The New Year was just around the corner when my husband, our daughter, and I moved into our new apartment in Seabrook. I never expected to run into my aunt and her family right at the community gate. They asked me when, after all these years, I was finally going to get over it and go back home to talk things out with Liam Blackwood, the heir to the Blackwood Corporation. Liam was my college sweetheart. We were on the verge of getting engaged four years ago. But on his birthday, everything changed. He smashed the cake I’d made for him in a private karaoke room, right in front of me, and walked out with Pamela, his college roommate’s little sister. I broke up with him on the spot and moved to this small coastal city. Now, seeing me again, my aunt tried to reason with me. "You know, Liam's never really gotten over you. Even on the day he got engaged to Pamela, he said if you just came back, he’d drop everything and start over with you." Start over? I smiled, my voice calm. "Aunt Carol, I got married two years ago. My daughter is eighteen months old." Liam probably thought I was still giving him the silent treatment, completely clueless that I’d already started a new life. 1 I hadn't told anyone back home that I was married. So when I ran into my aunt in Seabrook, she was completely in the dark. A light snow was falling. I was holding an umbrella, a stuffed animal for my daughter swinging from my other hand as I crossed the small wooden bridge in the park. That's when I saw them on the other side: my aunt and my cousin, staring at me in utter shock. We hadn't seen each other in four years, and the first words out of my aunt's mouth were a reprimand. "Stella! Where have you been all this time? You just disappeared without a word, no contact with your family at all!" I glanced at her, my expression cool, showing none of the joy of a reunion. They, on the other hand, seemed thrilled. My cousin, Mike, chimed in. "Stella, you're finally back! Liam has been asking about you for years. You have to come home with us!" My aunt quickly agreed. "He's right! Stella, you have no idea. Liam has taken over the family business now. He's the most sought-after bachelor in our circle." "If you get back together with him, you'll be the envy of everyone, a wealthy socialite! And our family would get to share in the glory, wouldn't we?" Her eyes danced with excitement, and Mike looked like he’d just won the lottery. Funny how they never gave a damn about me before. After my parents passed away, they cut off all contact. Now that they saw a potential benefit, they were all over me. I almost laughed, shattering their daydream. "Aunt Carol, Mike... Liam and I are ancient history." The name, unspoken for so long, felt foreign on my tongue. I said it as casually as if I were discussing the weather, as if he were a complete stranger. My aunt and cousin fell silent, looking at me with strange, assessing eyes. Clearly, they didn't believe me. After all, the whole school had known how crazy I was about Liam. They used to whisper about the Hayes girl, the one with no parents to control her, wild and untamed. 2 In high school, Liam Blackwood and I were inseparable. I was an extrovert, never caring about the gossip that swirled around us. We made it official our freshman year of college, and I truly believed we would go the distance. So, I was always attached to his hip. I’d drag him to concerts and make him study with me for finals. From the time we met at sixteen until we were twenty, we were a single unit. If things had gone according to plan, we would have been officially engaged at twenty-four. But that year, during winter break, his college roommate's sister, Pamela, came to stay. She was the quiet, demure type who spoke in whispers—everyone's idea of a perfect girl. Next to her, I was a whirlwind of chaos. "A girl with no parental guidance, what do you expect? She's nothing compared to a sweet, refined girl like Pamela." The whispers reached my ears, stinging me with shame and anger. I needed to ask Liam if he felt the same way, if he thought I wasn't good enough. But when I got to the barbecue restaurant where we were supposed to meet, Pamela was there too. She smiled gently. "Stella, I didn't have anything to do over the break, so Liam brought me along. You don't mind, do you?" Normally, I wouldn't have. But it was his birthday. He had promised we’d celebrate together. Instead, he took the birthday gift I’d brought—a scarf I had knitted myself—and casually tossed it to Pamela. I stared at the scarf in her hands, my mind flashing to the sleepless nights I'd spent making it. Something inside me snapped. "Liam, what is going on?" The restaurant was loud, filled with the smoky haze of the grills. My sudden outburst caught him off guard. He frowned, glanced at Pamela, and then pulled me outside. "She's bored during the break, so I'm showing her around. What's the big deal?" he muttered. I didn't even know what the big deal was. Maybe it was hearing everyone praise Pamela while putting me down. Or maybe it was just the scarf. I grabbed the front of his jacket, my voice tight. "Then why did you give her the scarf I made for you?" He flinched, a flicker of panic in his eyes. "She was cold. I just let her borrow it to warm up." "Warm up?" I scoffed. "Why didn't you just buy her a new one?" "It's a gift from you," he said. "It's not like I was giving it to her for good." His words managed to quell my anger, but a bitter feeling remained. "So you think I'm not good enough, too?" "Think what?" "That I'm not quiet and well-behaved enough!" He hesitated. "You can be a little much sometimes." My eyes widened in anger, and I slapped his arm. It wasn't hard, and he didn't even flinch, but Pamela gasped, her eyes immediately welling up. She rushed over and clung to his arm, her voice trembling. "Liam, are you okay? It's all my fault, I made Stella upset... Blame me, don't be mad at him..." She stood between us, sobbing, drawing the attention of other customers. I gritted my teeth, about to tell her to stop, but her crying only grew louder. Defeated, Liam asked a waiter to take her to the lounge area. But Pamela clung to his arm, refusing to let go. He looked at her tear-streaked face, then back at me, his expression weary. "Stella, let's just call it a night. Pamela's just back in the country, she's a bit emotional. I need to get her settled." And just like that, the birthday celebration I had planned so carefully was over before I’d even had a single bite. 3 After that, Liam’s free time was no longer mine. Pamela was by his side more and more often. If I wanted to see him alone, I had to be careful, as if we were having some kind of secret affair. One afternoon at a cafe, my frustration boiled over. "Don't you feel like we're sneaking around?" Liam, who had just taken a sip of his bubble tea, nearly choked. A blush crept up his neck. "What are you talking about..." "I'm not talking nonsense," I said, my voice serious. "According to our plan, you were supposed to propose last year. Now I have to arrange secret meetings just to see you." He knew it was a problem. He reached out, patting my head and pulling me into a hug. "Alright, you're right. I'll talk to my family about us. Once it's official, you won't have to worry about Pamela anymore." He smiled and handed me a silver bracelet to make up for his ruined birthday. I wore it every day after that, waiting for the day we would finally walk down the aisle. That day never came. 4 In early September, my childhood neighbor, who was like an older sister to me, passed away from an illness. My aunt and I weren't close, so during holidays when the house felt empty, she was the only one who would visit. Her death hit me hard. After the funeral, I was alone in my empty apartment, feeling a profound sense of loneliness. I desperately needed to see Liam. I rushed over to his apartment complex. And I saw him. He was holding Pamela, who was wrapped in nothing but a towel, her hair still wet. He was patting her back gently, whispering words of comfort. "It's okay, Pamela, you're safe..." His eyes were filled with a tenderness I hadn't seen in a long time, a tenderness that felt like a knife in my heart. I stood there, frozen, my eyes falling to the floor where a smashed cake lay in ruins. The birthday cake I had made for him the night before was now a tragic, unrecognizable mess. A storm of anger and sorrow churned inside me. I walked over, intending to salvage what was left of the cake. It was only then that Liam noticed me. He let go of Pamela. "Stella, what are you doing here?" I ignored him, focusing on the ruined cake. He grabbed my arm. "The cake fell by accident. Pamela almost slipped. This one's ruined, how about I buy you a new one?" I kept my head down and shook his hand off. Without a word, I turned and ran. He caught up with me at the gate, blocking my path. He studied my face. "Stella, what is wrong with you?" I stared at him, the hurt I'd been suppressing finally erupting. I could ignore what other people thought, but not him. Every look, every gesture from him could send my world spinning. Yet here he was, acting as if nothing was wrong. Fighting back tears, I looked into his panicked eyes. "Liam, do you even care about me?" He froze, his gaze shifting away as a faint blush colored his ears. "Why are you asking that..." "Do you care about me?" I repeated, clutching his sleeve, desperate for an answer. He pulled his arm free. "People are watching, Stella. Let's talk about this at home." "No!" His evasion made me snap. Why could he hold Pamela so tenderly but couldn't offer me a single word of comfort? My heart ached with a bitter jealousy. I lunged, trying to throw my arms around him. But he caught my shoulders, his voice firm. "Not in public, Stella. Don't be like this. I..." Before he could finish, Pamela's voice cut in. "Liam!" She had changed and now ran up to us, linking her arm through his possessively. The sight was a dagger to my heart. A cold, bitter laugh escaped me. "You're right. We should be careful. Not like your 'sister' here, who has no problem cuddling up to you in a towel. I guess she's not worried about what people will say..." "Stella!" Liam's voice was sharp with shock and anger. A few passersby started whispering. Pamela swayed, tears instantly streaming down her face. He was truly furious now. His face was a dark mask as he gripped my wrist. "Stop it. It was just a cake, I'll replace it. Leave Pamela out of this." His tone was a warning, his grip painful. But the pain in my heart was worse. Seeing him protect her, I forced a smile. "Am I talking nonsense, or did I hit a nerve? I saw you with my own two eyes. She—" CRACK! A sharp sound cut me off. Liam's voice was ice. "Stella. That's enough." 5 I froze. The stinging on my cheek was so sharp it took a moment to register. The tears, however, came instantly, hot and uncontrollable. In all the years I'd known him, Liam had never laid a finger on me. Even when I got into trouble and he took the blame, he was always the one protecting me. I never imagined he would hit me for someone else. A flicker of triumph crossed Pamela's face. "Liam..." she whispered, pressing a hand to her chest and leaning against him weakly. He caught her, and without another glance at me, turned and walked away. I watched their figures recede until they were just a blur through my tears. In the distance, I thought I heard him let out a soft, weary sigh. From that day on, the rumors flew. Everyone said Liam had dumped me, that I was officially out of the picture. The Blackwood Corporation never mentioned the engagement again. My heart felt like a dead weight in my chest. I found the photo of us from high school on my phone and deleted it. I sent him one last text telling him we were over for good. Then, I packed my bags and left my hometown, moving to the small coastal city of Seabrook. I didn't go back for years. Until today, when I ran into my aunt, and all the old memories came rushing back. But now, my heart was a placid lake, no ripples of anger or sadness left. My aunt studied my calm expression for a moment. "Stella, dear, are you still mad at Liam? I heard about what happened. You were both young and impulsive. It's time to let it go, don't you think?" I gave a faint smile. "It's long in the past." The same year I left, Liam and Pamela got engaged. And me? I now had a husband and a daughter. We had no connection anymore. Seeing my nonchalance, my aunt said, "Well, it's good that you've moved on." "But you know," she added, "Liam still has a place for you in his heart. He said it himself on his engagement day. If you ever went back to him, he would take you back in a heartbeat." 6 Take me back? A sarcastic smile tugged at my lips. "Aunt Carol, you didn't know? I got married two years ago. My daughter is eighteen months old." "What?" My cousin's eyes went wide with disbelief. My aunt looked as if she’d been struck by lightning. "But... you were always so in love with Liam, how could you..." The news was so sudden it left them speechless. I took the opportunity. "Come on, I'll introduce you to Sunny." Sunny was my daughter. When I got back, she was playing in the sandbox in the community garden. Seeing my aunt and cousin, she tilted her head. "Are they here to see Daddy?" "No, sweetie," I shook my head. "Sunny, this is your great-aunt and your cousin Mike." "Hello, Great-Aunt. Hello, Cousin Mike," Sunny chirped. My aunt was still stunned. "This... this is really your daughter?" They didn't seem to fully believe it until they saw her with their own eyes. I smiled and stroked my daughter's hair, then went inside. From the back of a drawer, I pulled out a small box and handed it to my cousin. "Could you please give this back to Liam for me?" "For Liam?" Mike asked, curious. "What's inside?" "Just some old things," I said calmly. When I’d left home, I had deleted our photos in a fit of anger, but I couldn't bring myself to throw away the little trinkets he had given me. Inside the box was the matching keychain set we’d bought in high school. He’d given it to me on his eighteenth birthday to mark our first year together. Years had passed. He had his life, and I had mine. It was time to give it back. My expression remained placid. Mike didn't press further. "So, should I tell Liam you're married?" I paused. "Do what you want." Seeing the contents of the box, Liam would understand. We were done. My aunt sighed, her face full of regret, as if watching a perfect match slip away. "Stella, are you sure you can let him go?" After all those years, could I really just let it all go? I nodded. "I have no regrets." Maybe it started as a way to spite him, but my marriage… that was a choice I made with my whole heart. 7 My aunt and cousin left with the box, and I didn't hear anything for a couple of weeks. Then, Mike sent me a message. He’d given the box to Liam at his birthday party. He said when Liam opened it and saw what was inside, he just froze, his eyes turning red. He’d asked where I was. Mike told him the truth: I was married. A simple sentence that apparently made the great Liam Blackwood stumble back, pale as a ghost, clutching his chest as a cough wracked his body. I never expected him to have such a strong reaction. And I certainly never expected him to come to Seabrook. On a day of heavy snowfall, a tall, familiar figure stood at the entrance to our community, looking utterly alone. Sunny pushed open the lobby door. "Mommy, someone's here for you!" "Who is it?" I walked out, my eyes inadvertently meeting a pair I knew all too well. Liam was holding an umbrella, his head bowed toward Sunny. When he looked up and saw me, he went rigid. Time seemed to melt away. He was more mature, more handsome than the boy I remembered, but his eyes were the same—as clear as a sky after rain. His lips moved. "It's been a long time, Stella." I frowned, knowing I couldn't avoid this. "Mr. Blackwood," I said, my tone formal. A reunion of old lovers. One still using a childhood nickname, the other a distant, formal title. A flicker of hurt crossed Liam's face. He looked down at Sunny. "Is this... your daughter?" he murmured. Sunny, feeling his intense gaze, shyly hid behind me. I picked her up, pretending not to notice the tremor in his voice. "Yes, she is." Snowflakes settled on the rim of his umbrella. Liam's face was as white as the snow on the ground, as if all the life had been drained from him. After a long silence, he asked, "Why?" "There’s no why," I said flatly. "People get married. They have children. It’s normal." "Normal..." he repeated, a storm of emotions swirling in his eyes before he managed a bitter smile. Sunny peeked out from my shoulder. "Mister, who are you?" she asked in her small voice. Liam stared at her, and his eyes suddenly reddened. "I'm... an old friend of your mommy's." "Old friend?" Sunny tilted her head, confused. "It means someone she knew a long, long time ago," I explained. "Oh." She looked from me to Liam, not understanding why this grown-up looked like he was about to cry. "Stella..." Liam started to say something else, but I cut him off. "You should go." He froze, watching as I turned and carried Sunny back inside. The snow was falling harder, and I had no intention of inviting him in. He just stood there in the storm for a long, long time. Even after the snow stopped, he was still there, his face completely bloodless from the cold. Not wanting to find a frozen body on my doorstep in the morning, I finally opened the door. "What is it you want?" His gaze locked onto mine, his voice laced with bitterness. "Stella, are you still angry with me? For what happened that day?" The mention of the past made me frown. "It's over." "But I can't let it go," he said, his voice raw. "These past few years, I haven’t been able to forget." He looked up, and under the umbrella, the eyes that had once made my heart race were still as deep and captivating as ever. But they no longer had any power over me.
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