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“Natalie,keep this up,and you’ll regret it!”
I stared at his vile expression,wondering how I’d ever loved him.
Ignoring me,he snatched my phone,smashed it to pieces,and ground it under his foot.
Years of restraint snapped.I swung my purse at his head.
He dodged,the bag slamming the wall with a thud.
He bolted to the elevator,yelling,“Natalie,I’m getting security to throw you out!”
He’d lost himself in his own charade.
I sneered,stepping into the condo,then froze.
I’d poured every ounce of my heart and soul into transforming this place into a home.
During renovations,I’d worked late hours,rushing over to oversee details,eating cold sandwiches,losing ten pounds in months.
All to craft my dream home.
Now,it was unrecognizable.
The once-pristine living room now resembled a chaotic junkyard, with piles of rubbish scattered everywhere.
My custom leather sofa,imported,was scratched,littered with dirty laundry.
The wallpaper,handpicked after weeks of searching,hand-applied over nights,was stained.
My cherished carved oak dining table,designed through sleepless weeks,was bare—no tablecloth—covered in grease and spills.
Rage blackened my vision.I bit my lip to keep from sobbing.
Ashley sat at the table,flaunting my car keys to her mom.“Mom,Liam got me this car—millions,they say.”
“I’ll drive you to the market daily.You love fresh poultry—just toss it in the back!”
Her mom nodded eagerly.“And Liam won’t let me do a single thing—he even washes my clothes!”
They carried on chatting,oblivious to me.
Ashley’s mom bit into some fish,frowning.“Liam,this is too salty.Ashley likes mild flavors—she can’t eat this!”
A shudder ran down my spine.
Four years,and I never knew Liam could cook.
I’d always treated him to fancy dinners or cooked for him myself,even when I was running a high fever and feeling absolutely miserable.
He’d still nitpick—my food was“bad,”my restaurant picks“low-class.”
Yet for Ashley,he’d whipped up a feast in hours.
This was the man I’d cherished.
He’d slave for her but wouldn’t spare me a kind word.
Ashley’s mom,annoyed by silence,snapped,“Liam,ignoring elders now?”
She turned,meeting my icy stare,and froze.
I stormed to the table,snatching the keys from Ashley.“Liam said this car’s for you?”
She nodded,smug.“Problem?”
“He didn’t mention it’s mine?”
Before I finished,Liam burst in with security.
He glared at me and then flashed a charming smile.“Ashley,Mrs.Brooks,don’t worry—this is my ex.”
He glanced at me,pity in his eyes, real or staged.“I get it,a guy like me is hard to let go,but your stalking’s annoying.”
“Since you won’t listen,security’s here to escort you out.”
He spoke with such confidence,security hesitated.
I’d owned this condo five years.Even the cleaning staff knew me.
I’d told security Liam might“stay over.”
They knew who the real owner was.
