Two hours later.
Liora came downstairs.
Edward leaned in slightly,pulled out a chair for her with a gentle smile and handed her a cup of coffee with three sugars,just the way she liked it.
"Liora,Edward is gone now,but I know my brother would want you to keep living well."
"As his only brother,I’ll make sure to take good care of you."
He played the part so perfectly.
There was a time when Edward remembered every one of her quirks and little habits and Liora truly believed she was the happiest woman alive.
But now,it all felt like a bitter joke.
She did not say a word.Instead,her eyes drifted to the wall in the living room.
The spot where her wedding photo with Edward once hung had been replaced with pictures of him and Callista.
Callista curled affectionately in Edward’s arms and noticed her gaze.Her body tensed and her eyes turned red with guilt.
"Liora,Sister,I was just afraid you’d feel too sad looking at the wedding photo.That’s why I thought I should take it down.I…"
"Don’t call me that.I don’t have a sister."
Liora’s voice cut through the air coldly.
The smile on Edward’s face immediately faltered.
"Liora,Callista only changed the photo for your sake.I know you’re not in a good place after my brother’s accident,but you can’t take it out on her."
His voice,once low and calm,grew icy and edged with threat.
That tone was a clear sign of Edward's fury.
Liora had never heard him speak to her like that before.
She pressed her fingernails deep into her palms,trying to keep the surge of pain in her chest from overtaking her.
Her eyes swept across the room,landing on the new decorations,the unfamiliar tea set and even the vase of lilies she was severely allergic to.She spoke,her lips curling into a bitter smile.
"All of this…All of this was also changed for me?"
Every corner of this house had been chosen by her and Edward over the course of five years.
As soon as Callista arrived,Edward replaced nearly everything in the house with things she preferred.
It was beyond absurd.
When she heard Liora’s words,a flicker of jealousy and bitterness flashed across Callista’s eyes.
But a second later,pitiful tears welled up in them.
"Liora,if it bothers you,I’ll put everything back the way it was…Ouch!"
She stood on tiptoe,reaching up to remove the wedding portrait of her and Edward.But before she could manage it,she let out a sharp cry of pain.
"Callista,are you all right?"
In the blink of an eye,Edward rushed over,panic in his expression as he clutched Callista’s hand with trembling concern.
Liora looked at Callista’s perfectly fine hand,then at Edward’s frantic face and once again felt the sting of betrayal like a knife twisting deep in her chest.
Well,it would not matter.In just two more weeks,she would no longer be tied to this man in any way.
Thinking of that,she turned and instructed the housekeeper to burn the wedding portrait along with everything else.
Out in the courtyard,the paintings Edward once made for her,the keepsakes he gifted and the custom dresses he designed were fed to the flames,one after another,until nothing but ashes remained.
"Wrenford,no matter how hard you try,Edward isn’t coming back."
"Even if he loved you once,so what?He still made another choice."
At some point,Callista appeared again.
But now,there was no more fragility in her voice.Her expression was smug,radiant with triumph.
Liora cast her a cold glance.
"So,you’re saying Edward who is now pretending to be Edmund chose you?"
Callista’s face twitched.She had not expected Liora to know.
So,why was Liora still so calm?
That composed face made Callista’s smile twist with irritation.
"Listen,Wrenford,it doesn’t matter if it’s Edward or Edmund,they both love me.If you know what’s good for you,leave this place right now."
"Otherwise…ah!"
She had not even finished her threat when she spotted a figure approaching from a distance.
Immediately,she put on a show of distress,let out a dramatic cry and stumbled directly into the fire pit.
Liora flinched in shock.
Before she could react,a powerful force slammed into her from behind.
She barely managed to regain her balance before a strong hand clamped tightly around her neck.
"Liora!How dare you hurt Callista?Have I spoiled you too much?"
Edward’s eyes were sharp and cold,colder than frost in midwinter.
Liora’s face turned red as she struggled to breathe.Her wounded hands clutched his wrists and her scabbed skin split open again,blood trickling out.
At last,Edward released her.
Thud!
Liora crumpled to the ground like discarded trash,her body slamming against a jagged stone.
Pain radiated through her limbs and she curled up instinctively,her forehead quickly damp with sweat.
"Don’t let there be a next time."
With that,Edward scooped up Callista and walked away without a glance back.
Liora stared after him,teeth sinking into her lower lip,refusing to let out a single sound of pain.
But no matter how strong she tried to be,the tears still fell,tracing silently down her cheeks.
She shut her eyes tight,trying to tear the image of that man,the one who used to trim his nails before touching her hands or feet,afraid even a scratch might hurt her completely out of her heart.
She kept telling herself.
Liora,this is the last time you’ll cry for Edward.
What she did not expect was for Edward…to return so soon.
