the facility’s morgue, only to be stopped by Maya at the entrance.
I collapsed to my knees, my voice hoarse with despair as I wailed:
“Mom! Mom! I’m here… I’ve come to see you!”
Maya held me, and we both slumped to the ground, her hot tears soaking my neck.
They were scalding, yet bone-chillingly cold.
My eyes grew even more vacant. My lips trembled, and I cried silently, profoundly.
My voice seemed to have vanished in an instant; only tears streamed endlessly.
Footsteps approached, neither light nor heavy. Liam Caldwell looked at the woman with a swollen face and bloodshot eyes, and a deep ache twisted in his heart.
His eyes surged with emotion, and when he spoke, his voice was thick with regret:
“I’m sorry…”
I slowly lifted my gaze, looking at the man through my tear-blurred vision.
My lips parted and closed, forming only one sentence:
“Liam Caldwell, get out! I never want to see you again!”
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