10
When I returned to the States, Liam was the
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one who picked me up at the airport. Hel
looked so handsome, so put together. He
walked toward me with a huge bouquet of
roses, and everyone was looking at us.
“Chloe, welcome home.”
I didn’t take the flowers.
His brow furrowed, but he just grabbed my
suitcase. “Sweetheart, can’t we just stop this
nonsense?”
He called me “Sweetheart.”
In the past, that would’ve melted my heart.
But now, it just confused me. He didn’t seem
to know what he was doing.
I opened the car door and saw Seraphina in
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the back seat.
I frowned a little.
Liam quickly said, “Chloe, I know you’re still mad at Seraphina for ruining your birthday. I brought her so that she can apologize.”
Seraphina looked down, all doe–eyed and pathetic. “I’m so sorry, Chloe. It’s all my fault. Don’t be mad at Liam because of me, okay?”
I just stared at the whole charade, completely
silent.
Liam tried to take my hand, but I pulled away.
He sighed, a little exasperated, and gave in. “Okay, fine. If you don’t like her, I’ll cut things
off. Okay?”
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Seraphina’s face paled. She couldn’t believe
what she was hearing.
But I still refused. “It’s not necessary. Young
people can be useful.‘
Liam looked confused. “What?”
Right then, a young guy knocked on the car window. When he saw me, he sat down next
to me, took my hand, and intertwined his
fingers with mine. “Girl, why did you leave me
behind?”
Before I could respond, Liam’s face turned
dark, his eyes fixed on the hand that was
holding mine. “Who is this?”
The guy turned to Liam, then to me. “Is he
the ex–hubby?”
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I nodded.
The guy grinned, his youthful energy radiating
off him. “Hi, I’m Lucas. I’m Chloe’s boy toy.”
His honesty was unnerving.
Seraphina wrinkled her nose in disgust. “How can you be so shameless?”
Lucas rolled his eyes. “What? Aren’t you the ex–hubby’s toy too? What’s the deal with the discrimination? Besides, I’m the one who gets
to discriminate against you, you’re a
homewrecking mistress, you’re trash, you
have no shame!”
His words hit Seraphina like a bomb.
She just stared back, pale–faced, red–eyed,
trembling all over, looking to Liam for his
usual help.
But Liam didn’t even glance at her.
“Let’s go home,” Liam said.
I spoke up, “Take me to my apartment.”
That was where I was currently living.
Lucas had tagged along on my flight back.
Now that he had nowhere to go, he was
staying with me.
Liam tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
23
“Let’s go home, Chloe. I want to talk to you.”
It wasn’t a request.
I frowned, but looking at Liam’s face, I just
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agreed. “Fine.”
