After I left the country, every woman Liam Shaw dated was just like me. When my name came up, his friends would always say, “She’s Liam’s unforgettable first love. If Audrey ever returns, none of these other women would stand a chance.” That was until Liam started seeing a rising young actress who who didn’t resemble me at all. Yet, she was the first girlfriend he ever publicly acknowledged. That year, I rushed back home. Everyone waited, expecting to see the ‘first love’ regret everything, hoping for the whole ‘prodigal son returns’ drama. Even Liam subtly probed me, “Audrey, you’ve come back at the wrong time.” But they didn’t know. I wasn’t here to win Liam back. I was here to get married. The moment I stepped out of the airport, I spotted Liam in the crowd. He wore a trench coat, his face looking much more mature than when I’d left years ago. But the expression on his face was too complicated. “They said you were coming back. I thought it was just a rumor.” I came to a stop, my grip tightening on my suitcase. “I’m back to take care of some things,” I replied evenly. Liam took the suitcase from me. “Mr. Miller asked me to pick you up. Don’t get the wrong idea.” I nodded and followed him to the underground parking garage. On the way, I checked my phone. Our group chat, silent for ages, had absolutely blown up. “Liam actually went to pick up Audrey? Is this for real? Audrey’s back in town?” “What about Liam’s current girlfriend, that actress Chloe? Will he dump her?” “Duh! And why do you think Audrey suddenly came back? She’s definitely here to snatch him back!” “Chloe? Please. She’s probably just a fleeting thrill for Liam. Now that Audrey’s back, Chloe would be lucky to even get a glance from him, mark my words.” “I’ve met Chloe. Don’t underestimate her. Anyone who could snag Liam was a force to be reckoned with.” Liam also noticed his phone vibrating non-stop. He quickly checked his messages and said to me, “Audrey, you’ve really picked the wrong time to come back. “I already have a girlfriend.” My hand, halfway to the passenger door, froze mid-air. Instead, I opened the back door. “Congratulations.” The single word slipped from my lips. Liam slammed the car door shut with a noticeable force. Only then did I realize that after all these years, he’d picked up smoking. The Liam I once knew was a model of self-control -he never drank, never smoked, and kept a clear distance from the party scene. But in the years I’d been abroad, I’d heard of at least a dozen different flings he’d had. Liam’s phone rang, and a sickly sweet voice came through. “Liam, I’m so exhausted at the set, can you please come pick me up?” “Send me the address.” “Love you!” Liam hung up, smiling as he looked at me. “You don’t mind if I make a detour to pick up my girlfriend, do you?” “Of course not.” I should have never gotten in his car.
Liam parked near the film set. In the bustling crowd, I spotted Chloe instantly. She stood out too much. Even bundled up, she was immediately recognizable. Fans were taking pictures, and Chloe pulled down her mask a bit, smiling brightly. “Thanks, guys! My boyfriend isn’t famous, so can you please not take pictures of him?” The fans cheered, “We heard your boyfriend is Liam from the Shaw family, is that true?” Chloe didn’t deny it, just held up an index finger to her lips, signaling them to be quiet. Once she was in the car, she took off her sunglasses and gave Liam a quick kiss on the cheek. “Liam, have you been waiting long?” Her eyes darted to me. “And you are?” I offered a polite smile. “Hello, nice to meet you. I’m Audrey, a friend of Liam’s.” Chloe’s smile deepened. “Audrey? I’ve heard a lot about you.” Liam naturally buckled her seatbelt. “Sit tight, I’m about to drive.” Chloe pouted playfully. “Oh, me, always so forgetful! You always have to do it for me.” I turned my gaze to the window, avoiding their display of affection. The car hadn’t been driving long before Chloe started chatting with me. “Audrey, did you ever date anyone while you were abroad all these years?” I answered frankly, “I did.” “I knew it! Audrey, you’re as beautiful as a celebrity, you must have had plenty of admirers, right? “Like Liam, he pursued me. All his friends say I’m different to him, I’m his one true love. “But I just don’t understand, do they mean Liam has a first love or something? I heard you and Liam grew up together. You must know who his first love is, right? Tell me.” She looked at me, her gaze more scrutinizing than curious. Liam frowned. “I don’t have a ‘first love,’ they’re just messing around.” Chloe pouted and started playing on her phone, clearly displeased. The rest of the ride was silent. When Liam dropped me off at home, he didn’t even get out of the car. He rolled down the window and casually said, “My girlfriend’s mad, I need to make it up to her. I won’t come in. Say hi to your parents for me.” I was about to leave when Chloe suddenly called out, “Audrey, let’s connect on SnapChat.” I offered my Snapcode, but she shook her head. “You scan mine. That way you won’t block me.”
My friends threw me a welcome-home party. No one expected Liam to bring Chloe along. Chloe had thoughtfully prepared gifts for everyone. Especially for me. “I heard Liam considers you like family. When Liam and I get married, Audrey, you have to be my bridesmaid.” A few friends’ faces changed. One turned to Liam. “Liam, aren’t you going to say anything?” Liam chuckled. “You want me to be in the doghouse?” Chloe covered her mouth, blushing shyly. She suggested we play Truth or Dare. The bottle spun and landed on me. Everyone was eager, but Chloe stopped them. “Let my boyfriend ask first!” Liam took a sip of his drink, then looked at me. “Did you date anyone abroad?” I nodded. “Yes.” A collective gasp went through the room. Jason, one of Liam’s good friends, teased me, “Come on, Audrey, you know you don’t mean that.” He reached for my glass. “I’ll take this one for you.” The next round, it was Liam’s turn to spin the bottle, and it landed on me again. He asked, “What’s his name?” I replied, “I’d rather not say.” Chloe laughed loudly. “Hah, Audrey, good thing you’re not an actress, otherwise, your acting would be terrible. Men might not notice, but as women, I can tell you’re lying in an instant!” Liam’s usual flings would never dare to speak like that. But sitting beside him now was Chloe. His only acknowledged girlfriend. Liam’s silence indicated his indulgence. I pulled back my hair and smiled. “I’m no actress. I don’t know how to play coy or put on a show like Ms. Chloe.” Chloe’s smile froze. I always prided myself on having a good temper, but I also had a sharp tongue. Liam, it seemed, hadn’t had time to tell Chloe that. However, she had remarkably thick skin. In a flash, she was smiling and pouring me a drink. “A bet’s a bet. If you can’t answer, you drink. Go on.” “Fine.” I generously drained the glass. The bottle in Liam’s hand seemed to have a mind of its own; the next round, it landed on me again. He asked without hesitation, “Why did you come back this time?”
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