I stood there in silence for a moment, then turned around and ran home. Through tears, I told my parents I didn’t want to be apart from him.
My dad lit a cigarette, thought for a long time, and asked me just one question, “Are you sure? Is Liam the person you want for the rest of your life?”
I nodded.
Because from the very first moment I met him, long before we fell in love, I had already decided that no matter what happened in this life, I would only love him.
My dad didn’t say anything else, yet he stayed up the whole night thinking.
The next morning, he sold ten of our cattle, took a stack of cash, and went straight to find Liam. He patted him on the shoulder and said, “Don’t worry about the tuition. Just study well and grow into someone worthy.”
Liam froze for a long time before falling to his knees, bowing again and again. He said that once he graduated, he would repay this kindness a thousand times over.
But my dad only helped him up and said with a meaningful tone, “I’m not asking for repayment. If fate brings you and Sierra together, just treat her right.”
Liam agreed. He raised his hand toward the majestic snow-capped mountains and swore he would never fail me in this lifetime.
From that day forward, we officially started dating.
And he didn’t disappoint my father. He got accepted into a top art academy, quickly gained fame with his paintings, and after graduation, became a faculty member at the school. For a time, he was the rising star everyone talked about.
Also, he didn’t disappoint me. After years of being together, his love for me never wavered.
On our wedding night, he tattooed the little doodle I once drew for him right over his heart.
He held my hand, letting me feel the beating beneath the ink, and said, “Sierra, remember this feeling. My heart will only ever beat for you.”
That year, our love was at its brightest—so intense that we couldn’t stand being apart even for a day. Whenever he traveled for work, we were on the phone nonstop.
Once, I had a fever. I took some medicine and accidentally fell asleep in the middle of our call. When I woke up, my phone was covered with hundreds of messages.
Panicked, I video-called him to let him know I was okay.