Love torments
Chapter 1
Ten years. Ten freaking years I’d been
tangled up with Liam Walker. Finally, I, Emily
Carter, the girl who’d practically grown up in
his house, had become his wife.
But the ink wasn’t even dry on the marriage
license before he cancelled our wedding. Just
like that.
And the honeymoon? Don’t even get me
started. He brought his goddamn secretary,
Jessica, along for the ride.
I lost it. A few words were exchanged, okay?
But he accused me of being jealous and
irrational.
Then, the riot started.
He left me.
He just fucking left me in that godforsaken
country with Jessica in tow.
One month. One month of hell. I saw things…
I saw myself clearly too, and I saw Liam.
Now, he could apologize until he was blue in
the face. He could offer me the moon and the
stars.
I was done. Absolutely done.
- 1.
The second I landed back in the States,
Jessica orchestrated a press conference. The
bitch.
The cameras zoomed in on every inch of me,
every bruise, every cut.
She hiked up what was left of my dress,
showing off the scars on my legs like
trophies.
“Ms. Carter’s experience is deeply troubling.
We urge everyone to prioritize safety when
traveling abroad.”
“Don’t chase thrills in dangerous areas. It
puts our rescue workers at risk.”
“The Walker Corporation is donating $50.
<
Puo Uu་
“The Walker Corporation is donating $50
million to the affected region. We hope this
will help alleviate the situation. And please,
give Emily some space.
99
After that load of virtue–signaling bullshit,
Jessica and Liam posed with me.
They looked like a goddamn power couple.
And me? I stood behind them, like some
mangy dog.
The flashes went off.
All I saw was the explosion.
I instinctively covered my head, crouching
down, shaking like a leaf.
Liam shoved Jessica behind him, looking at
me like I was a piece of dirt on his shoe.
“What the hell are you trying to pull now, Emily?”
He wrinkled his nose at my smell and waved
the reporters away.
“Emily. don’t be such a bitch ”
<
Live Tepui
EpUILEIS away.
“Emily, don’t be such a bitch.”
وو
“You’re the one who threw a tantrum and had
to go to that restricted zone to take pictures,
that’s why you missed the rescue.
“You brought this on yourself!”
وو
“Jessica almost died in the bombing trying to
find you. She was the one who contacted the embassy. You should be thanking her.”
I just kept my head down, staring at the blood
dripping onto the floor. I was numb.
They abandoned me.
And now they wanted to blame me?
They wanted to spin this, make me the villain.
But Liam was right about one thing.
Falling for him was my own damn fault.
So, from now on, I’m done chasing him.
My silence pissed him off even more.
He shoved my shoulder, like he used to do
when we were kids.
“Okay the reporters.
L
“Okay, the reporters are gone. Stop faking it.
Everyone knows what a drama queen you
are.”
Emily Carter used to be a drama queen,
spoiled and loud.
But the last month had changed me.
That Emily, the one who loved Liam Walker,
died in a war–torn street.
410
She died from the betrayal of the man she
loved.
All that was left was a shell.
The love? Gone. Burned away in blood and
tears.
A staffer offered me a blanket.
I flinched.
I just bowed my head and got in the car.
Jessica slid into the passenger seat, the seat
that used to be mine.
My favorite stuffed rabbit and crystal charm?
Gone.
Gone.
Like I’d never existed.
Jessica glanced back at me, ripping open a
bag of potato chips.
Liam, who hated me eating in the car, didn’t
say a word.
The smell of the chips hit me.
My stomach growled, loud.
I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the hunger.
“One month away, and you’ve learned to act
pitiful, huh?”
“I see you’re never gonna lose that jealous
streak!”
Liam threw the half–eaten bag of chips in my
face.
Chip crumbs rained down on me.
But this humiliation? It was nothing compared
to what I’d been through.
I scrambled onto the floor, shoving the chips
into my mouth like a goddamn animal.
く
Jessica gasped, pretending to be shocked.
“Ew, what are you doing? That’s so gross.
Liam pulled the car over.
99
“Emily, Jessica got you food. Stop with the act. Get the hell out of my car if you want to keep embarrassing yourself!”
I looked at Liam, clutching the chips in my
hand.
They wouldn’t understand.
When you’re starving, you’ll kneel for a piece
of moldy bread.
You’ll get your head bashed in for a sip of
clean water.
Life and death? Love doesn’t matter.
Ten years of feelings.
Less than a bag of chips.
