At 3 a.m., I reached for my underwear in the back seat and slipped it on. Liam Carter lit a cigarette, the glow faintly illuminating his face. “Don’t come to pick me up anymore,” he said. “Why?” I asked, startled. He smiled softly, a mix of tenderness and guilt. “Nina’s coming back. I don’t want her to get the wrong idea.” 0The ache in my legs was unbearable. Liam had always been like this—no matter how often we saw each other, he never seemed to hold back. Tonight was no exception. He didn’t even wait until we got out of the car. I leaned against the seat, still sore, and picked up my underwear from the back seat. Liam lit a cigarette and blew smoke into the cold night air, the embers glowing faintly in the dark. “Don’t come to pick me up anymore,” he said again. I froze for a moment. Liam’s hand had a disability, which meant he couldn’t drive. He always refused to hire a driver, saying he couldn’t stand having strangers in his car. For seven years, I’d been the one driving him everywhere. The cigarette’s glow flickered in the dark like a distant star. “Nina’s coming back,” he explained. “I don’t want her to misunderstand.” My chest tightened, my heart missing a beat. I wasn’t unfamiliar with that name. In fact, it was etched into my memory, a name both familiar and haunting. In Liam’s 30 years of life, Nina had been a constant presence, dominating most of his past. She wasn’t just a name—she was his first love, his everything. Or, as some might say, his “impossible dream.” The night was silent, but I felt like I was suffocating, like a rat trapped under the blazing sun with nowhere to hide. My hands trembled as I fumbled with the keys, trying to start the car. The sound of my own shaky breaths embarrassed me. “I’ll drive you home,” I said, my voice unsteady. “No need,” Liam replied curtly. “I’ve called for a driver.” Through the car window, I saw a man waiting outside. He must have been the driver Liam had called. For the first time, I felt like an outsider. An extra. Liam transferred me a generous sum for the ride home. “I’m heading south,” he said. “It’s not on the way. You should just get a cab.” “And…” He paused, hesitating for a moment before continuing. “The house on Maple Street—it’s yours now. Stay as long as you like.” I wanted to laugh. Was this his way of paying me off? A breakup fee, perhaps? But then I remembered: we never even had a real beginning. The cold night wind stung my face. Maybe he noticed how pale I looked, because Liam rolled down the window and asked, “Are you feeling okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?” I shook my head and pressed the house keys back into his hand. He looked surprised, his expression unreadable. Forcing a smile, I said, “The house is too far from work. If you’re not going to live there, then I don’t see the point either.” “Time’s precious for someone like me, you know—a working class nobody.” I turned around, hoping to leave with at least a shred of dignity. But as soon as I took a step, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. They reached my lips—bitter and salty. Behind me, Liam called out, “Emma.” I stopped, my heart betraying me with a flicker of hope. “Don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever need help,” he said. “I’ve always thought of you as a little sister.” A sister. Seven years ago, I left everything behind—my family, my hometown—to follow Liam to Ravenwood. I stood by his side through every triumph and failure, pouring all of myself into him. And now, after everything, he told me he only ever saw me as a sister. Of course. Liam’s heart had always belonged to Nina. From the very beginning, this seven-year-long relationship had been nothing but a one-sided fantasy. A secret affair that had only ever existed in my own imagination. 0
The rain in Ravenwood was relentless. It was that time of year again—storm season. I walked alone down the city streets, feeling like a lost ghost with nowhere to go. It suddenly struck me how pathetic my situation was. After all these years in Ravenwood, I still didn’t have a place to call home. The only place I could think of was the little apartment Liam and I had shared for years. But even that wasn’t really mine anymore. I tried finding a hotel where I could take a hot shower and get some rest, but it was the weekend before Thanksgiving. Every decent hotel was fully booked. Even the sketchy motels packed with eager young couples were full. With no other options, I went to a 24-hour spa, bought a day pass, and took a hot shower. Wrapped in their complimentary bathrobe, I sat in the dining area, picking at the buffet food. That’s when the tears came again, flowing uncontrollably. Ravenwood was so big—so big that after seven years, I still hadn’t explored it all. And yet, it felt so small—so small that there wasn’t a single corner left for me to belong. I suddenly wanted to go home. I scrolled through my contacts and found the number I hadn’t dared to call in seven years. My fingers hovered over the screen before I finally worked up the courage to press “dial.” The call connected almost immediately. My heart was pounding so hard I forgot how to breathe. But the voice on the other end wasn’t my mom’s. It was a man’s. “Finally remembered you have a family?” “Where’s Mom?” I asked. I recognized the voice—it was my younger brother. His tone was cold. “She’s none of your business.” The silence that followed was suffocating. After a long pause, I finally spoke. “I just… I just want to come home. To visit.” His answer was swift and cutting. “Don’t bother. You’re not welcome here.” And then he hung up. The spa’s lobby was freezing without air conditioning, and the thin blanket they provided barely kept the chill away. I sat there until dawn, staring blankly at the floor. When the sun rose, I went to the office and handed in my resignation. Zoe, my manager, looked shocked when she heard the news. “Emma, you’ve been with the company for seven years. You’re practically a veteran here. Your pay’s great, and you’ve got seniority. Why are you leaving all of a sudden?” My throat felt dry, and my lips twitched with bitterness. Still, I forced myself to answer casually. “I’m just tired. I need a break.” Zoe nodded sympathetically. “I get it. The workload here can be intense. How about this? I’ll approve some extended leave—use your vacation days, take some time off, and come back when you’re ready.” “No, that’s not necessary,” I said, politely declining her offer. “I’m planning to move back home.” She hesitated, as if she wanted to say more, but stopped herself. Her eyes flicked toward Liam’s office, separated from mine by nothing but a glass wall. After a moment, she sighed and stamped my resignation form. The resignation process was smooth. But when I went to collect my final paycheck, I noticed something strange: the amount deposited into my account was far more than it should’ve been—an extra $100,000, to be exact. The sum was more than my total earnings from the past seven years combined. I went straight to accounting to ask if there’d been a mistake. The accountant’s disdain was impossible to miss. “No mistake,” she said. “Mr. Carter instructed us to include it. It’s yours.” She smirked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “You’re lucky, huh? That’s more than what most of us would get after working here for ten years.” Compensation, huh? I stared at the extra $100,000 in my account, the numbers blurring together as my chest tightened. It felt like the money was burning a hole in my hands. Without a second thought, I transferred it back to the company and turned on my heels, walking away without looking back. As I stepped out of the office building for the last time, I could still hear the whispers behind me. “It’s not compensation. It’s hush money.” “Come on, there are plenty of secretaries here, but she’s the only one whose office was connected to Mr. Carter’s by a glass door.” “I’ve heard people walked in on her sitting in his lap more than once. Guess she sold herself for a promotion.” “Doesn’t matter. Her time’s up. I heard Mr. Carter’s first love is back in town.” “Really?” The gossip grew louder, but I didn’t bother turning around. The blazing sun outside felt suffocating, like it was draining the last bit of energy from my body. How did Liam and I end up like this? 0
Stories like ours tend to start with clichés. Liam Carter and I were no exception. We grew up as next-door neighbors. From the time we were toddlers in diapers, we had been inseparable. We played in the mud, pretended to be grown-ups, walked to school together, and shared the same path home. We were the textbook definition of childhood sweethearts. But Liam’s life was nothing like mine. His mom wasn’t in the picture, and his dad was a drunk and a gambler. From as far back as I can remember, Liam’s small frame was always covered in bruises and scars. And that wasn’t even the worst of it. His dad brought home a revolving door of women, each one louder than the last. Whenever that happened, Liam would be handed a crumpled dollar bill for dinner and shoved out the door. Then the shouting would start, echoing down the hallway of the old apartment block for everyone to hear. Liam would stand outside, his tiny fists clenched, enduring the stares of passersby—some filled with pity, others with mockery. My mom couldn’t stand it. Whenever Liam was sent out like that, she’d pull him into our home, cook up a pot of stew, and let the smell of spices and meat drown out the noise from his apartment. She’d make up a bed for him on our couch, urging him to get a good night’s sleep. But Liam rarely ate much. And he never slept. In the middle of the night, I’d hear him climbing out the window to sit on the roof. The first time I followed him up there, the wind was blowing hard, puffing up his thin shirt like a balloon. I brought a flashlight and grabbed his sleeve. His shirt was damp, and I thought he’d been crying about what had happened earlier. So, I stayed up there with him, pointing out stars, making silly faces, and crawling like a dog to make him laugh. Years later, I realized the dampness on his sleeve that night wasn’t tears—it was blood. No one used the roof much, and the moss made it slippery. Every time I lost my footing and nearly fell, Liam would let out a faint smile. That smile was so rare, I spent years acting like a fool just to see it. When we were ten, Liam’s life took a turn for the worse. One afternoon, his dad left for good. He ran off with an older woman who worked at the barbershop next door. I still remember the scene vividly—Liam clutching his dad’s leg, refusing to let go, his face set with stubborn determination. But his dad just kicked him hard in the stomach, sending him sprawling on the ground, gasping for air. Without a second glance, he rushed out the door, the woman tugging on his arm. He didn’t just leave Liam behind—he took everything of value in the apartment with him. Liam was left alone. The apartment was cold, dark, and eerily quiet. My mom tried to bring him over for meals, but Liam was too proud. He refused to accept help. Instead, he scavenged for rice and oil, climbed onto a stool to reach the stove, and cooked meal after meal of half-raw, half-burnt food. Kids can be cruel, far crueler than adults. At school, Liam became a punching bag. Every day, he came home with torn textbooks and fresh bruises. I was furious. I dragged him to the teacher’s office, demanding justice. But the teacher just waved it off with a dismissive laugh. “Why would they pick on him and no one else?” she asked, smiling as if it were a joke. Then she took my hand and whispered, “You shouldn’t spend so much time with him. He’s not from a normal family. He’ll drag you down.” It was the first time I’d ever felt hatred toward someone who was supposed to be a role model. By the time I stormed out of the office, Liam was already gone. I shook off the teacher’s hand and ran after him. I came up with a plan. I asked my younger brother, who was a grade below us, to walk home with Liam and me every day. That way, there’d be strength in numbers, and no one would dare mess with Liam. At first, Liam refused. But my brother, quick on his feet, lied and said I was too scared to walk home alone. Reluctantly, Liam agreed. Those were some of the happiest days of Liam’s life. He even started sharing food with me—his signature dish: overcooked, crispy potatoes. But life has a way of ruining good things. One evening, as Liam and I were walking home, we saw all his belongings thrown into the yard in a messy pile. Even the model airplane he’d spent months building for a competition—his ticket to earning some prize money—was smashed to pieces. Liam ran inside, only to be thrown back out by a group of men with hardened faces. Then they beat him. That’s when I learned the truth. Liam’s dad hadn’t just run off with a woman—he’d stolen money from a local nightclub owner. And now, these men were here to collect the debt. 0
That day, Liam was beaten so badly that it was hard to watch. My brother and I tried to run to his aid, but the adults in the courtyard held us back. “They’re not people you can mess with,” they warned. “Liam’s just a kid no one cares about. If he dies, so what?” But as I watched Liam lying in a pool of his own blood, I couldn’t bring myself to walk away. When no one was paying attention, I slipped out and used a payphone to call the police. The police arrived quickly, and Liam was taken to the hospital. For the next ten days, I didn’t see him. Instead, the courtyard was filled with strangers, all asking the same question: “Who called the cops that day?” When my mom tried to stand up for us, arguing with the men, they shoved her down the stairs. She broke her leg in the fall. For days, it felt like the entire world had gone dark, like even the sky above us had turned black. Then, everything changed. Out of nowhere, Liam’s mother—someone none of us had ever met—showed up. She took Liam to one of the best hospitals in the state for treatment. The men who attacked Liam, along with the nightclub owner they worked for, were all arrested. Even my mom received compensation—$10,000 from Liam’s mother. But there was a condition: we were never to contact Liam again. It was such a strange request. Even so, my mom refused the money. None of us had ever helped Liam expecting something in return. Not a single penny. But Liam still left. It all happened so suddenly. The last time I saw him, his hair was a mess, and he was out of breath. He made me promise we’d both apply to the same college—Ravenwood University. I agreed. And then, just like that, he disappeared from my life. When I graduated high school and started applying to colleges, I didn’t hesitate. Even though my grades were good enough for top schools, I chose Ravenwood University without a second thought. I moved to this unfamiliar city, clinging to the only connection I had left: the phone number Liam had secretly slipped me before he left. But every time I called, the line was dead. 0
I finally decided to buy a train ticket home. The station was packed with people rushing to get tickets for the holidays. The noise was overwhelming, but seeing the joy on everyone’s faces as they prepared to reunite with their families somehow made me feel a little less alone. That’s when Liam called. It was a video call. I hesitated, then answered—but I switched to audio instead. I didn’t want him to see my swollen, tear-streaked face and feel burdened by my emotions. On the other end, Liam sounded annoyed. “Why’d you turn off the camera?” he asked. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “Do you need something?” “Not really,” he said casually. “You left something in the car.” He sent me a photo of a ring. It was expensive—Bvlgari. There was no way I could’ve afforded something like that on my own. And I hadn’t. Liam had bought it for me during one of his business trips, not long after we started seeing each other. It wasn’t a diamond ring, and he hadn’t said much when he gave it to me, but I had cherished it deeply. To me, a ring wasn’t just a gift—it carried meaning. For Liam to give me something like that, I’d thought it meant we had a chance at something real. But now, I knew better. It had all been in my head. “Just throw it away,” I said, my voice flat. “It’s not important.” There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Finally, Liam muttered, “Alright,” and hung up. The line for train tickets was still long. In front of me, a young woman looked like she might faint from standing so long. Her boyfriend immediately flipped their suitcase on its side so she could sit down and rest. Their smiles, their quiet happiness—it all reminded me of my first year at Ravenwood. I’d been so full of excitement back then. It was my first time away from home, and despite not knowing anyone in the city, I’d come here with nothing but a promise and a dream. On my first day, I couldn’t wait to ask around about a student named Liam Carter. The upperclassmen gave me strange looks. “There’s no one by that name here,” one of them said. “But the dean’s daughter has a boyfriend named Liam Carter.” That’s when I realized. Liam and I weren’t part of the same world anymore. After leaving our small town, Liam’s mother had taken him to live in the city. Her new husband was a wealthy real estate tycoon, one of the most powerful men in the area. He gave Liam a life I couldn’t have imagined: money, connections, and opportunities. Even the model airplane competition Liam had dreamed of entering for years—something that had once seemed out of reach—was now handed to him on a silver platter. Liam’s life had completely transformed. But good times don’t last forever. When Liam turned eighteen, his stepfather handed him a contract to sign. Thinking nothing of it, Liam put his name on the dotted line. It wasn’t until later that he realized the truth: it was a debt contract. His stepfather had pinned millions of dollars of debt on him. By the time Liam understood what had happened, it was too late. He was arrested and spent three years in jail. His mother refused to pay even the small amount needed to bail him out. When Liam was finally released, he worked tirelessly to earn his first bit of money. Eventually, he caught a lucky break and built a thriving business. But the betrayal he’d experienced hardened him. The Liam I knew—the brave, determined boy—was gone. In his place was a man who trusted no one, whose life was built on power, wealth, and excess. A man I could barely recognize. 0
As I waited for the train, I decided to grab a quick bowl of noodles at the diner across the street. But fate had other plans. That’s where I ran into Liam and Nina. I’d only ever seen Nina in photos before, but in person, she was even more beautiful. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her skin flawless and radiant. She was the perfect image of someone’s “impossible dream.” The kind of woman who could make anyone feel invisible. The moment I saw Liam, my first instinct was to avoid him. But Nina grabbed his arm and walked straight toward me. “You must be Emma,” she said with a bright smile. “Liam’s told me about you.” Before I could respond, she turned to Liam with a playful pout. “Liam, that’s so mean of you! Emma’s been by your side all these years, and when I suggested inviting her out for dinner, you refused! If you keep acting this way, you’ll lose all your friends.” Liam didn’t even flinch as he lied. “I did invite her. She just didn’t want to come.” Nina tugged on my sleeve, refusing to let me leave. “Well, now that we’ve run into each other, no more excuses. You’re coming to dinner with us.” I hesitated, glancing at Liam. He had his hands in his pockets, his eyes fixed on Nina with a warmth I hadn’t seen in years. “If Nina says so,” he said casually, “then join us for dinner.” I thought it would just be a casual meal. I couldn’t have been more wrong. It turned out to be Nina’s welcome-home party. When we arrived at the private dining room, it was already filled with our old college classmates. Everyone cheered when Nina walked in, some even opening their arms to hug her. “Nina, you’re finally back! You have no idea how much we’ve missed you!” “Yeah, and no one’s been able to keep Liam in check while you were gone!” “Seriously, he’s been partying nonstop. We couldn’t stand it anymore.” Someone laughed and added, “Oh, come on. Liam was heartbroken! He hasn’t dated a single girl since you left, Nina.” “Is that true?” Nina asked, turning to Liam with a teasing smile. Liam didn’t deny it. Instead, his eyes softened, and he stayed silent, letting everyone’s words hang in the air. Then Nina glanced at me. Her gaze carried a mix of emotions—mockery, triumph, and, most of all, disdain. I suddenly felt like a rat scurrying in the shadows, desperate to escape the spotlight of their perfect reunion. Reaching for the door, I tried to slip away unnoticed. But Nina had other plans. She grabbed my arm and pulled me into the center of the room. “Oh, come on! You can’t just leave. I don’t believe for a second that Liam didn’t have anyone in his life while I was gone.” She turned to the group with a sly smile. “I heard Emma’s been pretty close to Liam. Didn’t he even give her a job as his personal assistant after college? Fresh out of school and already making six figures a year. Isn’t that right, Liam?” Her words dripped with venom, emphasizing personal assistant in a way that left no room for innocent interpretation. All eyes turned to Liam, waiting for him to respond. He didn’t disappoint her. Sliding an arm around Nina’s waist, he said calmly, “You’re mistaken. I’ve always thought of Emma as a little sister.” Sister. The word hit me like a slap. I felt the weight of everyone’s stares—some filled with pity, others with ridicule. I had spent seven years by Liam’s side. Seven years of being inseparable. Wherever he went, I followed. When the mood struck him, he didn’t care about the time or place—stairwells, parking lots, restrooms, even the office lounge. People had walked in on us before. It was no secret. And the rumors spread quickly. Everyone said I was just another woman trying to claw her way into the Carter family, desperate to become Mrs. Carter. They said I had no shame, that I’d thrown away my dignity for a shot at marrying Liam. But I didn’t care. As long as I could stay by Liam’s side, I was willing to be nothing. But his words tonight, the way his friends looked at me, made me feel like my soul had been laid bare. I’d told myself I didn’t care about my pride, but now, it felt like I was being flayed alive. They seated me in the farthest corner of the room, out of sight and out of mind. Liam glanced at me once, but before he could come over, Nina grabbed his hand. “Liam, I just got back. Sing a song with me?” He hesitated, his eyes lingering on me for a moment. But then he took the microphone from Nina’s hand. They started singing a duet. It was perfect, like they were made for each other. Meanwhile, I sat in silence, every note tearing me apart. At one point, Nina reached for a glass of wine, but Liam stopped her. “You’re allergic to alcohol,” he said, his voice soft with concern. She froze, confused. Everyone laughed. “Liam, are you kidding? Nina used to drink us all under the table in college! She was the queen of shots—remember?” Liam’s expression faltered. “Oh… I must’ve remembered wrong.” To cover his embarrassment, he downed the glass himself. But Nina’s focus shifted back to me. Her voice was sharp as a blade when she said, “Emma, I just got back. Aren’t you going to drink to welcome me home?” I didn’t drink. Liam pulled Nina away before I could respond, leading her back to the microphone. They sang song after song, their voices blending seamlessly. Someone shouted, “So, when’s the wedding?” Nina blushed and looked at Liam expectantly. He smiled and said, “Soon. Custom wedding dresses take time, you know.” The room erupted in cheers. I stayed silent, wishing I wasn’t allergic to alcohol. If I could drink, maybe I could numb myself to the sight of Nina leaning into Liam’s arms, laughing like she’d just won the lottery. I don’t know how much time passed. At some point, Liam stumbled over to me, clearly drunk. He slung an arm around my shoulder and shoved a bank card into my hand. “Emma,” he slurred, “we’re family. Always will be. If you ever need something, call me.” Family. But I didn’t want to be Liam’s family. When I looked up, he was already kissing Nina. His hands cradled her face like she was the most precious thing in the world. The room filled with applause and cheers, everyone celebrating their perfect love story. I laughed along with them. But as I laughed, tears streamed down my face.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295429”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic
Leave a Reply