Chapter 23
Liam knew what Stephanie meant, but he played it dumb. He couldn’t accept that she had moved on.
He shook his head, his face full of agony and despair. “I don’t get what you’re saying, Steph. Can you stop saying stuff like that?”
This was the second time Stephanie had seen him so vulnerable and lost. The first time was when she found out the truth.
“all
She had helped Liam, who was wasted, get home. He had clung to her then, calling out “Mae” all night. By dawn, he had drifted off, and her heart was completely shattered.
It had only been a little over a month, but looking back now, it felt like a lifetime ago. Time proved to be the greatest healer.
Stephanie was unmoved by Liam’s unreasonable pleas. She calmly looked down at the wound on his right hand and said, “You can deny it all you want, but it won’t change the past or hide the wounds.
“It doesn’t change the fact that I’m no longer in love with you. Liam, for the sake of those eight years I spent loving you, please leave me alone.”
Stephanie gave Liam one last look. He couldn’t find the words, his eyes red and teary, but she couldn’t care less why he was crying.
A drizzle began. She didn’t stay any longer and hurried into her apartment complex. The further she went, the harder it rained.
Cold raindrops landed on Liarn’s face, mingling with his tears as they ran down, soaking his clothes and wound. His blood started dripping again.
The rain poured all night without letting up.
When Stephanie woke up, she thought she’d have to cancel her plans, but the sky had cleared up by then
She checked her phone and found a message from Daniel saying he was already on his way. She hurried to get ready and barely made it downstairs, just as he pulled up in front of her apartment.
The air smelled fresh after the rain. A group of elderly men who’d gotten up early for their morning workout were talking about someone who had passed out downstairs in the middle of the night.
Stephanie was in such a rush to leave that she didn’t catch any of it. She hurried to the entrance and saw Daniel waiting by the car.
He waved at her. When she got closer, he handed her the breakfast he’d picked up. “Mr. Rowell mentioned you like almond milk and bagels, so I grabbed them from what I think is the best spot. See if you like them.”
Stephanie hadn’t expected Daniel to pick up on such small details about her. She was surprised and touched.
Once they were done with breakfast, they set off for the flower market.
It was a long trip, and they talked the whole way about all sorts of things–family stuff, workplace gossip, embarrassing childhood stories, and what they saw ahead in life.
When the topic turned to relationships and partners, Stephanie couldn’t hold back the question that had been on her mind for a while.
“Mr. L–Dan, you’re three years older than me. Why haven’t you settled down yet and ended up doing these blind dates like me?”
Daniel paused for a beat, but he could tell she was just asking out of curiosity. He looked at her with a soft gaze.
“I was always tied up with my studies. After college, I went right into my master’s and Ph.D. programs. Then, after I graduated last year, work took up all my time, and everything else got delayed.
“Honestly, dating and marriage were never really my priority. I’ve always thought life is full of endless possibilities, and there’s no reason to the myself down to just marriage and family.
“So, I figured it’d be great if I met someone who’s right for me, but if that doesn’t happen, I’m fine being single.”
Daniel’s education definitely showed in how broadly he viewed things.
Stephanie was intrigued by his perspective on love and marriage and ended up asking, “So, now that you’ve changed your mind and agreed to blind dates, does that mean you’ve found the right one?”
The second the words came out, she knew she might’ve said something she shouldn’t She was about to say something to smooth things over when heard a calm and confident voice.
It was only two words, but they made her heart pound
