Chapter 2The Day I Stopped Waiting

The next morning, Liam woke up with a splitting headache.

He instinctively called my name. For a long time, no one answered.

Stumbling out, he saw me sitting on the sofa writing on my laptop. His tone hardened.

"Natalie, my head hurts."

I didn't look up. "Mmh."

Liam paused, then said, "My head hurts. Go make me some honey lemon water."

I couldn't be bothered. My inspiration was flowing, and I didn't want to break it.

"Make it yourself. I'm busy."

I got up and went into the study.

Liam stood there, stunned.

Making a hangover cure wasn't hard. Boil water, add honey, add lemon, let it cool, drink.

I had done it for him countless times.

It wasn't unique.

But now that he didn't have it, he felt empty.

Remembering the breakup last night, anger rose in his chest.

He went to the kitchen, got food, ate, then knocked on the study door. "Since we broke up, you should move out. My family bought this house."

He emphasized "My family bought this house."

My fingers froze on the keyboard. It felt like a stab to the heart.

Together ten years. Liam knew I was an orphan who craved a family. When we moved in together, he told me that even though his name was on the deed, this was my home too.

Now, one day after breaking up, he was kicking me out?

I looked up. The man at the door had a stone face and cold eyes. He didn't look at me like a lover, but with annoyance.

I took a deep breath. "Okay. Can I move tomorrow? I haven't packed."

Liam looked smug. "No. Today. We broke up, there's no reason to live together."

I looked at him like a stranger.

"Okay. Whatever you say."

They say girls without property don't have a home. Break up, move out. Divorce, move out. Unless your name is on the deed, one word from a man and you're homeless.

I felt that deeply in this moment.

After he left for work, I silently packed.

Ten years. I really thought I would marry Liam, so I truly treated this place as my home.

Plushies, lace curtains, cute kitchenware... packing was endless. It just got messier.

My head started to hurt.

Maybe just throwing it all away would be faster?

Lost in thought, the doorbell rang. It was Liam's mother.