Author’s POV

Liam was sitting on the couch, shirtless, completely absorbed in the tender documents in his hands. His posture was relaxed, but there was nothing casual about him. Even at ease, he carried that same heavy presence, like danger was stitched into his skin.

The dim light of the room traced over his sharp features, highlighting the cold focus in his eyes. His jaw was tight, his expression unreadable, as if nothing in this world could distract him from what he wanted. And right now, what he wanted was control.

Across the room, Surumi lay on the bed, wrapped tightly in the bedsheet. The air conditioner was running, but the cold she felt had nothing to do with the temperature.

It was him. It was always him. The emptiness he left behind after every time they were together.

He had not even stayed for a minute after. No glance back, no touch, no words. Like it meant nothing.

Her fingers tightened around the bedsheet as she stared at his back. He looked perfect. Like a man every woman would want. And yet, he made her feel like she was nothing.

He was good in bed. More than good. The kind of man women would lose themselves for.

But what about after that? What about everything that came after?

She swallowed hard, her chest tightened. She did not crave his touch anymore. She craved, his attention, his time and his presence. Something real. Something that did not feel like she was just filling a space in his life. There were no soft moments with him.

No lazy conversations, no random laughter, no warmth, he never stayed back. Never held her. Never kissed her like she mattered. It felt like she was alone even when she was right next to him. And that was worse than being alone for real.

Her eyes stung as she pushed herself up from the bed. Slowly, quietly, she got dressed, picking up her scattered clothes and fixing herself without making much noise.

He did not even notice. Or maybe he did, he just did not care.

“Liam…”

Her voice came out softer than she intended. Her throat had already tightened with everything she had been holding in.

He did not look at her.

“Take my car if you want to go.”

His tone was flat, dismissive, like he had already decided the conversation was over before it even began.

Surumi felt something crack inside her.

“I have my car.”

“Good.”

That was it. Just one word.

She closed her eyes for a second, taking a deep breath before walking toward him. Her steps were slow, hesitant, like she was approaching something dangerous.

Which she was!

She sat beside him, keeping a small distance, unsure if she was even allowed to exist too close to him right now.

“Liam, I want to talk to you.”

“I am busy.”

He did not even look up. The dismissal was instant.

“It’s important.”

She said, her voice trembled slightly.

“Please.”

She hated how careful she sounded. But everyone was scared of him. And she was not an exception.

He did not respond. But he also did not tell her to stop.

So she took that as her chance.

“What are you thinking about us?”

She asked slowly.

“What is your plan? It’s been two years, Liam. I want us to move ahead in this relationship.”

“What move on?”

He flipped a page casually, like she was talking about something insignificant.

Her fingers curled into her palm.

“Something. Anything.”

She could hear the desperation in her own voice now and she hated it.

“What do you want?”

Finally, he spoke. Still not looking at her. Still not giving her anything.

“Marriage?”

The word left her lips like a risk. Like she already knew the answer but still hoped she was wrong.

That made him stop. For the first time, Liam looked at her. His eyes were cold. So cold it felt like they stripped everything inside her. He did not need to say anything. That look was enough.

“I am sorry,”

She rushed out, panic creeping in.

“I know you don’t want to get married. You don’t believe in it. You said I can stay with you the way I want…”

Her voice softened.

“But I want some security, Liam. I want some assurance that I will always be by your side…”

“You are, aren’t you?”

His voice dropped slightly.

And that was worse. Because it carried a warning.

“I am, but I need more than this,”

She said, her emotions finally spilling over.

“You are just physically present around me. What about emotionally? In these two years, you have never even said you love me. Forget that, you don’t even care to text me good morning or good night or how was my day."

Her voice broke.

“You take me out only when I ask you to. You never stay after… after we are together. We never talk like a normal couple. It feels like you call me here just for your needs…”

Tears slipped down her cheeks.

“You give me expensive gifts, all the luxury, everything money can buy. But I don’t want that. I want you. I want your presence.”

Silence after that was heavy for a while.

“I am already giving you what I can.”

His reply was cold and final. Like he had already decided that was enough.

“Fine.”

She said, wiping her tears quickly.

“Then don’t give me anything. Live your life the way you want. I won’t interfere. Just… marry me. Nothing will change. Everything will stay the same.”

Liam tossed the files onto the table with a sharp movement and leaned back against the couch. His expression turned darker, colder, more dangerous.

“I made things clear on our first date,”

He said, his voice was steady but hard.

“I don’t want to get married. You are not an exception. If this works for you, stay. If not, you can leave.”

It hit her like a slap.

“Is that it?”

She stared at him in disbelief.

“Is that my value in your life? It’s that easy for you to let me go?”

He did not answer. He did not even react.

“How can you be so heartless?”

She whispered, shaking her head.

“There is nothing in you, Liam. Nothing.”

He was unaffected.

“You know what?”

She said, her voice was breaking again.

“I am tired. I am tired of feeling like this every day. I wake up wondering if you even care about me or not. I keep trying, hoping something will change. But nothing does.”

She took a step back.

“I am done. It’s better if we separate.”

“As you wish.”

Just like that, no hesitation, no attempt to stop her.

She let out a broken laugh, tears streaming down her face.

“You are so dead inside,”

She said.

“I hope one day you fall in love. I hope you feel everything I am feeling right now.”

Her voice turned bitter.

“You will want her desperately. And you still won’t be able to have her. Not even with all the power you have.”

She wiped her tears harshly.

“I really wish that for you.”

She turned and walked away.

Liam watched her for a second, his expression tightened slightly in irritation.

“That day will never come.”

His voice was low but certain. Like a man who believed he was untouchable.

Downstairs, Surumi rushed out, her vision blurred with tears. Her chest hurt, her breath turned uneven as everything she had held in finally broke apart.

“Surumi?”

She stopped when she heard the voice. She turned, trying to compose herself, but it was useless.

“Surumi, what’s wrong?”

Lisa asked, walking quickly toward her.

“Why are you crying like this? Did you come from Liam’s room? Did he hurt you?”

Panic flashed across her face as she checked her.

“Not physically…”

Surumi whispered, her voice was breaking again.

“Emotionally. It’s over.”

She broke down completely and hugging Lisa tightly.

Lisa immediately held her, guiding her to sit down.

“Hey, calm down,”

She said gently, handing her water.

“What happened? Couples fight, it’s normal.”

“If we fought, I would have been happy,”

Surumi said through sobs.

“At least that would mean he cares. But he doesn’t. I asked him to marry me… and he told me to leave. Just like that.”

Lisa went silent. She knew Liam. And she knew this was exactly something he would do.

“You both have been together for two years,”

Lisa tried to reason.

“Things take time. You can’t give up so easily. You know him. There is no one better than you for him.”

“I am tired of trying alone.”

Surumi said, shaking her head.

“He treats me like I am there only when he needs me. But when I need him, he is never there. Gifts and diamonds don’t mean love, and he will never understand that.”

Her voice cracked again.

“You tell me, would you stay with a man who doesn’t care about your emotions? Look at you and Mr. Louis. He makes sure you are okay, that you are happy. Why can’t Liam be like that?”

Lisa had no answer. Because she knew the truth. Liam was not that kind of man.

Surumi stood up, wiping her tears.

“That’s it. I am done. I want real love. And Liam can’t give me that.”

She walked out and this time, she did not look back.

Lisa watched her go, her expression turne

d frustrated.

“Liam…”

She sighed deeply.

Then her eyes hardened.

“Enough is enough.”

If Liam would not fix himself, she would make sure something did.

And she knew exactly how to do it.