Chapter 3

For the next three days, Martha the housekeeper would bring me a bitter brew right on schedule.

And I, like a puppet on a string, numbly swallowed the liquid.

Just as I thought nothing unexpected would happen, Liam, whom I hadn't seen in three days, appeared in my room.

His face was thunderous. He practically *threw* his phone at me.

"I can't believe how cruel you are, Alice! Bella is just a girl!"

Confused, I picked up the phone.

On the screen was a video. In it, a man was sobbing hysterically.

"Mrs. Mason paid me. She said Miss Bella was too close with Mr. Mason, and she didn't like it. So, she told me to *force myself on Miss Bella*, so she'd be too disgraced to ever bother Mr. Mason again."

After watching the video, I looked up and met Liam's furious gaze calmly.

"Don't you realize I haven't left this room for days? How could I have possibly paid someone to hurt Bella?"

Liam scoffed.

"You're right. I truly can't believe how utterly malicious you are."

"I don't care how you bribed that criminal. All I know is you tried to harm the sister I grew up with."

"If I hadn't gotten there in time, she would have been ruined."

"Alice, how many times do I have to tell you, from the day we married until now, stop causing trouble."

I thought my heart was already shattered, but hearing Liam say that, an uncontrollable pang of pain shot through me.

I sat up straight, meeting his eyes.

Perhaps my gaze was too intense, because Liam suddenly looked a bit guilty.

I looked at him, questioning him word by word.

"Liam Mason, honestly, ask yourself: are your feelings for Bella *really* just sibling affection? And her feelings for you? Are you truly so oblivious, or do you just *enjoy* the attention?"

Hearing my questions, Liam, who had burst in, ready to accuse me, was instantly speechless.

I watched his visibly guilt-stricken expression and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

I knew. I had *always* known.

Liam was just that indecisive. He wanted too much.

He loved me, but not *just* me. He also didn't want to lose Bella, who had grown up with him.

When this mission first began, I *had* thought about loving Liam wholeheartedly.

But his repeated favoritism had eroded my trust and love for him.

I stared intently at Liam's evasive eyes, waiting for his answer.

Time seemed to stretch on forever until Liam finally spoke, his voice dry.

"What kind of question is that? My feelings for Bella are purely platonic; I've told you that a thousand times! It's just you who refuses to believe me. Alice, am I really so untrustworthy in your eyes?"