Chapter 2Love will dissipate like mist

Back home, I started packing my belongings. I was halfway through when Liam returned.

“Sera, I came straight home as soon as I finished up at the office. Miss me?”

He pulled out a large bouquet of crimson roses and handed them to me. “I bought these just for you. I’m so sorry I couldn’t stay with you at the bridal shop. Forgive me, my love?”

I nearly laughed out loud, seeing the roses already wilting slightly from lack of water. These were clearly the same flowers he’d grabbed from his proposal to Valerie. In his eyes, was I only good enough for his discarded proposal props?

“What are you laughing at?”

Seeing my smile, Liam looked a little flustered.

“Nothing.”

I took the bouquet, my gaze flickering, landing on a bright red lipstick stain on his collar. It was so stark, so obvious. I raised a hand and pointed to his collar.

“Your shirt’s dirty.”

Liam looked down, saw the mark Valerie had left when she kissed him, and his heart clenched. He stammered an explanation. “Oh, it… it must have gotten smudged somehow.”

“Hmm.” I didn’t call him out. “Take it off. I’ll wash it for you.”

“No, we have housekeepers. I couldn’t ask you to do it yourself.”

“The housekeepers just throw things in the wash. I’ll do it properly.”

Liam, thinking he’d dodged a bullet, quickly kissed me. “Sera, you’re the best.”

I took the shirt, a bitter smile playing on my lips as I looked at the stain. The best? More like the easiest to trick.

Perhaps I washed it with too much force, but his shirt ended up ripped. Liam didn’t seem to care. He just hugged me gently and said, “It’s fine, if it’s torn, just toss it. You can just buy me a new one.”

He changed his shirt, but the scent of her perfume still lingered. I quirked my lips. “Aren’t some things better when they’re old?”

“That’s true.” Liam nodded. “This shirt was really comfortable. Too bad you ruined it, or I could have worn it a few more times. You know, I’m a very loyal person.”

He was a very loyal person, alright. So loyal that he still loved the girl he liked five years ago, even after she disappeared for five years and then came back.

What about me? What did our five years together mean?

Growing up, I never lacked admirers. After college, I applied for a job at Liam’s company. The moment I saw him, my heart was lost. But my pride kept me from making the first move.

Somehow, Liam later fell for me and started pursuing me relentlessly. At first, I played hard to get, but then one day, there was a fire at the company.

The fire alarm blared, sending everyone scrambling, but I was frozen stiff, paralyzed with fear. It was Liam who turned back, scooped me up, and carried me out of the burning building. In that moment, I knew. I wanted to be with him forever.

Five years. Five long years. I’d never forgotten the day we got together. Liam swore to the heavens, “Sera, I promise you, I’ll only ever love you in this life.”

Seeing Liam’s earnest face, I cried and said, “Liam Hayes, remember what you said today. If you ever betray me, I’ll marry another man and make you regret it bitterly!”

Those vows still echoed in my ears, but his heart had already changed. No, perhaps his heart was never truly mine from the start.

A sharp ache rose in my nose. I clutched the torn shirt, and tears I couldn't hold back slipped down my cheeks.

“What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”

Seeing my tears, Liam panicked, quickly pulling out tissues to wipe them away.

“I’m fine.”

Liam was the one who betrayed me first. So I would keep my promise. I would marry another man!