As I finished packing, I heard a knock on the door. It was Liam who hadn't visited his home for the past two days, completely forgetting that he was supposed to bring the birthday cake for Lily’s birthday party.
He walked slowly as I came near me, saying in a tired voice, “Sorry, I couldn't come last night. I was busy.”
“It was your daughter’s birthday, Liam.” I said, my voice neutral.
“I know. But, I also know why we got married in the first place.” He said lazily, “I know you would have taken care of all things perfectly.”
“You are right. I was brought here to take care of Lily and keep her happy. That's what I’m supposed to do every time.” I muttered, my voice filled with self mockery.
Only now did Liam raise his head from his phone to look at me. But, the next second he added, his voice filled with irritation, “Don't start throwing tantrums again. You aren't as old as Lily, and I’m already very tired, Emily. You know I didn't mean that.”
I did not say anything on this. Instead, I walked closer to the door, intending to leave him alone in the room. But, before I could reach the door, he grabbed my hand and pulled me in his arms, saying softly,
“I’m sorry, Emily. I shouldn't have said that. Lately, I have been ignoring you. You must be feeling neglected.”
“It’s because I have been hearing news about Lily's mother these days and I want to find her so…” he paused, realizing saying too much might hurt my feelings. .
He then smiled as he stroked my hair, saying in a passionate voice, “Let’s forget about everything else.Tonight, I'm all yours, Emily. You have been working hard in raising Lily. Take it as your reward.”
With that, he began unbuttoning his shirt as he assumed he was doing a favour on me by bedding with me for a night.
I laughed at his overconfident thoughts inside as I got up from his lap. While looking at him with a pair of distant eyes, I said,
“Save it for someone else, Liam. I’m not your wife anymore.”
He narrowed his eyes before asking in a confused voice, “What do you mean?”
“The time period of our contract marriage is getting over tonight, Liam. Starting from tomorrow, I’ll no longer be your wife.” I said, my voice firm.
But, Liam only stared at me in a daze for a moment before he buttoned up his shirt and got up angrily, saying, “I thought you are mature than this, Emily.”
“I said I was busy. That's why I missed the birthday party. I didn't expect you to throw a tantrum on a small matter like this.” he groaned in anger.
“It's not about you, Liam.” I yelled, “We got married so that I could give a mother's love to Lily. But, she didn't want me anymore. She thinks I’m the reason her mother ran away.”
“If she doesn't want me around her, what's the point of me staying here?” I asked.
But, Liam only chewed his lower lips as he smirked, “So, Lily said something to you and you put on all this drama just to turn me against my daughter, right?”
I was taken aback by Liam's response. I never expected him to think I was a cunning step mother who would scheme against her step daughter by snitching about her.
“You know I love her like my own daughter, Liam. How dare you doubt my love for her?” I asked angrily. I could tolerate anything but an accusation on my love for Lily.
“Then why are you leaving her? If you love her, stay here and raise her like her mother. Stop throwing tantrums on me. I have other things to handle as well.” He said coldly.
“I’m leaving because your daughter has threatened me, Liam. She prays to God that I die. She curses me everytime she sees me. She keeps finding ways to hurt me. How do you think I can stay here, let alone raise her?”
I asked as I told him what happened at her birthday banquet. Liam sighed as he rubbed the space between his brows before he yelled coldly,
“Lily… Come here.”
Lily immediately walked in.
“You hurt your mother last night. Apologize to her” Liam said before yelling, “Now!”
“She is not my mother.” Lily shouted, “I’m not going to apologize for what I said to her. I want her to die!”
After throwing out these words, Lily ran out of the room. I smiled ironically as I said, “What do you think about it, Liam?”
“Lily is just a child, Emily. She must have heard something from someone and started reacting like this.”
“You can't blame Lily for her misbehavior. You have been raising her for the past six years. If she behaves like this, it means you failed to teach her properly. It's your failure, Emily.”
With that he grabbed his phone and walked out after throwing out these words.
“You have already ruined my mood. I’m going to spend the night with Sophie. You take care of Lily. She is angry. Don't let her sleep hungry.”
