Hearing that, Liam’s pupils shrank on the bed. “Say that again, Rita!”
The man’s face was sunken, each syllable dripping with anger.
In an instant, a massive pressure emanated throughout the room.
Even though she’d been prepared, faced with his intimidating glare, Rita’s spine ran cold with sweat.
She forced herself to remain calm and spoke. “I said, I’ve had my fill of fun. I’m done. Let’s break up, Liam!”
Liam’s deathly stare centred on Rita as she repeated what she’d said, his hands crumpling his covers.
She’d been laughing yesterday over how he ought to propose before getting remarried, but just one night later, they were breaking up.
The usually collected man flew into a rage. “The reason!”
Faced with his demand, Rita wasn’t surprised.
As he’d slept through the night, she’d thought over everything he’d go through already, and of course, she had an excuse ready.
She shrugged nonchalantly. “I loved you so much in the beginning, but because of a misunderstanding, you destroyed all my pride and my dignity. I even had my left leg broken because of you…
“You don’t think, Liam, that with everything that’s happened, I’d still be stupid enough to soften because you saved me, and really start over with you, do you?
“I never fell back in love with you. I only got back together with you to get revenge.”
Liam frowned, not buying it for a second. “I could see in your eyes that you felt something when you were with me. You can’t lie to me, Rita. Something happened after I fainted last night to make you say all this about breaking up.”
Their eyes met, and for a second, Rita was afraid.
Afraid that all her lies could be seen through that easily.
But soon, she turned her fear into a leering smile. “If I didn’t put on an act like I really felt something for you, how could I draw you in?”
“So?” Liam asked on, not comprehending.
Rita retracted her smile and steeled her heart. “So I wanted you to feel what it’s like to be hurt to the core by someone you loved so much – that’s my revenge against you, Liam Wilson!
“I thought it’d have taken some more time to reach that point, but when you pushed me away without hesitation last night when the chandelier fell, I understood that your feelings for me had developed enough.
“That’s why the cards are coming out.
“Does it hurt to be toyed around like this by your lover, Liam?”
“I want the truth, Rita!” Liam didn’t believe a word of what she said, but it still hurt him.
Rita remained expressionless. “That was the truth. The moment I got back together with you was the moment I started getting even! Now that I’ve accomplished my goal… there’s no need to see each other any longer.”
With that, she turned and left the ward.
Not so much leaving as fleeing.
She was afraid that if she stayed for one more second, she’d soften and become incapable of leaving entirely.
Liam ripped his arm out of his IV feed and pulled her angrily to his side, gritting his teeth. “I don’t believe you, Rita.”
Rita gazed at the man’s bleeding arm, her heart in agony.
But despite the agony, she hardened it. “That was the tru- mmph!”
Before she could get the word out, the man’s lips sealed hers.
She twisted her face to get out of the hold, but his hands secured her waist firmly in his embrace, not giving her any room to squirm.
The kiss broke down Rita’s defenses and she found herself back in his arms.
“let’s get remarried tomorrow, Rita.”
The man’s sonorous voice grew low and raspy, with a hint of pleading.
He’d once been such a proud, cold man. But for her, he was willing to lower his head into the dirt.
If she willed it, he would have plucked stars out of the sky for her.
But…
Sorry, Liam.
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