“You think I’m your servant? You’re not
helpless.”
Everyone in the restaurant looked at me.
I didn’t say anything.
Liam did it for Chloe.
Chloe was still talking when Liam interrupted.
He said, “We should order something else.”
That weekend, I went to LA to look at houses.
Liam was still asleep.
I got a call when I got to the neighborhood.
“Where are you?”
I didn’t answer. I just said, “What’s wrong?”
Liam asked, “Where are you?”
I lied. “I’m at work. Why?”
Liam said, “I’m at your office. No one’s here.”
I didn’t say anything, but he didn’t hang up.
Chapter 2
Seeing the realtor approaching, I kept it short.
“I’m in LA on a business trip. We can talk
when I get back.”
Then I hung up.
That was Liam’s favorite brush–off line. Now I
was starting to use it too.
You can’t find the perfect place on one trip,
so I planned to go back again next week.
I stayed in LA that night, and it was Sunday
afternoon by the time I got home.
Liam was there.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were going to
LA?”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “I’m a grown
woman. I don’t need to run everything by you,
do I?”
“It’s not safe for you to travel alone.”
A month before, Liam was on a business trip
ᄀ
One night, I woke up to a faint noise.
I walked into the living room and realized
someone was trying to crack the keypad lock.
I panicked and called security.
While I waited, I called Liam.
He picked up on the third try.
“I’m working,” he snapped.
My hand was shaking.
“Liam, someone’s trying to break in.
“”
“Call security. I’m in another country. What
am I supposed to do?”
Г
The keypad beeping stopped. I started crying.
“Liam, I’m scared.”
“What do you want me to do? Stop crying
and call security.”
If he could care about me then, it would be
great.
Now, I wanted to laugh.
Just then, Liam’s phone rang.
Chloe’s voice was clear.
“Liam, I have a fever. I feel awful. Can you
come over?”
<
He hesitated.
I waved my hand. “Go ahead. It sucks to be
sick.”
He had a guilty look. “I’m sorry. When you
were sick before, I…”
I didn’t let him finish. “Go.”
I didn’t want to see him looking so conflicted.
He rushed to grab my arm, but I pulled away.
As he left, he said, “I’ll be home for dinner.”
6
When I woke up, I made dinner for two.
L
Seven o’clock passed, and Liam didn’t show.
I reheated my dinner.
After I finished eating, I checked my phone.
Chloe hadn’t posted anything.
Whenever she was with Liam, she posted
something.
She must be really sick.
I started reviewing business reports for the
LA office.
I needed to familiarize myself.
I was working hard and lost track of time.
E
I’d forgotten about Liam.
When I was always focused on him, I was
always worried. It made me sad.
I was wrong. It’s easy to have fun. I’d never
felt happier.
The next morning, Liam sent a bunch of texts.
We were like switched.
I replied to the texts. He called right away.
“I took Chloe to the hospital yesterday. I had
to stay there all night.”
“Okay,” I said.
“I should’ve called.”
“It’s fine,” I said.
