Chapter 5
Seeing the document I held out, Liam raised a smug eyebrow.[]
“What’s this? A letter of apology?“[]
“Let me save you the trouble. It’s too late to apologize now. I’m still furious about this afternoon.“[]
“Don’t think some pathetic little gesture is going to make me forgive you.“[]
Seeing him so pleased with himself, I found it darkly amusing.[]
True.
I had handwritten an apology letter once, back when I was constantly pissing him off and he refused to forgive me.[]
Looking back, yeah, he was in the wrong, but I was the one who handed him my dignity to stomp
Thankfully, that’s over.
“It’s not an apology. It’s a surprise.“]]
I said flatly.
Liam gave a curious look and was about to open it when his phone rang.[]
Seeing the caller ID, his eyes lit up.
“Hang on, I have to take this.“]
He answered immediately.[]
- on.
“Mr. Moore! I just hit someone with my car! I don’t know what to do, I’m so scared!” Hannah’s panicked voice cried through the speaker.]
Her voice was thick with fake distress.[]
Liam looked instantly concerned.
“Send me your location. I’m on my way.“]]
He stood to leave, completely ignoring me.[]
I stepped in front of him, holding out the document.]
“Deal with my thing first. I was here first, and this is urgent. It needs a signature.“[]
Liam paused, glanced at me, and sighed.[]
“Claire, could you have a little empathy? Her situation is obviously more urgent than yours.“[]
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Chapter 5
“This jealousy is really not a good look on you.“[]
I almost laughed.]
I’m the one with a bad look? What about Hannah, who was clearly drunk driving?]
was
But I didn’t want to argue. I just kept the document held out toward him.[]
19
Liam didn’t say anything else. He opened the file, but before he could read a word, another shriek came from Hannah on the phone.
“Ah! How can you hit me? Mr. Moore…!“]]
“Don’t worry, I’m on my way!” Liam said, trying to calm her down, though he looked far more panicked himself.[]
He didn’t even glance at the contents. He flipped to the last page, scribbled his signature, and strode toward the door.]
Watching his frantic retreat, I couldn’t resist asking, “Aren’t you going to see what you just signed?“]
“What’s there to see? The only ‘surprises‘ you ever bring are a few small–time contracts.“[]
“As long as you’re sure the terms are fine, it’s fine.“[]
And with that, he was gone without a backward glance.[]
I just found it laughable.
In the past, I used to secretly negotiate deals to make him happy.]
At first, he was always thrilled. But as the company grew, he started looking down on the same kind of scrappy little startups we used to be.
He used to obsessively check every clause for loopholes before signing anything.[]
Now, because he was worried about Hannah, he signed something without even knowing what it was.]
Oh well. It saved me a lot of trouble.
Liam didn’t come home that night.]
Hannah, however, blew up my phone.]
[Claire, I know you saw everything outside the private room.]
[But you get it now, right? Liam’s heart belongs to me. One phone call, and he comes running.]]
[You should just back out now. It’ll save everyone the embarrassment.]]
I scoffed.]
So Hannah was finally dropping the act.]
Chapter 5
I knew it was pointless to send the chat logs to Liam.]
He doted on Hannah. Even if he saw her provocations, he’d just accuse me of trying to drive a wedge between them.[]
But I wasn’t generous enough to ignore her constant jabs.]
[Congrats. But when Liam gets tired of you, just remember to bow out gracefully, okay?]]]
I knew it wasn’t a fatal blow, but it would definitely get under her skin.[]
Sure enough, she went silent.[]
I went to bed early. At dawn, I sent the signed power of attorney to the realtor.]
That same afternoon, someone came to view the house.
She was happy with the location, the layout, and the price, but was suspicious about why I was in such a hurry to sell.[]
“It’s such a great house. Why the low price? Is there something wrong with it?“[]
She was cautious.
I told her briefly that it was the house I’d bought for my fiancé, but the engagement was off.[]
She nodded in understanding.
“The yard and the decor definitely have a guy’s touch.“]
“Good call selling it. No point being surrounded by painful memories.”
I didn’t say anything.[]
Liam had been incredibly picky about the house. It took me three months and touring over a hundred properties to find this one that finally met his approval.[]
Even the renovation was done to his exact specifications.
It was only then that I realized my entire life for the past few years had revolved around him.[]
The buyer was decisive. She agreed to buy it that same night and we set a date to sign the contract and close in two days.[]
Perfect. I’d be gone in two days, too.[]
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We Grate the Heart
