Chapter 2

2.

When Liam got back, I had just closed the Reddit thread.

My eyes fell on his messy shirt collar. There was a faint lipstick stain on it.

Just ten minutes ago, that comment had been updated.

"His fiancée suddenly showed up and dragged him away. She even threatened to have me fired. But who cares? He agreed with her to her face, but spent the whole drive back comforting me. ??"

"We made out in the car. His collar was a mess, and my lipstick was all over it, LOL."

Liam came over and tried to hug me, but I shoved him away.

"Don't touch me."

A wave of nausea rose in my throat, and I covered my mouth and ran to the bathroom.

Liam followed me in, patting my back worriedly. "What's wrong? Did you eat something bad?"

The faint scent of women's perfume wafted in with him.

I stood up and walked out of the bathroom. Liam grabbed a can of chilled ginger ale from the fridge and handed it to me.

I didn't take it. I just asked him calmly, "Is Skylar really just your assistant?"

The moment I said it, Liam’s brow furrowed. "Of course she's just my assistant."

I found the Reddit post and handed him my phone.

"Then what is this? An assistant who makes you skip Thanksgiving with your family and postpone our engagement?"

Liam stared at the phone screen for a long time.

"It's just some random story someone made up online. Don't take it seriously."

I laughed.

"Liam, do you even know what kind of food I like to eat?"

He looked at me, completely confused, as if he had no idea why I was suddenly asking this. He didn't answer.

That's why every time we went out to eat, the table was always filled with his bland boiled chicken and plain salad. My favorite Mexican restaurant? He went once, wrinkled his nose, and said it was too heavy, too loud. He wouldn't touch Thai food either, claiming the sauces were too complicated. He never once cooked for me.

And his passenger seat… the last time I visited, I brought a few Funko Pops to decorate it with. Liam refused without a second thought, saying he didn't like his car looking cluttered.

It turned out his principles could be broken. Just not for me.

Liam looked at me, his voice softening. "Chloe, stop thinking about her. After Christmas, I'll let her go. Once everything is settled, we'll get engaged."

For Skylar, Liam could skip Christmas Eve with his family. For Skylar, he could push our engagement back again and again.

I had always been understanding of how busy he was. I agreed to everything he said without question.

And according to Skylar, Liam was only with me out of habit, out of a sense of obligation.

If he felt like I was a burden, then he didn't have to carry it anymore.

"Let's just tell our families after the holidays," I said, my hands clutching the hem of my shirt. "The engagement is off."

Liam froze. He looked at me in disbelief. "What did you say?"

"I said, I don't want to get engaged anymore."

Liam stared at me in silence for a long time. A flicker of relief crossed his face―it was gone in an instant, but I saw it.

He sighed, feigning frustration. "Chloe, don't be dramatic. If you think it's too soon, we can push it back again. Whatever you want. I've just been really busy with work lately, okay? Can you please not be like this?"

Liam and I had been together for five years. The night I first met his parents, I was so nervous I couldn't sleep.

When Liam suggested postponing the engagement, I smiled and said work was more important, even though I was disappointed.

Now I knew it wasn't because of work. It was because of Skylar.

"Don't worry. I've made it easy for you. We don't have to get married."

My attitude infuriated him. "Chloe, you're doing this because of some anonymous Reddit post?"

No. It was because of Liam's complete devotion to Skylar, and the fact that all he felt for me now was habit and duty.

I was about to speak, but the sudden vibration of a phone cut me off.