Chapter 142 The End
Mia's POV
“What are you doing here, Villaruiz?" Liam's voice cut through me the moment I stepped onto the yacht. I stopped a few steps away from him, my breath uneven, my chest still rising and falling from running. The look on his face was filled with irritation and annoyance.
Like I was someone he regretted seeing.
For a second, I couldn't speak. I just stared at him, trying to reconcile the boy I loved with the person standing in front of me.
"I waited for you, Liam," I finally said, forcing the words out as calmly as I could. My voice almost broke, but I held it together. "I waited." He let out a short laugh, cold and mocking.
"I told you I wasn't coming," he said, his tone sharp. "I didn't think you'd actually be this slow."His words sank into places I couldn’t protect.
"I waited the whole night," I continued, my voice trembling now despite my effort to stay composed. "I stayed there, Liam. I thought you were just late. I thought something happened. I waited until morning. Until night again." My fingers curled at my sides. "I waited for you for twenty-four hours." For a brief second, his expression flickered. But it disappeared just as quickly.
“I don't remember asking you to," he replied flatly. "That's your fault, not mine." Liam continued, without any guilt in his voice. He glanced at me from head to toe, his lips curling into a smirk.
"I guess the principal made the right choice after all," he added mockingly. "Maybe I really do deserve to be the valedictorian." I clenched my fists, but he didn't stop.
"You should leave," he continued, his voice colder now. "I don't want to see your face anymore. This is exactly why I hate getting involved with people like you. You cling. You don't know your place." The words felt like they were stripping me piece by piece.
"I regret choosing you," he went on, his tone almost bored. "There were plenty of girls who would've been happy to spend time with me, even for an hour. But I chose you. That was my mistake." My chest tightened so much it hurt to breathe.
Beside him, Stacy laughed softly, clearly enjoying every second.
"I'm sorry, babe," Liam said, turning to her, his voice suddenly gentle. "I didn't mean to ruin the mood. I just wanted to piss off my dad before. You know my loyalty has always been with you." His fingers brushed against her cheek, like I was invisible.
"And now we're going to study abroad together," he added with a smile. "Isn't that exciting?" I stood there, watching him talk to her like the last few months meant nothing. Like I meant nothing.
“Why are you still standing there, Mia?” Liam snapped, turning back to me with clear impatience. “My parents aren’t around anymore. I meant everything I said yesterday. I don’t love you.” His eyes hardened as if there was nothing left between us.
"Everything I told you after graduation was true," he continued. "I never liked you. I was just playing with you. Do you want me to repeat it again so you can finally understand?"
My throat tightened, but I forced myself to speak.
"I hate you, Liam Alcaraz," I said, my voice shaking with anger and pain.
He smirked, completely unaffected.
“I don't care," he replied. "You're nothing, Mia. Smart, maybe. But still nothing."
Then he leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping just enough to make it feel more personal, more cruel.
"Your own mother left you," he said. "Doesn't that tell you enough about yourself?"
My body trembled not from weakness, but from the effort of holding myself together.
“You're not special," he continued, straightening as if nothing he said mattered. "And becoming a lawyer? Don't make me laugh."
I lifted my chin, even if my eyes burned.
“I will never have you as my client," I said, my voice low but firm.
He laughed.
"Mia, just go," Stacy cut in, her voice sharp and irritated now. She wrapped her arms around Liam possessively, pressing herself closer to him. "You're embarrassing yourself. You're ruining the night."
Her eyes dragged over me with clear disdain.
"You really don't get it, do you?" she added. “Liam doesn't want you." Something inside me snapped.
“If not for your family name, you wouldn't even be valedictorian," I shot back, my voice shaking with anger. "You know I aced every exam. You know I deserved it."
For a split second, Liam's jaw tightened.
But then he let out a cold laugh.
"You're still talking about that?" he said. "That's all you have, Mia. Grades."
He stepped closer, his voice dropping. “But in the real world, that won't be enough." I swallowed the lump in my throat, forcing myself not to cry.
"You must feel proud," I continued, my voice was softer now but just as sharp. "But it's a shame... because you were always just my number two."
My words didn’t seem to affect him at all.
"Leave," he said, his voice suddenly cold again. "Before I have my bodyguards drag you out. Or worse, file a case against you for trespassing."
It felt like he was making sure I understood exactly how small I was to him.
"No need to do that." Josh's voice echoed behind me.
Relief hit me so suddenly I almost turned around immediately.
Liam's expression faltered for a second.
"Oh, perfect," he muttered. "Take your friend away, Josh. She's becoming a nuisance. I hate people who force themselves where they don't belong."
He didn't get to finish. Because the next second—
Josh's fist slammed straight into his face. The sound echoed across the deck. Liam stumbled back, falling hard to the ground.
"Liam!" Stacy screamed, her voice sharp and panicked as she rushed toward him.
"Say one more word about Mia," Josh growled, stepping forward, his eyes blazing with anger, "and I swear I'll make sure that face of yours won't be recognizable anymore."
Liam wiped the blood from his lip, his expression darkening as he pushed himself up.
"You think you can touch me and walk away?" he spat before lunging forward.
Josh didn't hesitate. He drove another punch straight into Liam's stomach, forcing the air out of him. But this time, Liam fought back. They clashed, fists flying, bodies colliding as they shoved and hit each other without holding back. The deck echoed with the sound of impact, grunts of pain, and Stacy's high-pitched screams as she shouted for them to stop.
"Someone do something! Stop them!" she yelled hysterically.
Bodyguards rushed in, grabbing both of them, pulling them apart as they struggled and tried to break free.
"Let me go!" Josh shouted, still trying to get to Liam.
"Get him off me!" Liam snapped, blood staining his lip, his breathing heavy with anger.
Everything around me felt loud and chaotic, but I couldn't move. I stood there frozen, my mind still stuck on everything Liam had said.
On every word that shattered me. It wasn't until I saw the blood on Josh's face that I finally snapped out of it.
I rushed toward him, my hands trembling as I reached his arm.
"I'm so sorry..." I whispered, my voice breaking. "This is all because of me..."
And for the first time since I arrived, I finally felt it, not just the pain, but the truth. He never planned to come. Liam never loved me. Everything we had was never real to him; it was just a game, something he could walk away from without a second thought. And the worst part was, I was the only one who didn’t see it.
“I should have listened to you, Josh. I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I said softly as we stepped out of the hospital. I had insisted on bringing him there, needing to make sure he was okay after everything that happened.
Josh glanced at me and gave a small, tired smile. “Mia, I would do it again if I had to. I just didn’t want to see you in pain.”
His words made my chest tighten. I managed to smile, but it felt weak, like everything inside me was still falling apart. I was still hurting, still trying to process everything Liam had done, but seeing Josh get hurt because of me… that was what finally opened my eyes. It forced me to see the truth I had been avoiding all along.
And somehow, that hurt even more.
I hated myself for it. For being so blind. For holding on for so long. But I didn’t let Josh see that. Not now. Not when he had just lost his father and needed someone to be strong for him.
He didn’t deserve to carry my pain too.
A few days later, everything changed again. Josh had to go back to his hometown. His mother needed him, and there was no question about it. I knew he had to leave, but the thought of staying behind… of facing everything alone in the same city filled with memories I wanted to forget… I couldn’t do it.
“Are you really sure you want to come with me, Mia?” he asked again, his voice gentle but unsure. He had asked me the same question more times than I could count.
“Yes,” I answered, this time without hesitation. “I want to be there for you, Josh. As long as you need me.” It was the truth. But not all of it.
Because a part of me also needed to leave. I needed distance. I needed space to breathe, to think, to heal… away from everything that reminded me of Liam.
Josh studied me for a moment before nodding slowly. “I don’t even know if I’ll come back here,” he admitted. “My mom needs me. Things are different now.”
“I’ll stay wherever you are,” I said quietly, more to myself than to him. And for the first time, I meant it.
“Maybe… it’s time for a new life,” I added, lifting my gaze to meet his.
A small smile formed on his lips as he reached for my hand.
“I know you’re still hurting, Mia,” he said gently. “But you made the right choice. Coming with me… it’s the best thing you can do right now. I’ll help you with your studies if you need it.”
I shook my head, squeezing his hand lightly. “You don’t have to do that, Josh. I’ll work. I’ll manage.”
He let out a soft laugh. “Then fine. You can work for me.”
I laughed with him, and for the first time in days, it felt real. Not forced. Not empty.
“I’m glad you’re coming with me,” he continued, his voice softer now. “And don’t worry… in time, you’ll heal. One day, you’ll fall in love again. The right person will come, and you’ll finally have the happiness you deserve.”
I shook my head slowly, my grip on his hand tightening just a little.
“You don’t have to worry about me,” I said. “I don’t need a man to be happy. I’ll move on… I’ll forget Liam Alcaraz.”
I paused, taking a quiet breath, grounding myself in something that finally felt real.
“What matters now is that I finish my studies,” I continued, my voice growing steadier with each word. “I will graduate, take the bar exam, and become a lawyer. That’s what I need to focus on. That’s what I want for myself.”
I lifted my gaze, determination slowly replacing the pain I had carried for so long.
“And I will pass it… no matter what.” My voice hardened just a little. “But I will never forgive him.”
Josh didn’t say anything after that. He just held my hand tighter, as if silently promising he would be there no matter what.
And together, we walked out of the apartment with our luggage in hand. Leaving behind everything that broke me. And stepping into a future I didn’t fully understand yet, but this time, I was no longer waiting for someone who would never come.
\============The End Of Book One========
Dear readers,
Thank you so much for staying with Mia until the end of this journey. This may feel like an ending, but her story is far from over.
Book Two, The Girl the Billionaire Lost, will continue Mia’s story eight years later, where she returns stronger, wiser, and no longer the girl who was left behind.
I hope you will wait for it and continue this journey with me.
Synopsis:
Book Two: The Girl the Billionaire Lost
Eight years ago, Liam Alcaraz shattered Mia Villaruiz’s heart and walked away without looking back, leaving her with nothing but unanswered questions and the ghost of a love she once believed would last forever.
Now, he is one of the youngest and most powerful CEOs in the country.
And Mia is no longer the girl he left behind. She rose from being an outcast to becoming the top one of the bar exam, a brilliant corporate lawyer known for her sharp mind and unshakable confidence. She was fearless and untouchable.
Until fate brings him back into her life. When Mia is assigned to handle Liam’s billion dollar empire, what should have been just another case turns into the greatest challenge of her career and her heart. Winning him as a client could make her the youngest partner in the firm.
But facing Liam again means facing everything she tried to forget. Because behind every argument lies a spark that refuses to die. Every glance carries the weight of the past. And every touch threatens to unravel them both.
Liam is determined to prove he is no longer the boy who broke her. But Mia is determined to show him she is no longer the girl he left behind.
But in a world ruled by power, pride, and dangerous desire, old wounds begin to bleed again, truths come to light, and the line between love and hate slowly disappears.
Some temptations are impossible to resist. And some hearts never truly let go.