Chapter 2Ten Chances to Keep Me: Why I Chose His Brother

The day he told me his application form was lost for the second time.

My best friend was dragging me to the pool. Liam was sitting by the edge, staring blankly at a thin application form in his hand.

My bestie was about to go say hi, but I stopped her.

The next second, we saw the 28-year-old Liam snatch the paper from his hand.

Crumple it up, and toss it into the pool.

He said with righteous indignation:

"Liam, when you start hesitating, you've actually already chosen Chloe, haven't you?"

Liam frowned deeply, didn't say a word, and dove straight into the pool with a splash.

To retrieve the ruined application form.

"No, I haven't chosen Chloe."

"The person I love is Nora. I've loved her since we were kids."

Hearing this, my bestie nudged me with her elbow and teased in a whisper, "Your boy Liam truly loves you."

I smiled but said nothing. This time, I agreed with what the 28-year-old Liam said.

When Liam hesitated, the answer was actually already very clear.

The third time.

It was in the cafeteria. While I was eating, Liam took out his application form, seemingly taking it very seriously, but his eyes kept drifting to Chloe at the next table.

When Chloe finished eating and stood up, she suddenly let out a gasp.

Liam shot up from his seat in a flash.

He reached out and caught Chloe by the waist.

Knocking over the soup that was on his table.

Chloe blushed and thanked him.

Liam grumbled that his application form was ruined again, but he wasn't truly angry.

The fourth time.

Liam and I ran into Chloe on the way home.

Before I could stop him, he had already rushed forward to chase away some punks harassing Chloe.

He casually threw the book in his hand at them.

When the application form fluttered out, he stepped on it without mercy, grinding it into the wet dirt, tearing it.

Just like our relationship.

...

The tenth time.

Today.

Liam and I were at the movies. Halfway through, he got a text from Chloe. Then he turned to me and said:

"Gotta hit the restroom."

And he never came back.

A two-hour movie.

I finished it by myself.

And I finally made my decision.

Love that isn't steadfast, I don't want it.

Sure enough, when Liam came looking for me again, the form was lost once more.

"Nora, please don't be mad at me."

Liam's voice pulled me back from my thoughts.

I paused for a moment, then nodded calmly: "Whatever you want."

Liam visibly exhaled in relief. He flashed a smile and pointed playfully at a faint bruise on the corner of his mouth.

"Baby, it hurts. Put some medicine on it for me."

I frowned slightly. Just as I was about to say something, his phone rang.

The ringtone was so familiar. It sounded like Chloe's...

My heart skipped a beat.

"Baby, don't you think this song is pretty good? Chloe recorded it just for me."

"She said it's a thank you for saving her the other day."

A private, personally recorded ringtone.

For a moment, I couldn't process it. Was Chloe really as innocent as she appeared?

Liam swiped to answer, and a cold, aloof voice came through:

"Liam, I keep feeling like someone is following me on my way home. I don't know if it's those punks from before."

"I've already called the police. Can you come with me to the station?"

Liam instinctively glanced at me, his eyes shifting. He hesitated for two seconds before saying:

"Okay, I'll come get you. Wait for me."

He hung up.

He stammered, trying to explain to me. I smiled and spoke first:

"Aren't you going to go?"

"Then, baby, I'll come pick you up for school tomorrow?"

"Mhm."

Getting my answer, Liam relaxed, grabbed his phone, and hurried off.

I stared at his retreating back, smiling silently.

Then I pulled out my own phone.

I called Liam's older brother.

The person on the other end was clearly a bit surprised.

It wasn't until three minutes had passed that I heard Julian ask in a slightly hoarse voice, "Don't you love Liam?"

I smiled, my voice very soft:

"I do, but I can't let myself be wronged."

"Julian, the alliance between our two families needs to continue. Are you up for it?"

The other end went quiet again.

I frowned slightly.

When another three minutes had passed, Julian, seemingly suppressing his voice, asked back:

"If you choose me, you can't run away. Are you sure?"