Chapter 3

Liam Evans saw me standing at the door, his face showing no trace of panic.

He stood up calmly, gesturing for me to come in as if he were the master of the house.

"Liam, you're back? Come in and sit down."

My breath caught in my throat, the words I was about to say stuck there.

My gaze shifted to Mia Winthrop on the couch.

"Why is he here?"

Mia's eyes flickered, her voice tinged with guilt.

"Julian's back injury has flared up again. I brought him here to rest for a few days."

She paused, then added, "Don't overthink it."

Suddenly, it all made sense.

No wonder she came home on time tonight.

It was all for Julian.

Mia seemed to remember something, a look of relief crossing her face.

"Good thing we sent Anna to my mom's place earlier. Otherwise, there wouldn't be enough room."

My heart sank.

She hadn't even noticed that Anna was already gone.

Her mind was completely occupied with Julian.

Julian, seizing the moment, put on a remorseful expression.

"It's all my fault for intruding."

"Liam, I'll only be here for a few days. You don't mind, do you?"

His eyes gleamed with hidden triumph.

Mia quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Liam, don't worry. Julian will sleep on the couch. It won't affect us."

But I saw the flicker of concern in her eyes.

There was no way she would let Julian sleep on the couch.

If I hadn't come back unexpectedly, she would probably be nestled in his arms right now.

I spoke calmly.

"His back is bad. He shouldn't sleep on the couch."

"Let him have the master bedroom."

Julian's eyes lit up instantly.

"Liam, you're so considerate."

Mia visibly relaxed.

"I'm glad you see it that way. I was worried you'd be upset."

She thought I had finally learned to compromise.

But she didn't know I was already planning to leave this house.

While they were happily moving into the master bedroom, I quietly packed my bags.

Just as I was about to leave, Mia suddenly emerged from the bedroom.

"Where are you going so late?"

I looked at her calmly.

"Making room for you two."

Mia's face instantly darkened.

"Liam, what do you mean?"

"You agreed to let Julian have the master bedroom. Why are you throwing a tantrum now?"

"Can't you be considerate of a patient?"

She kept talking, but I found it all laughable.

In the past, I argued with her over Julian, and she called me petty.

Now that I was stepping back, she was the one who wasn't satisfied.

Julian pretended to wipe away tears.

"Maybe I should leave. I don't want to cause trouble between you two."

Mia immediately stepped in front of him.

"No one is making you leave today!"

She turned to me with a cold stare.

"If you have the guts, just leave!"

She always believed I would compromise.

But from the moment Anna left, my love for her had completely vanished.

I picked up my suitcase and walked out without looking back.

Mia stood frozen until the elevator doors closed, and only then did I hear her shout.

"If you leave, don't come back!"

She would never know that this time, I truly wasn't coming back.

In the hotel room, I slept deeply.

The next morning, my phone showed dozens of missed calls.

All from Mia.

The last call was half an hour ago.

Had she stayed up all night?

The woman who always urged me to be magnanimous—when had she become so petty?

When I pushed open the door to our home, Mia was sitting in the living room, looking haggard.

The moment she saw me, her eyes immediately welled up with tears.

"Just because Julian came to stay, you had to run away and even quit your job?"