Chapter 3
It felt like something sharp had suddenly torn through my chest, a searing pain flaring up instantly.
I never could’ve imagined Liam would humiliate me like this.
Who did he think he was—some kind of king?
He saw me as nothing but a fling.
The subtext was unmissable. Was he breaking up with me?
I stared at Liam, not blinking.
His expression faltered.
He looked away first, uncomfortably.
I knew he was thinking the same thing I was—all the moments we had spent together, side by
side.
For years, we had been each other’s support.
We had never once hurt one another.
But now, Liam had truly changed.
His heart clearly belonged to Chloe.
“She’s sensible. She won’t hold a grudge. Just apologize and be done with it,” he said, like it was nothing.
That single sentence shattered all the trust and intimacy we had built over five years.
I shook my head calmly,
“No. I won’t.”
Liam’s voice turned cold and sharp.
“Ava, do you have to be like this?”
Like what?
Charte
What did he think I was doing?
Everything he said sounded so absurd, and suddenly, I didn’t even want to argue anymore.
“I’ve always been like this.”
With that, I turned around, and slammed the door behind me.
Back at my desk, I stared blankly at the transfer system again.
Just one hour left.
In an hour, the application would be locked, and I would officially be reassigned to London.
Still, I didn’t cancel it.
I simply sat there quietly, then began researching everything I could about the London office.
At some point, the clock ran out.
The system changed my application status to “locked.”
I exhaled slowly.
Turns out, leaving Liam wasn’t so terrifying after all.
In fact, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.
Just then, my phone lit up.
It was Maya, my best friend.
Her messages came rapid–fire, filled with fury.
[Ava! I just saw your boyfriend!]
[Liam! With Chloe! And a bunch of their team!]
[They’re partying like crazy and now the others are egging them on to drink from the same glass! That girl is practically glued to him!]
A video followed right after.
The screen shook, the lighting was hazy and intimate.
Chapter 3
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Liam sat at the center of a booth, surrounded by cheering coworkers. His tie was loosened, a smile
on his face.
Chloe was right beside him, cheeks flushed, lowering her head shyly as if embarrassed, but clearly making no move to pull away.
Someone in the background shouted, “Mr. Carter, no breaking the rules! You either toast with a
lady or call Ms. Cooper and have her come pick you up. Your choice!”
Laughter erupted, “Yeah, call her! Let’s see if Ms. Cooper gives you that honor!”
The mood hit a fever pitch.
Everyone knew we’d fought.
They were loving the drama.
Chloe glanced up at Liam, her eyes full of hope.
He frowned, clearly irritated by the noise.
After a few seconds of silence, he reached for his phone.
Chloe’s face went pale instantly.
He spoke stiffly on the call, “I lost my temper earlier. I’ve calmed down.”
“Come here and apologize to Chloe in person. Then we’ll forget this ever happened.”
I said nothing.
Liam grew impatient.
“Say something. Is it that hard to admit you’re wrong?”
“Liam, if you want me to apologize, then go to hell.”
“Oh, great! Ava, you really have some nerve!”
His voice exploded with rage.
“Then listen carefully! I’ll drink with someone else right now, and you’ll hear every second of it!”
I hung up.
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Immediately, another video from Maya came in.
The room was chaotic.
Liam had just smashed his glass.
Chloe’s voice trembled. She looked like she was about to cry.
“Mr. Carter, please, let’s stop, don’t be mad…”
“Who said I’m stopping?”
Liam snapped his head up, eyes sharp and locked right on the camera.
He had seen Maya filming the whole time.
“Why hide? Keep recording! Show your precious best friend exactly who I’m kissing!”
Then he grabbed the back of Chloe’s neck
and kissed her hard, right in front of everyone.
Even then, my heart still clenched. But the ache flared and faded just as fast.
I turned off the video
and got back to work.
After a long while, I messaged Maya.
[Come shopping with me tomorrow? I need some lighter clothes. London’s weather is warm.]
Chapter 3
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.