Chapter 3

Liam stepped forward and kicked aside the white roses in front of the grave.

"How dare you even show your face here?"

His voice was filled with hatred.

"Get out! Don't desecrate my sister's resting place!"

I leaned on the tombstone, slowly rising to my feet, my throat dry and hoarse:

"I just wanted to see Lily."

"See her?"

Liam laughed as if he’d heard the most absurd joke.

"What right do you have to see her?"

He suddenly reached out and shoved me violently against a nearby tree.

His rough hand clamped tightly around my slender neck.

"Why didn't you save her back then? Why did you let her die such a terrible death alone?!"

His eyes bloodshot, he roared each word, as if he wanted to tear me apart.

Suffocation instantly enveloped me. Oxygen was slowly withdrawn, the shadow of death loomed, yet I felt a sense of release.

I stopped struggling, slowly closing my eyes.

Dying by his hand, perhaps that was a form of atonement.

Just as my consciousness began to fade, the pressure on my neck suddenly eased.

Liam threw me aside, his chest heaving violently.

A fleeting, complex mix of pain and struggle flickered in his eyes, too quick to grasp.

I leaned on the tree trunk, coughing violently.

Chloe walked up delicately, taking Liam's arm:

"Liam, the sun's so hot here. Let's go quickly. Don't waste time on such a malicious person."

The struggle in Liam's eyes receded, replaced by his usual cold indifference.

He gently placed the white roses in front of the grave, not looking at me again.

"Oh dear, my foot hurts so much."

Chloe suddenly cried out delicately.

Liam immediately knelt in front of her, naturally scooping her onto his back.

He carried her steadily down the cemetery steps.

Watching that familiar back, my heart felt like it was being repeatedly cut by a knife.

I suddenly remembered Liam carrying me like that once before.

That time we went to church to pray, the long stone steps made my legs weak.

I refused to move, and he smiled helplessly, his eyes full of affection.

Then he knelt down and carried me.

He walked steadily, whispering in my ear:

"Rose, I'll carry you for life."

Back then, Lily had been teasing us, calling us clingy.

His promise still echoed in my ears, but now, another woman was on his back.

I silently followed behind them.

Liam placed Chloe in the car, then turned to see me, commanding with icy eyes:

"Get in."

Seeing me hesitate, he added impatiently:

"Every second you stay here, I feel sick."

I numbly got into the car, sitting in the back.

Inside, Chloe deliberately pressed her whole body against Liam.

She enticed him in a highly provocative tone:

"Liam, I want you to..."

Liam's body tensed, his desire easily ignited.

He slammed on the brakes, stopping the car at a secluded riverside viewpoint.

He turned his head and uttered a single word to me:

"Get out."

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Get out."

His voice was brutal.

I trembled as I pushed open the car door and stepped out.

As soon as I was on my feet, the car door was violently slammed shut, then locked.

Immediately, the fiery red sports car began to rock violently, rhythmically.

At the quiet viewpoint, the woman's deliberately suppressed, yet seductive moans, and the man's heavy breathing, clearly penetrated the car windows, tormenting my eardrums with each sound.