Chapter 1

Liam Clarke's passion showed no signs of fading even after the 999th time Mia Torres spent the night with him.

By the next morning, her body was covered in kiss marks. She could feel her back and waist ache from even the slightest movement.

The air in the room still lingered with intimacy. She was wrapped in his slender arms as he basked in her body's warmth before he said casually, "Wear something formal tomorrow. You're coming home with me."

Shocked by his words, she looked up at him. Her tone was filled with hope. "Are you finally planning… to make our relationship public?"

He raised his eyebrows and shot her a sidelong glance. "Public? What are you talking about? I'm having a blind date at home tomorrow, and I need you to light up the atmosphere. Don't let the lady feel too awkward."

His words echoed in her ears and struck her like thunder. Her heart skipped a beat, and her mind went blank. "You're going on a blind date? What am I to you, then?"

He was already getting dressed. When he heard her question, he glanced at her lazily. "You? You're just my go-to buddy. My food buddy, my gaming buddy, and my hookup buddy."

A chill crept over Mia, draining the color from her face. Her lips trembled.

Liam's smile gradually faded after seeing her expression. He leaned closer. "Wait, Mia. You didn't think we were in a relationship all these years, did you?"

His mocking tone pierced her like a blade.

She held back the urge to cry, and her voice cracked. "W-What? Of course not. I'm going to take a shower."

She got up in a panic, stumbling toward the bathroom. Once the door shut behind her, she lost all her strength, sliding to the floor, completely drained.

His words still echoed in her ears. Her tears streamed down her face uncontrollably as she stared at the marks he had left all over her body.

They had known each other for over 20 years. They grew up together, drinking from the same carton of milk and reading the same comics.

They had even drunkenly slept together once at the age of 18. And once turned into twice, then a third time…

Their bodies fit perfectly together at night. During the day, they played out every scene like a real couple would.

They would hold hands in a crowd, kiss at New Year's to promise another year together, and talk for hours on the phone just to stay close.

Mia had always believed they were already a couple—they just hadn't made their relationship public.

However, he was telling her now that they weren't in a relationship.

She was in so much pain that she felt suffocated. She turned the shower on full blast with trembling hands before letting herself cry.

She didn't know how long she had cried before she finally pulled herself together and stepped out of the bathroom after her tears had run dry.

Liam was already dressed, sitting on the couch and making a phone call. "There'll be a lot of people tomorrow. Get a bigger private room at the restaurant. The lady prefers light favours, so we'll go for haute cuisine.

"As for cake, get a Black Forest. The flowers should be pale pink roses. Send me a photo once everything's set up. Prepare a dozen black suits, and I'll choose one when I return. Riley only likes black."

Mia's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the name. She looked over instinctively, catching the soft smile on Liam's lips.

Riley Chandra? So, the woman he was meeting was Riley.

The light in Mia's eyes dimmed.

It made sense to her now that Liam looked so happy. He had been head over heels for Riley back in high school and would mention her name countless times every day to Mia.

However, Riley went abroad before he had a chance to confess. He never brought her up again since then.

Mia thought he had moved on, especially after that night of reckless passion when they started getting closer.

She never imagined the woman he never mentioned again was also the one he never forgot.

The familiar heartache came back to her again. It was so painful that her phone slipped from her grasp with a loud thud.

Liam looked back at the sound and asked with a smile, "All done? You're going to check out later, right? I've already paid."

He grabbed his coat and got up to leave. He turned around to glance at her with a faint smile before walking out the door. "Mia, I've always seen you as my buddy. Please don't show me that crushed look in the future. You make it seem like you had caught feelings for me or something.

"I know you fully well, and you can tell exactly what I'm thinking with just a glance. Don't you think that kind of life is too dull? It would feel like everything was already over before it even began if we really got together."

His footsteps faded into the distance, but his words kept echoing in her heart.

Mia sat on the cold bed before she started laughing until tears ran down her cheeks.

So, this was how he had seen her all along. She sat there until late at night before she finally went downstairs to check out.

It was pouring outside, but she didn't seem to notice as she wandered home in a daze.

She was soaked to the bone as she walked through the door. Her father, Hector Torres, and her mother, Isabel Moreno, rushed over with a dry towel and said worriedly, "It's raining so hard. Why didn't you take a cab?"

She looked at them with a blank expression. Her eyes were empty, and her voice was hoarse. "Dad, Mom, remember how you wanted to immigrate because of changes at the company? I've made up my mind. Let's do it. Let's leave and never come back."

They had tried persuading her for months and were surprised she had finally given in. "Have you truly thought this through? Did you break up with your boyfriend?"

Mia felt a wave of bitterness when she thought of everything Liam had said. She gave a wry smile and shook her head. "There was never a boyfriend. I made it up so you'd stop pressuring me to settle down."

Her parents couldn't tell if she was telling the truth, but they were still overjoyed. They rushed off to prepare the paperwork and told her to start packing.

Mia responded briefly before returning to her room and throwing out everything related to Liam. The photo albums she had cherished for over a decade, the jewelry he gave her, the dresses, and the handmade figurines… All of it went into the trash.

"Ms. Torres, are you really letting go of all these beautiful things?"

Mia looked at the household staff member's regretful expression and nodded lightly. Her voice was calm. "Yes. I don't want any of it."

It wasn't just those things—she didn't want Liam or their relationship anymore.

Chapter 2

The next morning, Mia was jolted awake by messages from Liam. He had sent dozens of them, asking her when she was coming over.

Her chest tightened with bitterness. Did he even realize how cruel he was?

She sent him a short reply with trembling hands. "I'm not feeling well today. I'm not going over."

It wasn't long before her parents came knocking on her door. "Mia, even if you're upset with Liam, now's not the time to act out.

"Get dressed quickly and head to Liam's place. Don't you know how much this blind date means to him? He's liked that lady from the Chandra family for many years. He had asked your dad to help set them up when he heard she had returned."

"That's right. The Chandra family's daughter took piano lessons from me back in the day. I had personally visited her and arranged this meeting. Everything from the gifts to the dinner was meticulously prepared.

"You're being invited to help lighten the mood. She would feel less awkward with another girl her age around. Liam is serious about her this time. You two are so close, so how could you not help him out?"

Mia didn't expect Liam to contact her parents after she refused to help him out.

After hearing their heartfelt persuasion, she had no choice but to hold back her tears before freshening up and heading downstairs.

The two families lived close by. Ten minutes later, she was standing outside the Clarke residence, opening the shoe cabinet by the entryway.

It was completely empty. Her little bunny slippers were gone.

Mia searched high and low before finally finding them in the trash can outside. Inside were not only her slippers but also her cup, toothbrush, towel, and pajamas…

They all belonged to her.

"Ms. Torres, these were thrown out by Mr. Clarke. Please wear shoe covers for now."

Mia stared at the trash can in silence for a long while.

The Torres and the Clarke families had been close for generations. She would drop by almost daily and often stayed over.

Liam had even set up a room just for her and bought her a lot of daily necessities. He even filled it with things she liked, like those bunny-themed items.

He used to tell her that the Clarke residence was her home, too, and she should make herself comfortable there.

They had kept their relationship from their families. They would hug and kiss at the door, hold hands under the dining table, and make love in the study room.

But now that Riley was back, he threw away all her belongings to avoid a misunderstanding with his crush.

It took Mia a while to calm herself before slipping on the shoe covers and stepping inside. She saw Liam laughing and chatting with Riley as he peeled fruit for her when she walked in.

He sat on the couch in a tailored satin suit, his hair carefully styled. There was a subtle scent of cologne on him as he exuded a polished restraint that made him alluring.

No matter what he wore, the girls back in school used to say he was handsome. He would still look good even if he threw a sack over his head. No idol in the entertainment industry could compare if he dressed up.

However, Liam had always been a free spirit. He was always dressed in simple tees and shirts, rarely bothering with fashion.

It seemed like everyone tended to show off a little in front of someone they liked.

The man who had tangled up with Mia in bed just last night now looked as if he didn't recognize her. He had barely glanced her way before focusing all her attention on Riley.

They chatted about hobbies, the weather, work, jewelry brands, childhood memories, and school days.

Mia watched as he eagerly kept the conversation going. She couldn't help but lower her eyes with a wry smile.

It turned out that he could be proactive when he was in love.

"It's funny how you were a year ahead of me in high school, and we would run into each other all the time even though we weren't in the same building. It must have been fate."

Mia listened as Riley brought up the past. She looked at Liam's reddening ears and smiled silently.

Was it fate?

The truth was, Liam had orchestrated every encounter.

Mia would silently follow him around back then, watching him exhaust every effort just to get closer to the girl he liked. Her heart would ache at the sight of that.

She thought maybe her chance had finally come when Riley left the country. However, it seemed like Liam was the one who got what he wanted.

Just as she was lost in thought, Mia suddenly heard the mention of her name.

"I heard you were close with a childhood friend in high school. That must have been Ms. Torres, right?"

Mia was slightly stunned. She looked up and met Riley's probing gaze.

Liam's father, Thomas Clarke, and his mother, Mariana Cruz, chimed in cheerfully before she could answer, "They've indeed been inseparable since they were little. They were like two peas in a pod. We even joked about arranging a child marriage for them back then…"

Liam's expression darkened. Before they could finish, he cut them off abruptly. "Dad, Mom, don't be ridiculous. I would fall for anyone, but it'll never be Mia."

Mia lowered her gaze to hide the disappointment in her eyes as she forced a smile. "Same here. I would date anyone except for Liam."

Liam's expression froze momentarily at her words before he regained his usual casual demeanor. He slung an arm over her shoulder and said casually, "Exactly! What we have between us is just pure friendship."

The atmosphere in the living room felt noticeably lighter for a moment.

Mia laughed along. She vaguely heard him quietly thank her, as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulder. "Nice save. Thanks for helping me out."

She said nothing and just silently stepped away, trying to put some distance between them.

Helping him out? No, she was simply telling the truth.

Chapter 3

The Clarke family arranged a car to take them to a restaurant as evening approached.

The three youngsters were in the same car.

Liam was seated in the middle and was attentive toward Riley during the entire ride. He adjusted the air conditioning, handed her a blanket, and even twisted open a bottle cap for her.

Mia sat silently on the left side and watched their lively exchange before gazing out the window.

A sudden downpour began to pelt the car while they were halfway there.

The road dimmed under the stormy sky, and the high beams from an oncoming car blinded their driver just as they headed downhill. The driver missed the turn and slammed straight into the guardrail.

Liam instinctively shielded Riley in his arms in that critical moment. The glass shattered violently, spraying shards through the car.

Mia took the brunt of the crash as she was seated closest to the window. She was covered in blood, and her entire body wracked with searing pain. It felt like she was falling apart piece by piece.

She saw the car door on the right open in her hazy state.

Liam frantically cradled Riley out of the car as he called for an ambulance while comforting her. It was as if he had forgotten someone else was still in the car. He didn't care about Mia at all.

When the ambulance arrived, the paramedic suggested tending to the more critically injured person beforehand.

Yet, Liam only hesitated for a few seconds between saving Mia, who was lying in a pool of blood, and Riley, who was merely in shock, before choosing to take Riley to the hospital first.

Mia's vision began to fade as the ambulance drove into the distance. Tears spilled uncontrollably from her eyes.

All those decades of shared memories between them couldn't compare to a glance from her.

Her eyelids grew heavier, and the pain in her body dissipated like smoke.

She never made it to the next ambulance. Her vision went black before she completely lost consciousness.

She didn't know how much time had passed before the noise of voices stirred her awake.

She opened her eyes and saw Isabel clutching her chest. Her voice was filled with worry and relief. "Thank heavens, Mia. You're finally awake. You might have bled out if the ambulance hadn't arrived just in time. The blood bank in the hospital didn't have enough blood for you.

"How did the Chandra family's daughter only end up with a scratch on her hand while you nearly died when you were all in the same car?"

Hector let out a sigh of relief as well and sipped from a glass of water. "Well, that's probably because Liam had protected her. Adversity reveals true love, I suppose.

"That lady was so touched by his gesture. I just visited their room and saw him feeding her oatmeal. Judging by how they looked at each other, I'd say they're as good as together now."

Mia listened quietly and finally spoke hoarsely when their excited chatter faded. "How long have I been asleep? How is the immigration process going so far?"

"You've been unconscious for two days. You almost scared us to death!"

"Don't worry about the immigration thing. It'll be done in less than three weeks. You should focus on recovering now."

The fact that she had less than a month left filled her with a sense of relief and peace.

Over the next few days, she kept hearing from the nurses about everything Liam was doing for Riley. He was practically living in her ward and never left her side.

He would get up immediately to get a glass of warm water for her whenever she coughed at midnight. He would also test the temperature of every liquid medication and prepare candies to mask the medicine's bitterness. He even thought of different games to cheer her up so she wouldn't be bored.

Mia listened quietly without saying a word.

Later, a commotion caught her attention as the nurse pushed her wheelchair down the corridor for a checkup.

They passed the room next door, and she saw Liam standing outside with a massive bouquet of roses, confessing to Riley. "Riley, I've been in love with you since the moment I saw you eight years ago.

"I planned all those accidental encounters to get closer to you. I remember everything you like, and I know your dreams. I never got a chance to say all this back then, so will you give me a chance now?"

Mia listened to the mix of anticipation and nervousness in his tone. She couldn't help but recall that he had planned this confession a month before Riley left the country.

Although things had gone off track back then, it was only a few years of waiting.

Mia laughed softly and wheeled toward the examination room when Riley accepted his confession. The crowd burst into warm applause the moment she turned around.

Meanwhile, Liam looked back and saw Mia's solitary figure. His smile froze, and a strange feeling flickered in his chest.

However, it only lasted a heartbeat before he was washed away by the overwhelming joy surrounding him. He held out his arms without hesitation and pulled Riley into them.

Chapter 4

Mia opened her travel app late at night and searched for direct flights from Lumen City to Seraphis.

Liam showed up with Riley right after she paid for her ticket. "Mia, I've got great news. Riley agreed to be with me. Pretty solid of me, right? You're the first person I'm telling."

She looked at the two of them holding hands, nodded faintly, and said calmly, "Congratulations."

Riley's eyes sparkled with happiness, and she smiled shyly. "Thank you for your blessing. Mrs. Torres said you were seriously injured. Are you feeling any better lately? I brought some seafood broth for you. You should have some."

She nudged Liam to serve the broth as she spoke.

Mia froze momentarily at the sight of him following her lead before snapping back to her senses. "Thank you, but I'll pass on the broth."

Liam's face immediately darkened at her words. He looked at her with displeasure. "Riley made this broth herself. I wasn't even planning to share it with you. It's only because she was worried about your injury that I reluctantly agreed to bring you some. Don't be so ungrateful."

As he spoke, he forced a bowl into her hands, insisting that she finish it right then and there.

Mia tried to explain, but he grabbed her wrist. The bowl tipped over in the scuffle, spilling the hot broth directly onto her wound.

She was in so much pain that cold sweat broke out on her forehead. Her face twisted in agony, and she was pale as a sheet.

Riley was startled. A flicker of guilt crossed her face as she grabbed a napkin to help.

But Liam was afraid she might get burned, so he shielded her behind him. "Riley, this has nothing to do with you. She's always been stubborn since she was a kid. It's not a big deal, so don't blame yourself for this."

Mia's hand trembled as she held the napkin, feeling a sharp ache in her chest.

Hector burst into her room at that moment. He panicked and called for a nurse when he found her wound bleeding again.

Isabel's heart ached at the sight of the scene, but she kept her composure as she carefully put away the broth and patiently explained to Riley, "Riley, Mia is allergic to seafood, so she can't have the broth. But we truly appreciate your kind gesture. Thank you."

Liam stood frozen in place as his expression stiffened. "Why didn't you say something earlier?"

Mia stared at the blood-soaked gauze as a wave of bitterness washed over her. He used to remember all her food allergies. Whenever they dined in, he would emphasize to the waitstaff not to include seafood, scallions, or cilantro in her meal.

But with Riley in his life now, his heart and mind were filled with her. There was no space left for the little details he once cared about.

A heart only had so much room. It could only hold one person—the one he loved the most.

Mia finally spoke after a long moment of silence. "You didn't even give me a chance to speak."

The ward fell into a dead silence. Riley felt so guilty and embarrassed that she was on the verge of tears.

Liam felt distressed for her. He led her away without another word.

Mia had to stay three more days in the hospital due to the wound infection before she could be discharged.

As the immigration date approached, everyone in the Torres family was busy packing their belongings.

Hector and Isabel were too tied up to step out, so they prepared a generous gift and asked Mia to deliver it to the Clarke family.

Thomas and Mariana greeted her with deep concern and apologies as soon as she walked in. "Mia, we're truly sorry.

"You and Liam have known each other for many years, yet he protected Riley and left you behind during such a dangerous accident, causing such a serious injury to you. We truly feel terrible about it. We'll make sure he apologizes to you."

Mia shook her head, and her voice was soft and reassuring. "Ms. Chandra is his girlfriend. It's only right that he protected her. I'm fine now, anyway, so don't worry about me."

They finally felt relieved after seeing that she wasn't upset.

After some small talk, Mia brought up the real reason for her visit, which was her family's plan to move overseas.

The news came as a shock to them. "So suddenly?"

"Our company's restructuring. They've actually been preparing for this for half a year. It just got finalized recently. My parents asked me to come and let you know in person."

They felt sad after learning that an old friend was leaving, and their voices were filled with reluctance. "Will you be coming back someday?"

Mia smiled. Her voice rang clear in the stillness of the living room. "We won't be coming back."

Liam stepped in through the door at that moment. He frowned as he glanced over. "Who's not coming back?"

Chapter 5

Mia immediately answered before Liam's parents could speak, "No one. You misheard."

Thomas and Mariana glanced at her in surprise.

Liam didn't notice their puzzled expressions. He took Mia by the arm and led her to the car. "Since you're here and the conversation's over, come with me. I want to take you somewhere."

The two of them remained silent during the entire ride.

She realized he had brought her to a luxury boutique when they arrived. He asked the staff to bring out a pile of clothes, shoes, and handbags before asking her to try them all on.

She frowned, confused. "Why am I trying these on?"

Liam pushed her toward the fitting room, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Just try them on."

She was about to refuse, but the staff had closed the door and started unboxing items.

He would snap a photo every time she finished changing into an outfit before she was pushed back into the fitting room again.

Mia was forced to repeat the entire process endlessly and was completely drained after trying on what felt like over 100 outfits. Her feet were blistered and bleeding because of the heels.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore. She pushed the staff away, limped out, and walked up to Liam as she said in a lowered voice, "I don't need your guilt gifts…"

"Wrap everything up except for that burgundy gown. Deliver them all to Ms. Chandra at Castella Villa."

The rest of Mia's words instantly caught in her throat when she heard that. She stared at him as he swiped his card without hesitation. Her voice was hoarse. "You made me try all these only because you want to buy them all for your girlfriend?"

Liam nodded casually, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile. "Yeah. I wanted to buy her something nice, but I wasn't sure what she would like. You and she are about the same size. If it looks good on you, it'll definitely look good on her.

"You're coming with me later. We're heading to the dessert shop, the jewelry store, and the cosmetic counters later. Do me a favour and try out the food, the makeup, and the skincare. I want to make sure everything I give her is the best."

Mia could no longer suppress the fury building inside her as she listened to him making all these plans without her consent. "Liam Clarke! I'm not some tool for you to please your girlfriend!"

Liam, having never seen her this angry before, looked up in shock and saw her reddened eyes.

Mia's voice trembled as she continued, "Have you even noticed? I never treated you like some casual companion. Every hug, every kiss, and even when we slept together—I meant it! It's fine that you don't love me the same way, but I won't let you treat me like nothing!"

Hearing that, Liam was stunned and overwhelmed by sophisticated emotion. He tried to explain, but Mia had turned around and walked away.

His eyes flickered as he watched her retreating figure disappear into the crowd before his expression returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.

Mia pulled out her suitcase and began packing her things when she got home.

Her parents would occasionally bring up Liam at the dining table. "I heard Liam had booked out a themed park for three days to celebrate Riley's birthday. He even had roses imported from overseas. He's really going all out."

"Didn't he also take her to meet Mr. Clarke Senior at the Clarke residence? I heard he bought some antique gifts and said they were from her. The old man was thrilled and kept praising her."

Mia remained silent whenever they talked about the Clarke family. The occasional ripple in her heart no longer brought pain.

She stayed away from anything related to Liam, turning down every dinner and gathering where she might run into him.

Meanwhile, Liam had pretended like nothing had happened and messaged her late at night a few times while he was drunk, asking her to pick him up. She never went.

Some people in their circle would gossip about them when they got a little tipsy. Their tones were filled with curiosity. "Hey, Liam. Where's that childhood friend of yours? Why isn't she sticking to you lately?"

Liam brushed it off casually, as if he didn't care. "She's just sulking. Don't worry, she'll come around eventually."

However, he still hadn't heard from Mia as time passed. She even stopped responding to his messages in the end.

He finally lost his patience the day before his birthday and sent her a digital invitation via email.

She replied this time with only two words, "I'll pass."