A furious shout ripped me from my sleep. “Ava Miller! What gives you the right to be in my bed?!” I slowly opened my eyes, the sight of Liam Smith sitting at the head of the bed, his face ashen and enraged, coming into focus. Liam’s chest heaved with anger. “How dare you take advantage of me when I was drunk and crawl into my bed? Who gave you the audacity?!” He didn’t give me a chance to explain, continuing to seethe with indignation. “You need to understand your place. You’re just the housekeeper. What right do you have to covet me?!” “The woman I love is Chloe Hayes. You’d better know your limits! You’ve tainted my love for Chloe, you’ve polluted everything! If this ever happens again, get out of my house!” My heart shattered into a million pieces. And I distinctly remembered that last night, Liam had been the one to make the first move. It was Liam’s 30th birthday last night. Around 1 AM, he returned home, stumbling drunk after a party with his friends. As I went downstairs to make him some hangover soup, he suddenly grabbed me in a tight embrace. Liam unexpectedly kissed my lips, whispering softly into my ear, “Ava, I love you…” I had secretly loved Liam for ten years. In that moment, I was completely defenseless, quickly drowning in his tender affection. But I never imagined that Liam, sober, would be a completely different person. Every word he uttered felt like a sharp blade, piercing deep into my heart.
Just then, a soft knock on the door interrupted Liam’s furious outburst. “Liam, are you in there?” It was Chloe, Liam’s girlfriend. Liam frantically snatched the scattered clothes from the floor, throwing them at me, and warned in a low voice, “Hide somewhere. You’d better keep this to yourself. No one can ever know.” Barely dressed, I used my torn clothes to cover myself, scrambling into the wardrobe in the room. Liam quickly got dressed, straightened his appearance, and then opened the door with a smile. “Chloe, what are you doing here?” His gentle and warm demeanor was a stark contrast to his earlier rage. “Who were you talking to just now?” Chloe asked him. “Nobody, just on the phone with my assistant.” Chloe stepped inside, pinching her nose and frowning. “What’s that strange smell in your room? You didn’t hide a woman in here, did you?” “I drank too much last night and didn’t shower; it’s just my own smell,” Liam said with a roguish laugh. “You know I only have eyes for you. How could there be another woman?” “What about that little housekeeper?” Chloe pouted, her tone complaining. The “little housekeeper” she referred to was me. She had always disliked me. Liam sneered dismissively. “She’s just a housekeeper. How could she possibly compare to you?” Chloe started to say more, but Liam put his arm around her shoulder, changing the subject. “Alright, didn’t you say yesterday you wanted to go shopping? Let’s go, I’m free today. I’ll buy you anything you want.” Liam walked out of the room, his arm around Chloe. Through the gap in the wardrobe, I watched their retreating backs, my heart aching with every beat. It dawned on me then. Liam’s mumbled “Ava, I love you” last night was actually “Chloe, I love you.” I had naively thought he loved me, never imagining he was simply drunk, mistaking me for Chloe. It wasn’t until I heard the car starting in the driveway that I crawled out of the closet. I ran to my room and showered for a long time. But no matter how much I scrubbed, I couldn’t wash away the traces Liam had left on me. I collapsed helplessly onto the floor, tears mingling with the shower water, streaming down my face. After my shower, a text message came in. It was from Liam. [Keep your mouth shut about this. Don’t let Chloe find out, or I swear I’ll make you regret it!] I didn’t reply, silently turning off my phone. Liam didn’t come home until evening. And with him, he brought Chloe. As soon as they walked in, Liam gave me a stern, emotionless order from the kitchen. “Make a few extra dishes tonight. Chloe’s staying over, and she loves spicy shrimp, spicy chicken, and sweet and sour fish. Get those ready for her.” I turned my head blankly, looking at the two who had just entered. Chloe clung intimately to Liam’s arm, her eyes full of blatant provocation as she glanced at me. Liam let Chloe hold his arm, his collar slightly open, revealing several prominent red marks on his neck, crimson and stark. I remembered I hadn’t left any marks on his neck last night. Realizing what they meant, I felt a wave of nausea, like I’d swallowed something foul. I forced down the disgust and numbly replied, “Got it.” “I don’t eat garlic or cilantro. All the shrimp need to be peeled, and make sure the vein isn’t broken inside. Also, the sweet and sour fish needs to be definitely sweet, like more sweet than sour, understand?” Chloe ordered imperiously. I silently washed the vegetables in my hands, not responding to her. The large kitchen fell into a heavy silence. Liam’s face darkened, and he snapped, “Ava Miller! Chloe is talking to you! Did you hear her?” “I heard,” I mumbled, my voice barely audible. Liam shot me a displeased glance, then led Chloe into his room. I worked in the kitchen for over an hour, preparing the dishes Chloe loved. Before all the food was even served, Liam and Chloe had already come out of the room and sat down to eat. Chloe picked up a spicy shrimp and brought it to Liam’s lips, smiling sweetly. “Liam, this shrimp is good. Try it.” “Okay,” Liam said, smiling indulgently, opening his mouth to take the shrimp Chloe fed him. Only I knew that Liam had a sensitive stomach and never ate spicy food. But now, to humor Chloe, he swallowed the shrimp as if it were nothing. Watching Liam furrow his brow, trying to hide his stomach ache, I found it incredibly ironic. As I carried the last bowl of soup to the dining room, Chloe suddenly turned the conversation to me. “Liam, Ava must be 26 this year, right? She’s not getting any younger. She should really start thinking about her personal life. It’s not quite right for you two to be living under the same roof, just a man and a woman.” Liam’s hand, holding his fork, paused. After a moment of silence, he turned to me, his voice sharp. “Chloe’s right. Ava, you’re not a kid anymore. It’s time for you to find a boyfriend. The Smith family has taken you in for so many years, it’s time for you to find a new place to go.” At his words, a crushing pain erupted in my chest. He was telling me to leave. But when he first took me in, he had clearly told me, “My home is your home. I am your family. You can live here forever.” All those past promises, he had clearly forgotten them.
In my daze, my finger accidentally touched the scalding hot soup. I instinctively let go, and the soup bowl instantly crashed to the floor. “Ah—” Chloe shrieked. The soup splattered onto Chloe’s arm, instantly turning it red. Liam’s expression changed instantly. He grabbed Chloe’s arm with concern, asking anxiously, “Where did it burn? Is it bad? Let me see—” “It’s okay, Liam,” Chloe said, her voice laced with a sob, feigning understanding. “Ava probably didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t blame her.” “What do you mean not on purpose? I think she did it on purpose!” Liam turned to me, his face frighteningly dark. “Ava Miller, I just asked you to make a few dishes for Chloe. Do you have to be so scheming against her?” I stammered an explanation. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” “Don’t try to deny it! The soup was perfectly fine when you carried it out of the kitchen. The moment you got near Chloe, it spilled! What else could it be but on purpose?!” I opened my mouth, but suddenly no words came out. “I can’t believe how malicious you are!” Liam grew angrier with each word, slamming his hand on the table. “If you ever try these petty tricks again, get out of my house!” With that, Liam rushed Chloe to the hospital. Leaving me alone in the house, to clean up the mess. No one knew that my finger was also burned, red and swollen. The pain was bone-deep, excruciating. I remembered, the old Liam used to dote on me. I lost my father at a young age. When I was eight, my mother and I moved in with the Smith family. Liam and I grew up together. As a child, Liam was wonderful to me, treating me like his own little sister. When I was thirteen, my mother suddenly left without a trace, and I never heard from her again. It was the Smith family who continued to take me in when I had nowhere to go. During those darkest days, Liam gently and firmly told me, “Don’t be scared, Ava. My home is your home. I am your family. You will never be alone.” I lived in the Smith house for over ten years, and my relationship with Liam was always good. But all of that ended with Chloe’s arrival. Chloe was Liam’s arranged marriage prospect. After they met half a year ago, Liam was instantly captivated by her. He fell in love with Chloe, and with it, he withdrew all his kindness from me. Simply because Chloe didn’t like me, Liam started to become cold and distant. My status in Liam’s eyes gradually shifted from family to housekeeper. After taking Chloe to the hospital, Liam didn’t come home for several days. In the past, no matter how late he worked, Liam would always come home. Even if he couldn’t, he would call me beforehand. But now, I was left alone in an empty house, waiting for someone who didn’t want to come home. Liam’s parents had moved abroad two years ago, and Liam had let go of all the household staff, leaving only him and me in the house. Now, Liam wasn’t coming home either. This place, for me, was no longer a home. It was time for me to leave. But before I went, I wanted to say a proper goodbye to Liam. One day, two days, three days… I waited for a week, but Liam never returned. On the eighth day, the house was broken into. That night, as I slept, I heard rustling noises outside. I thought Liam had returned. I threw off the covers and got out of bed, only to see a shadowy figure lurking in Liam’s room, prying open his safe with a small knife. In that instant, I forgot my fear. My first instinct was to protect Liam’s possessions. “Stop right there!” I shouted, trying to scare the thief. “I’ve already called the police!” The thief panicked and, as he fled, swung the knife, slashing my arm. Crimson blood flowed steadily down my arm, dripping onto the floor, spreading into a stark, painful bloom. I bit back the pain, pulled out my phone, and called Liam. It was the first time we had contacted each other in a week. The phone rang several times before it was answered. Liam’s emotionless voice came through the receiver. “What is it?” I hadn’t cried when the assailant cut my arm, but hearing Liam’s voice after a week, my eyes instantly welled up. My voice raw, I choked out a plea, “Liam, the house was broken into… could you please come home?” What I got in response was a string of cold accusations from Liam. “What new trick are you trying now? The security system here is so good, how could it be broken into? I think you’re just looking for an excuse to trick me into coming home!” “I’m not lying, Liam. The house really was broken into, and my hand is hurt…” Before I could finish, Liam coldly cut me off. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to do. I advise you to drop those ideas quickly. There’s no future for us! Chloe doesn’t like me getting too close to you. We should keep our distance from now on.” “And even if it really was broken into, just call the police. What good is calling me? I need to be with Chloe. I don’t have time for you!” Before I could say another word, Liam hung up.
Listening to the busy signal, a twisting pain seized my chest. I suddenly remembered the night my mother abandoned me when I was thirteen. A thunderstorm raged, and I, terrified, hid under the covers, trembling. In my most desperate moment, Liam was there beside me, patting my back and gently coaxing me to sleep. He had told me then, firmly, “Ava, whenever you’re scared, come find me first. I’ll always be there for you.” But now, he said he had no time for me. Time had passed, and people had changed. It seemed I was the only one still trapped in the memories, unwilling to wake up. After calling the police, I went to the hospital alone. My wound required six stitches. The stitching itself was a searing, bone-deep pain, yet I felt numb, as if I couldn’t feel it at all. My mind was filled with memories of the past decade with Liam. I finally understood: my dream had to end. Three nights later, Liam finally came home. He seemed to have been drinking again, his cheeks flushed, his eyes hazy and unfocused. Leaning against the door, he stared at me for a long moment, then ordered in a hoarse, cold voice, “Go run a bath for me.” Without a word, I silently entered the bathroom. As I filled the tub, Liam quietly approached, suddenly embracing me from behind. My heart jumped in alarm, and I pushed him, but he held me tighter. “Ava…” he murmured softly, “I’ve missed you so much…” “Let go of me…” My words were swallowed whole as Liam kissed me. Liam kissed me with a frenzied intensity, hot and fierce, again and again, as if he wanted to devour me whole. I was breathless from his kisses, almost lost in his passion. But then, a sudden realization hit me. He was calling out “Chloe,” not “Ava.” He loved Chloe, not me! I mustered all my strength and pushed Liam away. In a panic, I ran out of the villa. Outside, a fierce storm raged. Without a coat, I wandered aimlessly through the streets, drenched by the rain, like a body without a soul. The wound on my arm tore open again from the exertion, staining my sleeve crimson. Shivering from the cold, I sat down forlornly by the roadside. I finally couldn’t hold back anymore. My tears streamed down, a dam breaking. I couldn’t understand why Liam always gave me hope, only to cruelly shatter it. He clearly didn’t love me, yet he toyed with me again and again. My heart was twisted in agony. I cried for a long time, tears mixing with the rainwater, splashing heavily on the ground. Even after the rain stopped, I remained sitting by the roadside, lost and staring blankly. Suddenly, a hand, long-fingered and holding a tissue, appeared before me. I looked up blankly and saw an unfamiliar, handsome face. The man before me was around thirty, his elegant brows slightly furrowed. He looked at me, asking softly, “Your arm is bleeding. Do you need help?” I took the tissue he offered, shaking my head numbly. “No, thank you.” Perhaps seeing how disheveled I was, or out of sympathy, the man pondered for a moment, then pulled out a business card and handed it to me. “If you ever need any help in the future, feel free to contact me.” I took the card, still in a daze. After the man left, I finally made out the words on the card. [Julian Reed, CEO of Reed Industries] My heart skipped a beat. It was Julian Reed, a formidable figure in the city’s business world. What kind of luck was this, to get Julian Reed’s private business card! After calming down, I checked into a nearby hotel. I showered and changed into clean clothes. I also gave the wound on my arm a basic cleaning. I didn’t sleep a wink all night. The next morning, I still returned to the Smith residence. When I arrived, Liam was about to leave, and we met at the doorway. Liam was sober now, but seemed to have forgotten what happened last night. He stared at me coldly, the chill in his eyes seeming to pierce right through me. “You weren’t home all night. Where were you?” I lowered my gaze, avoiding his eyes. “Nowhere.” Liam’s face was grim, and his words, once again, felt like a sharp blade, deeply hurting me. “As a young woman, what kind of behavior is it to stay out all night? So undisciplined. Did you crawl into someone else’s bed last night?” My breath hitched, and that familiar twisting pain surged through me again. I clutched my chest, saying nothing. There was no point in explaining anymore. My silence angered Liam. He furiously grabbed my arm, his voice as cold as ice. “Why aren’t you speaking? Cat got your tongue?” “Ow—” My face went pale, and I struggled to pull away. “Let go.” Liam had squeezed the wound on my arm. Liam’s eyes were icy, and he erupted in anger. “Ava Miller, what is this attitude? You won’t even let me touch you now?” “My arm is hur…” “Forget it, who even wants to touch you!” Liam released my hand, his voice cold. “Chloe is coming for dinner this afternoon. Make sure to prepare a lavish meal. If Chloe isn’t satisfied, you’ll be held responsible!” With that, Liam stalked away, his face cold. I stood there stunned, blood seeping from my arm again, staining my entire sleeve. I quickly tended to the wound on my left hand and began preparing ingredients for dinner. Because of my injured hand, I worked all afternoon, only managing to make four dishes and one soup. Around 6 PM, Liam returned home with Chloe. Even after some time apart, Chloe was still radiant, her eyes full of happiness. Liam, on the other hand, looked a bit thinner. Seeing the few dishes on the table, Liam’s face instantly darkened. “Didn’t I tell you to prepare a lavish meal? Why is there so little food?” “I wasn’t feeling very well today,” I mumbled, my voice barely audible. Liam showed no concern, instead reprimanding me sharply. “Then you don’t eat tonight!”
I nodded blankly. “Okay.” Chloe stood by, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. Liam led Chloe to the dining table, attentively serving her water, his face tender—a stark contrast to his earlier coldness. Chloe silently went into her room. After dinner, Chloe, on a whim, asked to see my room. I had no right to refuse. Liam directly led Chloe into my room. Chloe entered, looking around with a disgusted expression, then suddenly fixed her gaze on the painting on the wall. The painting showed two people: me in my early teens and Liam in his youth. Liam had painted it himself when we were younger. When he made that painting, Liam had earnestly promised me, “Ava, we’ll always be together, just like us in this painting, framed together, never to be separated.” For all these years, I had believed him. But Liam had long forgotten his vow. The two figures in the painting were beautiful, yet Chloe frowned with displeasure, her face sullen. “Liam, I don’t like this painting. Take it down and burn it!” Liam paused for two seconds, then readily agreed. “Okay.” I panicked, rushing forward to stop him. “Liam, this painting is very important to me. Please don’t burn it!” Liam dismissed my concern, waving my hand away and saying heartlessly, “It’s just a painting. Something I drew carelessly when I was a kid. What’s so important about it? Besides, Chloe doesn’t like it. Even if it were priceless, I wouldn’t allow it to be here!” Liam wouldn’t be reasoned with. He forcefully took the painting off the wall. I grabbed his arm, my eyes red, pleading humbly, “Liam, please, I beg you, don’t burn it! If Chloe doesn’t like it, I’ll move it out of her sight. Just please don’t burn it!” Liam cruelly shook off my hand, ignoring my pleas, and stubbornly carried the painting to the yard, setting it ablaze until it turned to ashes! I ran frantically to the yard, watching the painting burn fiercely on the ground. My heart felt as if it had been cruelly gripped, then brutally torn out and thrown into a freezing wasteland. A chilling cold instantly enveloped my entire body. That fire not only destroyed a painting but also severed the obsession I had held for over a decade. The last flicker of hope in my heart finally collapsed completely. That night, I locked myself in my room, silently packing my luggage. But I had no family left, no one. Where could I go after leaving here? As I packed my clothes, a business card suddenly fell out of my pocket. I picked up the card from the floor, paused, and then remembered the man I had met last night. Julian Reed, a powerful figure in the city. With his help, could I find another place to call home? Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I dialed the phone number on the card. The call was answered quickly, and Julian’s deep, magnetic voice suddenly sounded. “Hello, who is this?” My breathing quickened, and my heart pounded. I unconsciously gripped my fingers, stammering, “Mr. Reed, hello… I’m the girl you… you met by the roadside yesterday.” “Yes,” Julian asked, “Is something wrong?” “Uh…” I was so embarrassed I felt my toes curl with mortification, but I still mustered my courage. “Mr. Reed, would you be able to help me find a job?” For the past few years, I hadn’t worked. Only because Liam had once said he would support me for life, wanting me to stay home and keep him company. I had foolishly given up my career to focus on caring for Liam’s daily needs. I had essentially become his personal assistant. Looking back now, it was ridiculous. Julian on the other end of the line pondered for a moment, then spoke in a deep voice. “I happen to be looking for a secretary right now. Are you interested?” “But I don’t have much experience…” I said, lacking confidence. Julian didn’t mind at all. “I’ll arrange for someone to train you.” I didn’t want to miss this chance at independence, so I accepted, feeling both nervous and excited. Julian gave me three days. In three days, I would officially report to Reed Industries. I had planned to leave the Smith residence tonight, but after being caught in the rain last night and my wound becoming infected, I suddenly developed a high fever, shivering uncontrollably. I abandoned the idea of leaving tonight, took some cold medicine, and decided to sleep first, planning to leave early tomorrow morning. I curled up in bed, praying for the fever to break quickly. In a daze, I heard a knock on my door, and Liam’s cold voice suddenly echoed from outside. “Ava Miller, open the door.” I dragged my weak body out of bed and opened the door. Liam stood at the doorway, with no intention of coming in, only coldly ordering me, “Go downstairs and buy a box of condoms for Chloe and me.” My chest tightened, my heart felt like it was being cruelly squeezed. I asked him in a hoarse voice, “It’s so late, can’t you order delivery?” “No. Chloe specifically wants you to go.” His words were as cold as ice. My eyes were vacant, and I clenched the hem of my clothes so tightly that my nails nearly dug into my flesh. I remained silent for a long time, then nodded blankly. “Okay, I’ll go.” It would be the last thing I did for him before I left. I dragged my feverish body out the door, trembling, constantly forcing myself to stay upright so I wouldn’t collapse by the roadside. After buying the condoms, I returned home, weak, and knocked on Liam’s door. It was Chloe who opened it.
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