Chapter 184 The Price Of Letting Go

Chapter 184 The Price Of Letting Go
Mia’s POV

I watched Liam walk away until he disappeared from sight, and only then did the strength that had kept me standing finally give way.

I covered my mouth as a sob escaped, my vision blurring until the beach and ocean became indistinct shapes.

I had done it.

I had finally gotten Liam to let me go, and the pain of knowing I had succeeded was almost unbearable.

Every part of me wanted to run after him, throw my arms around him, and tell him I had lied. The thought of becoming his wife had never made me miserable. It was everything surrounding us that terrified me.

But I stayed where I was because loving Liam had never been the problem.

Daniel approached quietly, giving me a moment before speaking.

“Are you sure about this, Mia?”

I wiped my cheeks. “You were at my office when his mother called. I put the call on speaker, Dan. You heard every word.” My voice trembled. “Do you think I made the wrong decision?”

His expression saddened. “Liam chose you, Mia.”

A bitter laugh escaped me. “And what happened after he made that choice? His father was rushed to the hospital after Liam told him he wouldn’t marry Glydel because he wanted me. How was I supposed to say yes to him after hearing that?”

“Mia, Rafael’s condition isn’t your fault.”

“I know I didn’t make him sick, but that doesn’t change what happened. Liam stood in front of his dying father and chose me, and their argument ended with his father collapsing. What happens if something worse happens next time?”

Daniel remained silent.

“I love Liam, Dan. You know I do. Lucinda has never hidden how much she disapproves of me.” Tears rolled down my cheeks again. “I can’t marry Liam knowing his parents believe I’m the reason he turned his back on everything they wanted for him.”

“Mia…”

“I’m tired of being the reason he has to choose.”

Daniel glanced toward the parking area where Liam had disappeared.

“But you made the choice for him.”

His words hit me hard.

“He came here ready to choose you,” Daniel continued gently. “Maybe you should have told him what you knew and let him decide what he was willing to live with.”

“And what do you think he would have done if I told him the truth? He would have chosen me again.”

“Maybe.”

“And his father?”

Daniel had no answer.

“That’s why I couldn’t tell him. If Liam knew I was pushing him away because of his father, he would keep fighting for us. He would tell me none of this was my fault and go back to that hospital determined to change his father’s mind.”

My voice broke.

“I couldn’t let him do that.”

I looked toward the place where Liam had disappeared.

“You have no idea how badly I wanted to say yes when he asked me to marry him. When he said he was letting me go, I wanted to run after him and beg him to stay.”

Another sob escaped me.

“But what kind of love would that be if all I cared about was what I wanted?”

“Mia, loving someone doesn’t mean you have to destroy yourself for them.”

“I’m trying to give Liam back the family he was willing to lose for me.” I wiped my cheeks. “For once, I need to stop thinking about how badly I want him and think about what staying with me could cost him.”

My legs weakened, and I lowered myself onto the bench inside the cottage. Daniel sat beside me, and for a while, we simply stared at the ocean.

“It hurts so much, Dan.”

“I know.”

I shook my head. “I just watched the man I love walk away believing I don’t want a life with him.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “And I had to let him believe it because if he knew the truth, he would come back.”

Daniel fell silent, perhaps because there was nothing left to say.

I had finally gotten what I had asked Liam for.

He had let me go. I just hadn’t realized it would feel so much like losing a part of myself.

We stayed by the shore until late afternoon. By the time Daniel and I returned to his car, my tears had stopped, leaving behind an emptiness that somehow felt worse.

“Where do you want me to take you?” he asked.

My condo was the first answer that came to mind, but the thought of going back there alone, surrounded by memories of Liam, made my chest tighten.

“Josh’s place.”

Daniel understood immediately. “You don’t want to be alone.”

“No.”

“Okay.”

He didn’t ask anything else, and I was grateful.

During the drive, I stared through the window while Liam’s words played repeatedly in my head.

I’m letting you go.

Those were the words I had wanted from him.

Now I wished he had never said them.

When Daniel pulled up outside Josh’s place, he walked me to the door. Josh answered before I could knock a second time, and concern immediately filled his face.

“Mia?”

“Can I stay here tonight?”

His expression softened. “You never have to ask.”

I turned to Daniel. “Thank you.”

“Try to sleep.”

Neither of us believed I would.

Josh let me inside without asking questions, and I was grateful because I didn’t have the strength to explain that I had just let go of the man I still wanted a future with.

Sleep came only in fragments.

By morning, I was exhausted, but I had made up my mind. I needed to get away from the city, but there was one person I needed to speak to first.

Richard frowned the moment I entered his office the next morning.

“Mia. Sit down.”

I closed the door but remained standing. “I need to talk to you.”

“All right.”

I drew in a breath. “I want to resign.”

Richard stared at me for a moment before abruptly pushing back his chair.

“What? No.”

“Richard—”

“No. I won’t let you.”

I blinked.

“I understand what you’re going through, Mia, but you cannot stop being my partner because you’re hurting.”

“Will you at least let me explain?”

“I already know enough to tell you my answer.”

His frustration was obvious, but so was his concern.

“I know you need time, so take it.”

“I don’t know how long I’ll need.”

“Then I’ll give you an indefinite leave.”

“Richard.”

“I mean it, Atty. Villaruiz. I know how much you love your work and how hard you worked to get where you are. I’m not accepting your resignation only for you to regret walking away from everything you built when this doesn’t hurt quite as much.”

“I’m capable of making my own decisions.”

“Of course you are.”

“Then accept my resignation.”

“No.”

I stared at him. “I barely slept last night.”

“That isn’t helping your argument.”

Despite everything, I almost smiled.

Richard sat down as though the matter had already been settled.

“Take a month, three months, six months. I don’t care. Take whatever time you need.”

“You can’t just give a partner six months off.”

“I can, and apparently I just did.”

“Richard.”

“Besides, what’s the use of the internet nowadays?” He leaned back in his chair. “If you get tired of doing nothing, work from home. Email, phone calls, video conferences. We’ll manage.”

I could only stare at him.

“I’ll tell Caroline not to bother you unless you specifically ask for something. Otherwise, no one from this firm contacts you until you’re ready.”

“You’ve made an entire arrangement without letting me finish explaining.”

“Yes.”

“That isn’t how a conversation works.”

“It is when one of my best lawyers comes into my office looking like she hasn’t slept and tries to resign from a partnership she worked years to earn.”

A small laugh escaped me.

Richard smiled. “Good. At least you can still do that.”

Then his expression softened.

“I’ll be waiting for you, Mia.”

My throat tightened. “You really won’t accept my resignation?”

“Absolutely not.”

“I could submit it formally.”

“And I could leave it sitting on my desk unsigned.”

“That’s probably not legal.”

“You’re the lawyer. Sue me.”

Another quiet laugh escaped me.

Then he became serious.

“Go wherever you need to go. Take care of yourself. Your office and your partnership will still be here when you’re ready to come back.”

I looked around his office and thought about everything I had worked for.

Maybe walking away from Liam didn’t mean I had to walk away from the rest of my life too.

“All right,” I whispered. “Indefinite leave.”

“Good.”

“But I’m taking my laptop.”

“I would expect nothing less.”

I turned toward the door.

“Mia.”

I looked back.

“Don’t make permanent decisions because of temporary pain.”

I swallowed against the lump in my throat.

If only losing Liam felt temporary.

“Thank you, Richard.”

I stepped out of his office knowing that, for the first time in years, I had nowhere I was required to be the following morning.

Maybe that was exactly what I needed.

Time away from work. Time away from the city.

Somewhere far enough from everything that reminded me of Liam, where I could finally learn how to wake up each morning without expecting him to still be part of my life.