Chapter 186 The Life I Almost Had

Chapter 186 The Life I Almost Had
Mia's POV

I never thought I would sell my condo.

It was the first place that had truly belonged to me, bought with money I had earned after years of studying, working, and proving that the girl who once counted every dollar could build a life of her own.

I loved that place, but lately, being there had become unbearable.

Every room carried a memory of Liam. I could still picture him in my kitchen, sitting on my couch, waiting outside my door, or lying beside me as though we had finally been given back everything we had lost eight years ago. Even the silence felt like him.

I stayed at Josh's place for a while, hoping some distance would help, but the first night I returned to the condo alone, I lasted less than an hour before breaking down.

That was when I called my agent.

"Put it on the market."

She hesitated. "Are you sure, Ms. Villaruiz?"

My gaze settled on the couch where Liam had once held me.

"No," I admitted. "But list it anyway."

Once I made the decision, I moved quickly. I packed the things I wanted to keep and placed everything else in storage. Richard had already given me indefinite leave from the firm and told me I could work remotely whenever I was ready, which meant there was nothing forcing me to stay in the city.

I had already returned Liam's ring and asked him to let me go. Now I had to find a way to keep moving without him.

Daniel stayed with me through most of the packing. He carried boxes, brought food whenever I forgot to eat, and never questioned the moments when I suddenly went quiet. Sometimes he simply sat beside me while I cried, and I appreciated that he never tried to convince me everything would eventually be fine.

One evening, we were sitting on the floor surrounded by half-packed boxes when a thought escaped before I could stop it.

"Dan, you told me once that you'd marry me, right?"

Daniel turned toward me slowly.

I almost laughed at his expression, but the words kept coming.

"I don't think I'll ever forget Liam. I don't even know if I'll ever stop loving him, and you always knew that." My fingers tightened around the mug in my hands. "But you still offered to marry me before."

"Mia..."

"We're good friends. Maybe that's enough." I forced a small smile. "Maybe I've been looking at everything the wrong way. Maybe you're the person I'm supposed to end up with."

His expression shifted, but I couldn't read it.

"Maybe we should get married."

Daniel went completely still, and the silence stretched long enough for humiliation to catch up with me.

A broken laugh escaped my lips as I covered my face with both hands.

"Oh God. I'm sorry, Dan. That was so stupid."

"Mia."

"No, don't." I shook my head, too embarrassed to look at him. "I don't even know what I'm saying anymore. I think I'm losing my mind."

He gently pulled one of my hands away from my face.

"Look at me."

I reluctantly lifted my eyes.

"How could I even ask you that after everything?" I whispered. "You loved me for years, and all I ever did was choose Liam. Maybe this is my punishment. Maybe I'm finally learning what it feels like to love someone and know you can't have them."

"Don't say that."

His voice was gentle, and when I looked away, he squeezed my hand.

"I know I promised you more than once that I'd marry you whenever you wanted me to. I meant it every time." He paused. "I loved you, Mia. For a long time, I thought I always would."

Something in his tone made my chest tighten.

"But I can't marry you now."

I stared at him.

"I'm sorry if that means I'm breaking my promise," he continued. "It doesn't mean I stopped loving you. I just don't love you that way anymore."

For a moment, I didn't know what to feel. Surprise came first, followed by an unexpected sense of relief.

Daniel had spent so many years loving me while knowing my heart belonged to someone else that I had always carried guilt over it. Hearing that he had finally moved on lifted something from me, even if a small part of my heart ached for the boy who had once promised he would wait forever.

Daniel gave me a faint smile.

"I still love you, Mia. I always will, but you're family to me now. You're like a sister."

I swallowed past the lump in my throat.

"I'm glad, Dan."

"There's something else."

The sudden nervousness on his face caught my attention. Daniel Rodriguez could argue with anyone without blinking, yet now he actually looked uncomfortable.

"I've wanted to tell you for a while, but the timing never seemed right." He rubbed the back of his neck, and to my surprise, a hint of color appeared on his cheeks. "Actually, I've been dying to ask for your blessing."

"My blessing?"

He nodded.

"I'm in love with your sister."

For several seconds, I could only stare at him before my eyes filled with tears.

Daniel's eyes widened. "Mia, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have told you now."

I shook my head.

"Mia..."

"Dan, stop." A laugh broke through my tears. "I'm not crying because I'm hurt."

"Then why are you crying like that?"

"Because I'm happy for you."

His shoulders visibly relaxed.

"And because apparently I can't have a normal emotion anymore," I added, wiping my cheeks.

That made him laugh, and I smiled.

"I'm happy for both of you. She always loved you."

His expression softened.

"I know."

"And she's lucky." My voice cracked slightly. "When you love someone, Dan, you love with everything you have. She deserves that, and you deserve someone who can give you the same thing."

Daniel's eyes grew suspiciously bright before he pulled me into his arms. I buried my face against his chest, but this time, the tears weren't for him.

I was happy for Daniel and my sister. Truly happy.

Maybe that was why it hurt so much.

Their love didn't come with impossible choices or families pulling them in opposite directions. They wouldn't have to spend years apart only to find each other again and discover that love still wasn't enough to make everything simple.

They could just choose each other, and I wanted that for them more than anything.

But as Daniel held me, I missed Liam with an ache so deep it nearly stole my breath.

There were still moments when I wanted to call him, take back everything I had said, and tell him I would face whatever came next as long as we faced it together.

Loving Liam had always been the easiest thing in the world. It was everything that came with loving him that I could no longer bear.

Eventually, I pulled away and wiped my face.

"Your shirt is probably ruined."

Daniel looked down at the damp spot on his chest. "I've survived worse."

A weak laugh escaped me, and for the first time in days, the weight inside my chest felt slightly lighter.

At least love was still working for the people I cared about.

The next morning, I loaded my suitcases into my car.

My agent had everything she needed to handle the condo, and Richard knew I was leaving the city, although I hadn't told him exactly where I planned to go.

I couldn't bring myself to tell Josh I was leaving because I knew he would try to stop me. Daniel knew better than to interfere and simply promised to call and make sure I was okay.

I stood beside my car for a moment and looked toward the city where I had fought so hard to build a life of my own.

Somewhere among those buildings was Liam.

My hand moved toward my phone before I caught myself. I wanted to hear his voice one last time, but I couldn't keep asking him to let me go while secretly hoping he would come after me.

So I climbed into the car and started the engine.

I didn't know when I would return, but I knew I couldn't stay surrounded by reminders of the life Liam and I had almost shared.

There was also another part of my life I could no longer ignore.

My mother was gone, and I would never have the chance to know her for myself. When Vivian first approached me, I had kept my distance because I didn't want her to think I was using our connection or her status to gain acceptance from Liam's family.

But none of that mattered anymore. Liam and I were over, and for the first time, I wanted to understand the woman who had given me life. Vivian could give me the pieces of my mother I had never been given the chance to have.

I pulled onto the road and left the city behind.

I had spent most of my life knowing almost nothing about my mother, and perhaps rebuilding my future meant finally facing the past I had avoided since learning the truth.

I was ready to learn who Amelia had been.

And Vivian Vizondra was the one person who could help me do that.