Three months after I divorced my ex-husband, I received a wedding invitation from him. Overnight, I became the laughingstock of our entire social circle. They called me "used goods" that Liam had grown tired of, a manipulative woman who had taken advantage of him when he was down. But without me back then, there wouldn't be the powerful CEO Liam Sterling today. I had completely given up on Liam. Just as I agreed to my father's arrangement for a political marriage, Liam knelt before me. "Maddie, I'm sorry. I didn't know how to love before. Can you give me another chance?" 1. While other couples were spending Valentine's Day surrounded by roses and romance, I received a divorce settlement and a final decree. When I signed that prenuptial agreement with Liam Sterling three years ago, I knew this day would come. Now it's all over, and I should let go. Three years ago, the Sterling family business was in crisis. Everyone avoided them like the plague. Liam's father, the chairman, had a stroke and was hospitalized. The entire burden fell on Liam alone. He was in his early twenties, barely out of college. He begged everyone he could, but no one extended a hand. He was too young. No one trusted a kid to clean up such a mess. The only one who offered an olive branch was my father, head of the Harrington Group. I begged my dad all night. Finally, he nodded, looking at me gravely. "Don't regret this, Madison." How could I regret it? I had loved Liam for seven years. I had never seen him so humbled, so desperate. He was always aloof, the kind of person who stood out in any crowd. But now, he couldn't even get a foot in the door. Hearing about his desperate situation made my heart ache. I found him at a bus stop in the pouring rain. He looked at me, panicked and ashamed. I held an umbrella over his head and pulled out the agreement. Three years of marriage in exchange for saving his father's life's work. Liam agreed. But I knew, if he had a second choice, he would never have chosen me. 2. After the marriage, with the backing of the Harrington family, the Sterling stock stopped plummeting, and the board of directors calmed down. Liam was busy every day, cramming to learn things he'd never touched before. He often worked until dawn. Sometimes he just slept at the office. Occasionally, seeing the light from his study late at night, I couldn't bear it and would make him tea. But when I brought it in, his frown and look of annoyance stung me. Liam hated me. Although he tried his best to hide it, his true feelings occasionally leaked out, impossible to conceal. "I just... saw you were working late," I said, feeling small. In front of him, I could never seem to hold my head up. "Thanks. Go to bed. Don't worry about me." Then he added, "Don't come in here unless it's urgent." Polite, distant, cold. I fled, terrified he would say something worse. It looked like he was relying on me to keep the company afloat, but in reality, I was the one terrified he would leave. I was duckweed, rootless, drifting with the current. Liam was different. He was a tree, desperately absorbing water to grow. In just three years, Sterling Corp was back to its former glory, even better. And I, the vine that tried to bind him, was about to be torn away. There was no reason for me to stay. For three years, we lived like roommates. Liam never touched me. At first, I comforted myself saying he was too busy. But then one night, he came back from a business dinner, drunk. He hugged me, kissed me, touched me. I pushed him gently, whispering his name: "Liam." His eyes suddenly cleared. He pushed me away, locked himself in the bathroom, and then went straight to the guest room. After he left, I went into the bathroom to pick up his clothes and felt the lingering chill. Liam hated me so much he took a cold shower to kill his desire. 3. The first time I saw Liam was at the start of high school. After the orientation, we had military training camp. Our class shared an instructor with Liam's class. Liam was the center of attention from day one. Handsome, wealthy. Photos of him in camo were all over the school forum. Bold girls confessed to him, but Liam always rejected them with a cold, serious face. That was my first impression of him: aloof and unapproachable. Later, during a field exercise, Liam and I were on the same squad. It was a huge game of capture the flag in the woods. As time went on, our teammates were eliminated one by one. I followed Liam, picking up "ammo" and supplies for him. While moving to a new position, I stepped in a hole and twisted my ankle badly. I cried out and fell. Liam looked back, squatted down, and touched my ankle. "Does it hurt here?" I nodded, gasping in pain. But I told him: "Leave me. Go on. I'll surrender in a minute. Take the ammo." Liam didn't speak. He looked toward the camp. He shook his head. "No. It's too far. Waiting for the medics will take too long." "I can hop..." Before I could finish, I saw Liam bend down on one knee, his back to me. I froze. Liam waved his hand. "Get on. I'll carry you." I climbed onto his back. Liam looked at the smoke grenade in my hand. "Know how to use it?" I nodded. "Pull it." With a hiss, we were engulfed in red smoke. Eliminated. Liam walked steadily. I asked him: "Did we surrender to make the game fair? Or so people wouldn't think we were cheating by walking back?" Liam seemed amused by my logic. He chuckled softly. "No. You're hurt and you're still thinking about the game?" "Then why?" "I was afraid someone might shoot you by mistake and cause a secondary injury," he said calmly. My heart skipped a beat. From that moment on, I was drowning in the ocean named Liam Sterling. 4. On Valentine's Day, the courthouse was full of couples getting married, smiling with love in their eyes. Fighting back tears, I asked Liam why he chose today. He hesitated, looking confused. "What's wrong with today? I happened to be free." "Nothing. It's great. You're free starting today." I forced a smile. Liam nodded. "Let's go." He really didn't want to spend another second with me. After we walked out, we stood at the entrance. "Liam, goodbye," I said. "Maddie, I have something at the company, I can't drive you back. You..." He hesitated. "I'll take an Uber," I said, forcing another smile. Liam nodded and drove off without another word. Watching his car disappear, tears finally rolled down my cheeks. It was always like this. No matter the weather, Liam had left me behind more times than I could count. Before, I would nod sensibly and go home alone. Waiting in that empty house for him to return. Today, it was finally over. Watching his car fade away, my heart felt like it was being torn apart. I called Chloe, my best friend from before. Since marrying Liam, I rarely went out. Chloe picked up and said, "I thought you forgot about me!" Choking back sobs, I said, "Chloe, I'm divorced." Chloe picked me up and drove straight to a bar. "Tonight, nobody leaves sober! How long has it been since Princess Harrington came out to play?" I downed a shot. "Chloe, it's really over with Liam." "Don't mention him. Don't," Chloe waved her hand dismissively. I continued with a bitter smile, as if I couldn't hear her. "Chloe, three years. We were together for three years, and he never really looked at me. Am I... a failure?" Seeing she couldn't stop me, Chloe started cursing Liam. "He doesn't know sh*t! You're amazing, beautiful. Losing you is his loss. That heartless bastard, ungrateful prick! If it weren't for you back then..." "Chloe!" I interrupted her. "It was my one-sided wish. It has nothing to do with him." "Maddie!" "I just want to drink tonight. Drink, vent to you, and tomorrow, that man won't exist in my world anymore. Madison Harrington will no longer love Liam Sterling!" I raised my glass. "Deal!" Chloe clinked glasses with me. Maybe she got excited, but Chloe stood up and yelled, "Happy Divorce!" The people in the bar were confused but raised their glasses too, shouting, "Happy Divorce!" I stared at the crimson liquid in my glass, brainwashing myself: Forget him, Maddie. Just forget him.
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