It was day three of the silent treatment. In a fit of petty online shopping, I had ordered a box of ultra-thin condoms, intending to change the default address to my place as a "drop dead" gesture. I messed up. They shipped to his house instead. After agonizing over it, I decided to go get them. I did my makeup, put on my best outfit, and knocked on his door. The door opened. "Hey, Liam," I started, trying to sound casual. "I think a package of mine was sent here by mistake..." Before I could finish, he let out a sharp, cold chuckle. "You’ve got some nerve, Maya." His lean frame blocked the doorway, his extended arm resting against the frame, keeping me out. "Seriously? After you slapped me and told me to go to hell, this is how you show up?" He didn't wait for my answer. He turned his head back toward the bedroom and shouted, "Babe! There’s a beautiful girl out here trying to seduce me. Come get rid of her!" 1 I figured Liam was just trying to mess with me. I rolled my eyes hard. "Please. We’ve been in a cold war for exactly seventy-two hours. You expect me to believe you have a new girl in your bedroom already? Keep dreaming, Liam." I stepped sideways, expertly ducking under his arm, and slipped inside. I walked right over to the shoe rack, acting like I still lived there. Seeing a pair of cute, pink bunny slippers, I couldn't help but let out a little snort of amusement. "Really, Liam? You bought me a replacement pair just like the old ones? I’ve told you a thousand times, I wanted the teal ones. Are you even listen—" "Babe," Liam cut me off, his voice dropping to that lazy, smooth register he only used when things were getting serious. I was about to snap back at him. Why was he getting all mushy after we’d had a massive fight? I looked up. And froze. A girl was standing in the middle of the living room. She was barely wearing anything—just a tiny silk camisole and sleep shorts. She blinked, her big, watery eyes looking from me to Liam, then back again. Finally, she looked down at my feet. "Um... why are you wearing my slippers?" I stood there, paralyzed. My brain flat-out refused to process the image. Liam, usually so unbothered by everything, just shrugged and walked over to her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "Look, she just showed up," he told her, his tone dismissing me entirely. "If I knew it was my ex-girlfriend, I wouldn't have even opened the door." Then, he turned his head to look at me, his expression full of righteous indignation. "Explain yourself, Chloe. Right now." Before I could get a single word out, his face contorted in anger, and he marched over to me. He stared down at my right foot, where I had already slipped into one of the slippers. His voice was like ice. "Do you have any concept of boundaries? Seriously? You don't just walk into someone’s house and put on another person's shoes." I had to lean against the wall for support, my shoe half-off, balancing like an idiot. Hearing Liam talk to me like that... I couldn't look up. The blinding shame and the raw sense of betrayal were too much to handle. Tears started spilling down my face, completely out of my control. Silence filled the room for what felt like an hour. Finally, Liam sighed. He dropped his shoulders, seeming to give up. "Forget it," he said, his voice flat. "Sarah has a major thing about germs. Since you wore them, she’s not going to want them anymore. Keep them." I fought to get my breathing under control, forcing a strained, trembling smile onto my face. "My Amazon delivery... I forgot to change the address from when I lived here." From the living room, Sarah seemed to snap out of her shock. She let out a soft laugh and patted her head, acting incredibly gracious and polite. "Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry! I didn't even look closely at the label. I just assumed it was for Liam, so I opened it and put it in the cabinet. I have no idea how many you ordered. Do you want to count them to make sure they're all there?" Before I could reach for the box, Liam shot out a hand and snatched it first. 2 The next few seconds felt like an eternity. When I heard Liam let out a soft chuckle, I felt like a prisoner who had just been handed a death sentence. "Really, Chloe?" He looked from the box to me, shaking his head. "It’s been three days. Are you really that... desperate?" He shoved the box containing the ultra-thin condoms into my arms. "There. It’s back with its rightful owner. Now, do you have any other business here? I’d hate for my girlfriend to get the wrong idea." Standing there under the scorching gaze of both of them, I felt my face burning hot. I wanted to defend myself, to say something, anything, but I felt completely drained of energy. It was over. Deep down, I knew this was likely the last time I would ever see Liam Beckett. I didn't say a word. I just turned on my heel and left without looking back. In the elevator, I took out my phone. I pulled up the text from my boss asking if I was willing to transfer to our San Diego branch to head up the new project. I didn't hesitate this time. I texted back: Yes. I'll take it. When I walked out of the building, I marched straight over to the large trash can by the curb. I tossed everything in my arms—the slippers, the box, all of it—into the garbage. Just like Liam, I didn't want any of it anymore. 3 I was a mess when I got home. I crawled into bed and just stared at the ceiling. The crushing ache in my chest was threatening to drown me. Then, my best friend’s call broke the silence. "Chloe, oh my god," she started, her voice a hushed, intense whisper. "You are a legend. That outfit you bought for tonight—did it work? Did he drop to his knees the second he saw you in that 'battle armor'?" Before I could even think about how to answer, she rushed on, excited. "I knew it! I just saw Liam’s Instagram post! Girl, after all this time of you complaining that he’s too 'cool' for public displays of affection, and that he’d never go anywhere childish like an amusement park... He did it! He went! He’s literally on a carousel in the video, wearing Mickey ears, looking ridiculous and adorable! I guess that fight was worth it. You really know how to train them..." "Wait," I said, swallowing hard to keep my voice from breaking. "Are you sure you’re looking at the right account?" She laughed like I’d just told the joke of the century. "Of course I am! Here, I’m sending you the link right now." I didn't believe her. Not for a second. But when the video loaded, I felt like my heart had physically stopped beating. 4 The fight we’d had seventy-two hours ago was... complicated. We had been together for three years. In all that time, Liam had never posted a single picture of me on any social media. He wouldn't go to crowded public places with me on holidays or anniversaries. He was always so distant, so private, that I constantly questioned if he actually loved me at all. But every time we were alone, behind closed doors, he was a different person. Intense, passionate, uncontainable. That night, I finally snapped. At our most intimate moment, I looked into his eyes and asked the question that had been eating me alive. "Liam, do you actually love me?" He was kissing my neck, his voice muffled and impatient as he muttered, "Does that really matter right now?" I didn't understand. Why was saying "I love you" so hard for him? I pushed him away. Hard. Liam didn't say another word. He got dressed, slammed the door, and left. He never said the words. My best friend had seen how miserable I was these past few days, drinking myself into a stupor. She’d begged me to bridge the gap, saying he was just wired that way and I shouldn't force him. That’s why I decided to swallowed my pride and go over there tonight to make up. But Liam already had someone else by his side. I watched the video again. There he was, on the carousel, wearing Mickey ears. Someone had used lipstick to draw half a heart on his cheek. He looked silly and happy—a side of him I had never, ever seen. Hearing my friend’s worried voice on the other end of the line, I let out a bitter, strangled laugh. "He has a new girlfriend." 5 Apparently, other mutual friends had seen the post and started asking questions, because a few minutes later, my friend texted me again. She said Liam had deleted the first post and uploaded a new one. This time, he didn't hide anything. The photo was a clear shot of Sarah’s pretty, delicate face. I couldn't handle any more. I hung up the phone and forced myself to focus on the logistics of the San Diego move. I didn't expect my phone to ring at two in the morning. It was an unknown number. When I answered and heard Liam’s voice, it was too late to hang up. His voice was raw, urgent, bordering on hysterical. "Maya... God, I know I shouldn't be calling you at this hour. But please... can you come over? To my place?" He paused, and I could hear him choking back a sob. "I’m begging you... please? Just come." My heart dropped through the floor. I couldn't imagine what could have happened to break a man as calm and composed as Liam Beckett like this. A hundred terrible scenarios flashed through my mind in seconds. My body reacted before my brain could argue against it. By the time I managed to mutter "Okay," I was already pulling on my jacket and grabbing my car keys. I was terrifyingly worried. I ran two red lights on the way over. I even tripped on the stairs going up to his apartment and scraped my knee badly. I burst through his door, out of breath and trembling. And then I saw it. It was a picture-perfect scene. Liam, impeccably dressed, was half-kneeling at Sarah's feet in the living room. And scattered around the room on the couches and chairs, watching us, were all of our mutual friends. It was a setup. Liam looked up at me, ignoring the blood dripping down my knee. He let out a completely relaxed, easy laugh. "Maya, thank god you’re finally here." He turned back to Sarah, taking her hands in his. "See? I told you I could prove it." He raised one hand dramatically toward the ceiling, his voice booming through the apartment, full of righteous declaration. "I, Liam Beckett, hereby swear that I will absolutely, under no circumstances, get back together with my ex-girlfriend, Maya Sterling. There is nothing left between us. It doesn't matter how she tries to seduce me, or how she tries to use our friends to put pressure on me—it’s not happening! As long as I am with Sarah, I am yours and yours alone. I love only you... no matter how much other women try to cling to me, my heart is steadfast." 6 I couldn't hear anything after that. I didn't know if the roaring in my ears was from the pain in my knee or the sheer, devastating agony in my heart. My brain was buzzing. Then Sarah interrupted him, her tone playful and coy. "Okay, okay, that’s enough! You're being way too mushy..." Her face was bright red. She stood on her tiptoes to put her hand over Liam’s mouth. She looked happily flustered. "Stop it... I know you didn't mean to post the wrong video on Instagram earlier... God, Liam, when did you get so dramatic? Did you use 'I love you' as a comma with your ex, too?" I was being dragged back into the conversation. I tried to maintain a polite smile, but it shattered. My face went cold. Nobody cared. Nobody noticed. Liam immediately grabbed Sarah by the shoulders, eager to explain. "No way. Only with you. If you don't believe me, ask her." Every single eye in the room turned to me. Some looked sympathetic, some looked pitiful. But the look I was getting from Liam and Sarah was one of arrogant expectation. They wanted me to confirm their love story. "Are you guys done?" My voice was flat, devoid of emotion. The festive atmosphere in the room instantly evaporated. "You do know that a decent ex-partner is supposed to act like they’re dead, right? Are you both seriously this oblivious?" Maybe it was because I had always been so compliant with him, but when I looked at him, his face went pale. Panic flickered in Liam’s eyes for a split second. I ignored it, turned around, and walked out. I was done being a character in his sideshow. 7 Over the next few days, I got texts from friends—some confused, some furious on my behalf. They started dripping in details about what had happened after I left: [Maya, don't be mad. Liam is just being immature. It turns out he’s had a thing for this Sarah girl since high school. It was one of those love-at-first-sight situations, but before he could ask her out, she moved to Europe. He never got over her, and now that she’s back, he’s convinced she’s 'the one who got away'.] [You were the only woman he was with all those years, Maya. He usually can't stand being touched, but with you... it was different. You shouldn't let him go. This is just a rebound phase, he'll come running back to you once the novelty wears off.] [After you walked out that night, Liam looked pretty shaken up. Like he’d lost his mind. Seriously, this Sarah girl is high-maintenance as hell. I give it two weeks. You two getting back together is inevitable.] I stared at the messages, my head pounding. Eventually, I just stopped responding to them entirely. I threw myself into the move. I was so ready to get out of this city. San Diego was close to my hometown—only a two-hour drive. I knew my parents and my older brother would be thrilled to have me closer. 8 The night before I was scheduled to fly out, I went for a run to clear my head, then came home to sleep. I didn't expect to find my apartment tossed. When I opened the door, the living room was a mess. But it was the bedroom that stopped my breath. My closet had been ripped open. My neatly hung clothes were crumpled into balls and scattered across the floor. My vanity was a total disaster zone. Bottles of perfume and skincare had been smashed, glass and liquid covering the hardwood. I was shaking all over, about to call 911, when the elevator opened down the hall. Sarah stepped out, carrying a large shopping bag. She saw me and offered a calm, polite smile. "Oh, you’re home. Good timing. I couldn't find the jewelry Liam gave you. Are you wearing it?" Seeing my confusion, she explained sweetly. "The other day, I was looking at Liam’s phone, and I saw his purchase history. I saw how many things he bought for you over the years, and I got a little jealous... So Liam gave me his password and told me I could come get whatever I wanted to keep." "But some of this stuff you’ve used, and I have a major issue with germs. So, I just decided to..." Before she could finish, Liam burst through the stairwell door. He took in the absolute devastation of the apartment, then looked at me. My expression must have been terrifying. He rubbed his temples, looking incredibly anxious. "How did it get this bad?" he muttered, low. Liam looked around the wreckage, seemingly genuinely shocked by the extent of the damage. For a long moment, nobody said anything. He was clearly struggling to get control of his emotions. Finally, he turned to Sarah and ushered her out the door, his voice gentle and coaxing. "I’ll handle this, babe. Just give me five minutes, okay?" Then, seemingly afraid she might get jealous, he added, "Maya has a really nasty temper when she’s mad. I don't want you to get hurt." Sarah reluctantly left. Liam closed the door. He loosened his tie. He walked over to me, towering over me for a long, silent minute, before his expression softened. "I didn't think she'd do this," he said softly. His eyes went dark as he looked at me. The atmosphere in the wrecked apartment shifted, becoming heavy and strange. Liam swallowed hard. His voice was husky. "Maya... look, maybe we..." Just then, my phone rang loudly on the vanity. It was my parents. They knew I was driving down the next day. They were calling to remind me to come over for dinner to meet a guy they wanted to set me up with—the son of some family friend. I muttered a few standard excuses and hung up. When I looked back at Liam, his expression had turned grave. He was staring at me. "You’re going on a blind date?" he asked, sounding like he couldn't believe his ears. I didn't even want to dignify that with an answer. I picked up my phone to call the police. As soon as the screen lit up, Liam snatched it out of my hand. He was trembling. "You’re really going on a blind date?" he repeated. I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Before I could answer, he glanced down at my phone screen. He froze. He looked at the screen for a few seconds, then suddenly, he laughed. He tossed the phone onto the couch like it was trash, his entire demeanor changing. He looked relaxed, almost mocking. "Okay. Wow. You’re good, Maya. Playing hard to get until the very end, huh?" "The police? Seriously? These things—didn't you beg me to buy them for you? Since I bought them, they're mine. I have every right to dispose of my own property." Liam raised an eyebrow, his smile twisting. "You know what? Go ahead. Pick them up, wash them off, I bet they’re still usable. I know how much you 'treasured' these things." He checked a notification on his phone and straightened his jacket. He started walking toward me, reaching out a hand as if to pinch my cheek, the way he used to. My skin crawled. I slapped his hand away hard. Based on how he used to act, I expected him to start an argument or storm out in a huff. But Liam just gave me a long, strange look, a sad smile on his lips. "God, Maya. Looking at you like this actually makes me feel guilty." He let out a heavy sigh. "Seeing you so miserable... I’m almost regretting this." His phone rang again. He checked it and tossed out, "See you tomorrow," before casually strolling out of my ruined apartment. I didn't stick around to wonder what he meant by that. I packed my essentials and went to a hotel. I was done.
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