Chapter 7

Liam and Riley publicly announced their wedding date halfway through the birthday party. Only then did Mia realize that this wasn't just his birthday party—it was also their engagement celebration. The room erupted with thunderous applause as guests lined up to offer their blessings. Mia sat quietly in a corner and watched them kiss, their faces radiant with joy. She felt nothing. Riley walked over arm-in-arm with Liam during the toasts, smiling brightly as she raised her glass. "Ms. Torres, since you and Liam are so close, would you be willing to be one of my bridesmaids when we get married?" "Sorry, I have plans that day. I won't be able to attend the wedding." Liam's expression instantly darkened when she refused without hesitation. He glanced at her coldly and said sharply, "It doesn't matter if you show up. What matters is the gift." Mia nodded slightly and said calmly, "Don't worry. With the bond we share, I'll be sure to send a very generous gift." Her tone was so sincere that it almost sounded like she truly wished them well. Liam's gaze flickered with complicated emotion when he recalled what she told him in the store days ago. The room was filled with upbeat piano music at that moment. He didn't know what else to say, so he took Riley's hand and led her onto the dance floor. The spotlight followed their graceful movements. They glided across the floor like butterflies in flight. The guests couldn't help but feel envious at the loving sight of them as they showered them with praise and admiration. "They're such a beautiful match, but don't you think it's too soon to get engaged after knowing each other for only a month?" "You don't get it. Mr. Clarke has liked Ms. Chandra for many years now. Now that he's finally with her, he'd certainly want to lock it down quickly." Mia leaned back on the couch and observed quietly as a tangle of thoughts swirled through her mind. Liam was the one who taught her ballroom dance. They were completely out of sync back then, and she kept stepping on his feet in heels. However, he never got mad. He just grinned mischievously and leaned closer to her ear. "Every time you step on me, you owe me a kiss." She learned to dance that day. His feet were bruised black and blue, and her lips were swollen from all the kissing. Mia had thought he liked her, too, and that she held the place of a girlfriend in his life. But when Riley returned, she saw with her own eyes how tender and attentive he was to her. Only then did she realize how ridiculous her assumptions had been. At that moment, a man approached and bent down to invite her for a dance just as she was lost in thought. She had no intention of accepting, but the man was persistent. She looked around at the cheerful crowd and didn't want to spoil the mood, so she agreed. Although they were strangers, they moved in surprisingly smooth synchrony, dancing along with the gentle music. The warmth of his hand calmed her, and she gradually let herself relax and melt into the rhythm. It was the first time that night that Liam saw her smile. His face darkened instantly, his eyes full of displeasure. His gaze kept falling on her, causing him to stumble through several beats of the dance. Riley noticed his distraction and glanced sideways over. A subtle emotion flickered in her eyes. The dancers began to switch partners as the music shifted. Mia froze for a second and lowered her gaze when she looked up and saw Liam holding her hand. They had barely spun once when disaster struck. The chandelier above came loose and crashed down with a deafening sound. Liam instinctively let go of her hand and lunged toward Riley, shielding her with his body as he pulled her out of harm's way. Mia was left behind as she barely managed to steady herself. The chandelier brushed past her shoulder as it fell, leaving a long gash on her hand. Blood gushed out instantly, soaking her white dress in crimson. The searing pain shot through her nerves, and she couldn't help but cry out. Her face went ghostly pale. Liam held Riley in his arms a few steps away and comforted her gently before hurriedly leaving the scene. He never once looked back at Mia.