ble at my studio. I was there to pack up the last of my things. The glossy pages showed a picture of Liam and Olivia Reed at a ch

do, her in a sleek, silver dress. They stood close, smiling for the

o decide to move on, it was another to see him do it so easily, so publicly. The last eight

hes on the wall were suffocating. I grabbed my purse and walked out, leaving the half-packed

. Ethan was good to me. He was kind, stable, and he loved me in a way that was simple and uncomplicated. He never made me feel like a responsi

hl

onnell. She had always been a second mother to me, especially after Jake died.

d, sitting down next to me. "Are

fine, just tired. Weddi

and took out a warm pastry. "I was just at the baker

ing slightly. It was a simple gesture

about your retirement. And about Liam and Olivia." She sighed. "That boy

ed up. "What

ere a little girl. And I've known my son his whole life. I have eyes. I s

ymore. "He sees me as a sister, Mrs. O'Connell. He sa

orgotten to live his own life. He thinks he's protecting you, but he's only hurting you both." She patted

s giving up my career, the one thing that was truly

d over the phone. "The flight back is late. I won't be able to make it to my parents' ann

didn't want to go alone

ing lot. Liam's car. My heart started pounding. Of course h

ge round table. Liam was seated nex

h a warm hug. "We were so sorry to hear Ethan c

e, but I refused to look at him. Throughout the dinner, I focused on making conversation with Eth

er. "I hear you're giving up your career. That's so... tradit

I'm looking forward to a new chapter," I said,

first time since I arrived. His voice was low, and i

n emotion I couldn't read. It wasn't the polite distance

ds sharper than I intended. "I'm not

e on me, a heavy weight I tried to ignore. When it was ti

" Liam said, standing up as

ed out into the cool night air in silence. When we reached

gainst the car next to mine, blocki

n my car door handle. "I'm getting married in a fe

?" he asked, h

caught me off

s boring into mine. "Is this what you really w

e? You're the one who told me I deserved to be happy

his voice rising. "I was wr

I whispered, my voice b

el. I kept replaying his words in my head. I was wrong. Why now? Why, after all this time, was he finally saying the things I had longed to hear? I