CHAPTER FORTY-TWO:
MARRY ME
ELIZABETH’S POV
“Marry me,” he requested, his voice devoid of emotion, yet the weight of his words struck me like a tidal wave.
My eyes widened in disbelief as I stared at him, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. Liam just asked me to marry him! After all the scheming, the countless plans meticulously crafted and executed, I had finally reached the moment I had been waiting for. I could scarcely believe it. His voice echoed in my mind, taunting me, “If you were the last lady on earth, I wouldn’t look your way.” Those words had once cut me deeply, the sting of rejection burning long after they were spoken. But now, here we were. If he’d known he’d be making this proposal, he wouldn’t have put up such a fight back then. He would have married me right there in his office, dismissing Alice with barely a thought. But no, he chose the hard way, making this victory all the sweeter.
I looked into his eyes, trying to read the thoughts hidden behind that cold exterior. “Are you sure? Don’t you think Alice will hate me for this and…” I let my voice falter, injecting just the right amount of hesitation and doubt, pretending to care about his wife’s feelings.
He dismissed my concern with a grunt. “The last time I checked, Alice hated you, and she doesn’t get to make decisions about my life. I’ll marry whoever I see fit.” His words were sharp, his tone impatient, as if discussing something trivial rather than the woman who once held his heart. “So, are you marrying me or not?”
Doesn’t he know anything about romance? Geez! I thought, rolling my eyes inwardly. But outwardly, I maintained a facade of affection and longing. “Liam, my love for you is more than the su-”
“Good,” he cut me off brusquely, not even allowing me to finish my contrived declaration of love. He reached out, his hand brushing against my hair with a surprising gentleness, but the moment was fleeting. He pulled away just as quickly, his expression unreadable. “Go,” he muttered, his voice devoid of warmth.
“Where?” I asked, confusion lacing my tone. I didn’t understand-didn’t he want me to stay? Didn’t this proposal mean something?
“Do you enjoy annoying me or what? Go home!” he snapped, irritation flashing in his eyes as he pushed me away, his touch no longer gentle but harsh.
“Can I stay till morning? It’s late outside, and…” I tried to reason with him, my voice trembling slightly, but he was having none of it.
“Get out!” he growled, his patience wearing thin. Without warning, he kicked me off the bed, the sudden force sending me sprawling onto the cold, hard floor. I landed with a painful thud, the impact jolting through my body. I was bare, exposed, and the sting of his rejection was almost unbearable. Pain shot through me, both physical and emotional, making me feel like I might pass out from the sheer force of it.
“Get dressed and go home!” he groaned, his voice dark and foreboding, as if he could barely tolerate my presence.
“I… will,” I stuttered, scrambling to my feet, humiliation burning my cheeks. My hands shook as I hastily gathered my clothes, dressing as quickly as I could before fleeing the room. As I stepped out of the house, the cold night air hit me like a slap, a harsh reminder of the reality I was in. I glanced at the time, my breath fogging in the chilly air. It was 10:54 p. m. already.
He should have let me stay until tomorrow. How heartless could he be? I thought bitterly as I waited for a cab. My body still ached from the fall, and a part of me resented him for treating me this way. But I couldn’t afford to dwell on that now. The moment the cab arrived, I quickly got in, slamming the door shut with a sense of finality. I muttered the address to the driver, and we hit the road. As the city lights blurred by, I knew what I had to do next. Since I’m already on my way to him, it’s time to end this charade of a relationship.
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**ALICE’S POV**
I stood still at the door, my hand hovering over the doorbell as uncertainty gnawed at me. It wasn’t as if I had a choice, but a deep sense of unease settled in my stomach. Adrenaline coursed through my veins, making my heart race. What would they think? I wondered, my mind swirling with doubts. Letting out a deep sigh, I finally mustered the courage and rang the doorbell.
“Coming!” Her voice came from inside, warm and familiar, a stark contrast to the turmoil within me. Moments later, the door swung open, revealing my mother.
“Alice?” She raised her brows in surprise, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of me standing there with my luggage.
“Good evening, Mom,” I greeted her, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. It felt strained, almost painful, to pretend everything was fine when inside, I was anything but.
“Why are you here so late at night? I told you not to travel around in the night,” she scolded gently, concern lining her voice.
“I remember, Mom, but I wasn’t left with any choice. I couldn’t sleep on the street, could I?” I replied, trying to inject some humor into the situation, though my chuckle came out more sad than amused.
Her expression softened, her gaze shifting to the luggage at my feet. “What’s wrong, Alice?” she asked, her voice full of concern, her motherly instincts kicking in.
“Hmm… I’m still standing outside here. Can I come in now?” I asked, trying to divert the conversation, not ready to delve into the real reason behind my visit just yet.
“Oh, sorry… my bad,” she said, lightly tapping her forehead as if to chide herself. She stepped aside, allowing me to enter. I walked in, pulling my luggage along, and she quickly shut the door behind me, the lock clicking into place.
“Is Dad asleep?” I asked, my eyes flickering upstairs where the soft glow of a nightlight seeped under the door.
“Yes, a long time ago. I was about to go to bed too,” she replied, taking my luggage and rolling it into my room, with me trailing closely behind her. She pushed the door open and set my suitcase beside the wardrobe, her movements slow and deliberate, as if sensing my unease.
“Go freshen up, sweetie,” she murmured, busying herself with arranging my clothes, her back turned to me.
“Already did, Mom. I’m refreshed,” I responded, spinning around to face her, forcing another smile. This one felt even more fake, but I couldn’t let her see through my facade. She nodded, her eyes flicking over me, not quite convinced but choosing not to push.
“You brought so many clothes this time, Alice, more like you’re here to stay forever,” she chuckled, folding a shirt and placing it neatly on a shelf.
A sharp pain pierced my heart at her words, the truth of them too heavy to bear. “I am here to stay forever,” I whispered, so softly that I wasn’t sure if she heard.
The truth was out, but the reality of it settled heavily on my shoulders. This wasn’t just a visit; it was the beginning of something I wasn’t entirely prepared for.