The Afterglow of Us

Over the years I'd lived in the Chase household, anyone could see the growing heat of my feelings for Liam.

But now I shook my head. "Catherine, I truly don't want to marry Liam. I'm planning to go abroad for further studies next month."

Catherine sighed. She could see the resolve in my eyes.

Patting my hand, she said, "Even if you can't be my daughter-in-law, you'll always be my little girl. Don't grow distant from me."

I couldn't hold back my tears as I hugged her.

When I was eight, tragedy struck my family. It was the Chase family, from thousands of miles away, who adopted me and gave a helpless child a home.

"Catherine… thank you for all you've done for me over the years," I said softly. "But Liam and I aren't suited for each other. We'd only end up hurting one another."

She stroked my back with a mother's tenderness. "Silly child, you grew up together. How could you not be suited? Did Liam say something harsh to you?"

I thought of the disgust in Liam's eyes in my previous life.

"Some people… are destined to be close yet never belong to each other."

I stepped back, meeting her gaze with sincerity. "I don't want to force a marriage only to end up losing this home entirely."

It was the truth.

In my previous life, after we wed, Liam almost never came home. His parents, longing to see him, could only ambush him at his company.

Catherine's eyes glistened, but at last she relented. "Alright, Khloe. I'll respect your choice. If you want to go abroad, then go. The Chase family will always be your home."

I nodded gratefully.

Escaping Liam—that was the first goal of my rebirth. In this life, I wanted to remain nothing more than a familiar stranger to him.

The party passed without further mishap. I personally intercepted anyone sent to search for Liam.

Just when I thought the night would end quietly, a sharp, piercing scream tore down from upstairs.

"Ah! Liam! Liam, what's wrong with you? Somebody help! Get the doctor!"

It was Alexa's voice.

Catherine, who was seeing off the last guests, bolted upstairs at the commotion. I followed in silence.

Liam's bedroom door stood wide open.

Alexa was sprawled at the threshold, her white evening gown rumpled and torn, baring a swath of pale shoulder and neck. The moment she saw Catherine, she scrambled forward like a drowning woman finding a lifeline.

"Catherine, I—I don't know what happened, Liam suddenly just…" Her words tumbled out in disarray, but her gaze flicked toward me, fleeting yet laced with provocation and smug satisfaction.

Catherine had no time for her. She rushed straight into the room.

From the bathroom came the rush of water. Liam was submerged in the icy tub, still fully dressed in his suit. His cheeks were flushed an unhealthy red, his eyes shut tight. He looked unconscious.

A chill crept into my fingertips.

In my past life, it had been me—disheveled, pinned beneath him—under the scornful gazes of onlookers, nailed to a pillar of shame.

Yet in this life, he would rather torture himself into unconsciousness in freezing water than touch Alexa.

Suddenly, it all made sense.

Of course. Alexa was extremely precious to him. How could he bear to taint her with something so sordid?

He could destroy me without hesitation, but would fight to his last breath to protect her purity.

A sharp, bitter ache surged from deep within me, burning my throat and stinging my eyes. But… I had already seen the truth clearly.

Catherine hurriedly summoned the family doctor, and after a night of chaos, Liam finally stirred awake.

The first thing he did was call me in to talk.

"I know you've come back too," he said.

My heart gave a jolt, but outwardly I remained composed. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Stop pretending, Khloe. You're even more vicious than you were before. Not only did you drug me, you tried to ruin Alexa."