Chapter 175: Let Me Go

Mia’s POV

Liam stepped inside, and for several seconds, no one spoke.

His eyes immediately found mine, and something in his expression broke when he saw my swollen eyes. He looked exhausted, his hair disheveled and his shirt no longer as neat as it had been earlier.

Part of me wanted to go to him. Even after hearing him agree to marry another woman, I wanted to wrap my arms around him because I knew he was hurting too. Tonight, Liam had learned that the father he believed was recovering might have only months left to live.

But I stayed where I was.

Josh stepped forward before Liam could come closer. “What are you doing here?”

“I came for Mia.”

“She doesn’t want to talk to you.”

“Josh,” I said quietly.

He looked at me. “You don’t have to talk to him tonight.”

“I know.”

Liam’s gaze never left mine. “I need to explain.”

I swallowed against the tightness in my throat. “I think you should.”

Josh clearly didn’t like it, but Daniel placed a hand on his shoulder. “Come on. Give them a few minutes.”

“We’ll be in the kitchen,” Josh said before reluctantly following him.

Once they were gone, Liam stepped toward me. I moved back, and he immediately stopped.

“Mia.”

“I was there, Liam. I heard your father tell everyone he was dying. I heard him ask you to marry Glydel, and I heard you say yes.” My voice trembled. “Do you understand what that did to me?”

“I had just found out my father was dying. Less than a year, maybe only months, and then he asked me for one thing.” He dragged a hand through his hair. “I wasn’t thinking about Glydel or marriage. All I could think about was losing him.”

“I know, and that’s the problem.” Tears blurred my vision. “If your father had simply ordered you to marry Glydel because he preferred her, I could be angry and tell you to stand up to him. But he told you he’s dying, Liam. I can’t compete with that.”

“You’re not competing with him.”

“Aren’t I? If you choose me, you break the promise you made to him. If you choose him, you break the promise you made to me.”

Pain filled his face. “I’ll talk to him.”

“And tell him what?”

“That I can’t marry Glydel.”

“You already told him you would.”

“I made a mistake.”

“Because you were hurting.” I wiped away a tear. “That’s why I can’t hate you. I saw your face when he told you he was dying. You weren’t thinking about betraying me. You were a son terrified of losing his father.”

“Then don’t let one terrible moment destroy us.”

“It isn’t that simple. What happens if you refuse him and he dies? I know it wouldn’t be my fault, but that wouldn’t stop me from wondering whether our happiness came at the cost of one of his final wishes.”

“You wouldn’t be responsible.”

“I know, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t feel responsible.”

His face fell, and for a moment, neither of us spoke.

“I love you, Liam. You know that.”

“I love you too.”

“I know.” My throat tightened. “But maybe love isn’t always enough.”

“Don’t say that.”

“Years ago, you left because you thought it was the right thing to do. Somehow, we found each other again, and I thought that meant we were finally getting another chance. But since then, we’ve fought your mother, people tried to kill us, and you took a bullet for me. Every time I think we’ve survived the worst, something else happens.”

“That doesn’t mean we give up.”

“Maybe not, but I’m tired.” My voice broke. “I’ve experienced more pain loving you than I ever thought I could endure, and I kept fighting because being with you made it worth it. But I don’t want to keep wondering what we’ll have to survive next.”

“Neither do I, but ending us isn’t the answer.”

“Maybe it is for me.”

His expression changed.

I forced myself to meet his eyes. “Please, Liam. Let me go.”

“No.”

The answer came without hesitation.

My chest tightened. “Liam.”

“I already did that once. I convinced myself leaving you was the right thing to do, and I spent years regretting it. I’m not making that mistake again.”

“This is different. Your father is dying, and he wants you to marry Glydel.”

“I know.”

“Then what do you expect me to do?”

“Nothing.” He stepped closer but stopped when I tensed. “You don’t have to compete with my father or ask me to choose you. This is my life. I was shocked and scared tonight, and for one moment, I was just a son who had been told he was going to lose his father. I said yes when I shouldn’t have, but that doesn’t mean I intend to marry Glydel.”

“What if you regret choosing me?” I whispered. “What if your father dies?”

Pain flashed across his face, but he didn’t look away. “Then I’ll grieve my father, but I will never blame you for his death.”

“You don’t know how you’ll feel.”

“And neither do you.”

“I don’t want to be the reason you lose whatever time you have left with him.”

“You won’t be. Loving you and loving my father are not the same thing. I shouldn’t have to destroy one to prove the other.”

“But maybe you have to choose this time.”

“Then let me make that choice.”

I stared at him, fighting the urge to break down completely.

“Please, Liam. Just let me go. This is what I want.”

His face fell. “Mia, you’re saying this because I hurt you. I know I did, and I’m sorry. But please don’t give up on us because of what happened tonight.” His voice cracked. “I’m begging you.”

I shook my head. “Don’t.”

“How can you ask me to let you go when I know you still love me?”

“Because loving you is exactly why I have to. If I didn’t love you, I could hate you for saying yes and walk away without looking back. But I know what your father means to you, and I don’t want you spending whatever time he has left fighting with him because of me.”

“This isn’t your decision to make for me.”

“And staying with you is mine.” Tears slipped down my cheeks. “I’m choosing to walk away.”

For the first time, Liam had no immediate answer. The silence between us felt unbearable before he finally spoke.

“If you need time, I’ll give it to you.”

“I don’t need time.”

“Mia—”

“I mean it. I don’t need a few days to calm down or a week to think. I’m asking you to let me go.”

His jaw tightened. “I can’t.”

“I told you what I want.”

“I heard you.”

“Then respect it.”

For a moment, I thought he would argue again, but instead he stepped back.

“I’ll respect your decision tonight. I’ll leave because you’re asking me to, and I won’t force you to talk to me.” His eyes held mine. “But I won’t pretend I can give up on us that easily.”

“Liam…”

“This isn’t over for me, Mia. Not even close.”

My heart twisted painfully as he reached for the door, then stopped and looked back at me.

“I won’t force you to stay with me, but I’m going to fight for us.”

Then he left.

The door closed behind him, and an aching emptiness settled inside me. I had gotten what I wanted. Liam had left, yet I felt no relief.

My gaze dropped to the engagement ring still on my finger.

If I truly wanted this to end, I should have taken it off and given it back to him.

But I hadn’t.

I curled my fingers around the ring as his final words echoed in my mind.

I had asked Liam to let me go, but standing there without him, I had never felt more lost.