09
On the seventh day after Chloe left,
Seraphina finished her performance, and Liam
drove to pick her up. While on their way
home, Seraphina was scrolling through short
videos.
“I was twenty–three when I got married, now I’m thirty–two, and I’m planning to get a
divorce.”
“Are you getting a divorce because you don’t
love him anymore?”
“Yeah. We can’t stand the sight of each
other.”
く
Liam’s body tensed. He turned to look.
He couldn’t see the woman’s face.
But he knew that voice. It was Chloe.
She said she didn’t love him anymore.
That she couldn’t stand the sight of him.
It was absurd, ridiculous.
Her mother was gone, her father had died a
few days ago. There was nobody in the world
that she could depend on.
She needed him.
Even though she had mentioned divorce many
times over the years, Liam knew very well that
<
she was the one who didn’t want the divorce.
She couldn’t bear the thought of losing him,
she wanted her family.
Divorce, and arguments were just Chloe’s
way of attracting his attention.
There was no way she didn’t love him.
Liam told himself that. But deep down, he
was uneasy and anxious.
He desperately needed to be reassured that
Chloe still loved him.
He pulled the car over, and ignoring
Seraphina’s confused look, he grabbed his
phone and tried to text Chloe.
<
But he realized that she hadn’t replied to his
text asking when she would be back.
And above that text, there was the message
asking him to contact her lawyer, and to not
bother her.
He thought for a bit, then decided to ask
where she had gone.
But all he got in reply was a red exclamation
mark.
Chloe had blocked him.
Liam’s fingers trembled, and a cold dread
filled his chest.
And just then, he heard the girl in the video ask Chloe, “So, if he had a change of heart
and tried to win you back, would you forgive
him?”
“No,” Chloe said, her voice gentle but firm.
Liam clenched his phone, his jaw tight.
Liar.
Chloe was lying.
How could she not forgive him?
She loved him too much.
He just didn’t believe it.
