Too Late, Mr. Cooper: Your Bride Ran with Your Baby novel Chapter 26

Liliana’s pupils contracted. She shot to her feet, slamming her hands on the table, her reaction sharp and visceral. “I refuse!” she cried out. “I won’t marry you! I want to end the engagement!”

Her chest heaved with emotion, her eyes turning red. To Linton, she looked like a cornered animal, her distress just another form of a tantrum, another plea for attention, even if that wasn’t her intent.

Linton’s voice softened slightly. “Be good, Liliana. Don’t make a scene. This is a family dinner.”

He was reminding her to behave in front of his grandfather. Privately, she could rage all she wanted, but not here.

Suddenly, a profound sense of powerlessness washed over Liliana. It was always like this. Why could he never see her pain or hear her words? Why did he always dismiss her as a child throwing a fit, someone to be placated with a few empty words until the storm passed? He had never once taken her feelings seriously.

She felt like she was screaming into a void. She could talk until she was blue in the face, and he would never understand. Their perceptions of each other were fundamentally different. A relationship like that was doomed. The longer they dragged it out, the more painful it would become for both of them.

Liliana closed her eyes, a bitter smile on her lips. It was a shame it had taken her this long to realize such a simple truth. Why hadn’t she seen it sooner?

Liliana shot her a cold look, a sneer playing on her lips. “If your ears are just for decoration, perhaps you should donate them to someone who could use them. I said I want to end the engagement. I refuse to marry him. Are you deaf? Hello? Can you not hear me? I can record it and set it as your ringtone if that helps.”

“You!” Mrs. Cooper’s eyes widened, and she slammed her fist on the table. “Liliana, don’t push your luck!”

“Mom.” Linton’s voice, calm and low, cut her off. “Stay out of my business with Liliana. Just worry about yourself. I was the one who agreed to sell the house. She didn’t like it, so I’ll get her a new one.”