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I forced a bitter smile.
She had no idea I’d paid for that Maybach.
I was afraid she’d pass out if she did.
I avoided her gaze,afraid I’d cry.
All the way home,she lectured me.
I wasn’t young anymore—she wanted me settled.
When I first started dating Liam, I called her, all excited.
She booked a flight to meet him,but Liam kept avoiding her—work,trips,excuses.
He wouldn’t even take her calls.
She stayed two weeks,never meeting him,leaving disappointed,wondering if she’d scared him off.
After that,she stopped asking to visit,only hoping I’d bring him home for holidays.
He never agreed.
Six months ago,she lost her cool and accused me of making up a boyfriend just to avoid her pressure to get married.
She gave an ultimatum:either bring him to meet her or she’d arrange blind dates for me.
I fought with her,cutting contact for months.
Then Dad died in a car accident.I begged Liam to come with me.
He ghosted,texting:“My aunt broke her leg—I’m caring for her.”
That absurd excuse broke me.I attended Dad’s funeral alone.
Mom,grieving,was a wreck.
Seeing her pain,I promised she could meet Liam if she visited.
I thought pleading would sway him.
He shut me down,cold.“Natalie,I told you,I don’t do parents.Push me,and we’re through.”
Any time I crossed him,he dangled a breakup.
I’d always grovel,agreeing to his demands.
My“devotion”was just desperation.
He didn’t love me—didn’t even bother pretending.
It was time to walk away.
When we got to my tiny rental apartment, Mom was fuming. “Natalie, fine if there’s no good man, but this place is a dump!”
I gave a wry smile.
The rental apartment was Liam’s.
I’d wanted to move in to be closer to work.He resisted until I offered to pay the rent.
When he helped me move,he saw my 2,000-square-foot condo and his eyes lit up.
He said it was in a great location, had good parking, and was perfect for commuting.
He asked if he could stay there when he worked late.
I agreed and added his fingerprint to the smart lock.
He basically ended up living there and hardly ever went back to the rental apartment.
Mom looked around the place,sneering.“No trace of a man here.I knew you were lying.”
I glanced around,stunned.Liam had cleared out his stuff,unnoticed.
I’d grown used to being alone.
Brushing Mom off,I told her to rest,grabbed my Beetle’s keys,and left.
When I got to my condo’s garage,I saw the Maybach.
Liam was back.
I was annoyed and went upstairs, scanning my fingerprint.
The lock beeped, indicating access was denied.
I tried again.Same.
The password had been changed.
Anger surged through me.I pounded the door.“Liam,I know you’re in there—open up!”
My throat hurt from shouting.Finally,the door cracked open.
Liam glared at me with a venomous look , as if I was his enemy.
He hissed,“Natalie,you nuts?Trying to ruin me?”
“If you keep this up,we’re—”
I cut him off,sneering.“Done?Fine,come out and say it.Let’s end it!”
He was shocked by my defiance and stammered.
A sugary voice called,“Liam,who’s that,opening our door?”
He panicked and blurted out,“No one—an old tenant.She’s unhinged,thinks she lives here.”
Ignoring my rage,he pushed me back.“Get out of here,or I’m calling the cops!”
Tears streamed down.I felt so pathetic,locked out of my own home.
To Liam,I was just a disposable fool.
Heartbreak hit like a ton of bricks.
I looked at Ashley, who was smirking,and pulled out my phone.“Call the cops.This condo is mine,and I’ve just been letting you stay here. Let’s see who they arrest!”
Ignoring his panic,I dialed 911.
