Brian tried to reach out almost as if to help me. However, I stepped back to avoid his touch. Before I could speak, Adeline hurried to his side, clutching his arm like a devoted lover. She looked at me with fake worry in her eyes.
"Lilian, Brian released you yesterday. Why didn’t you come home last night? And how did you get yourself into such a state?"
Then she turned to Brian and added, "Don’t blame her, Brian. Lilian probably just wants attention. Look at how badly she’s hurt. Let’s get her treated first, okay?"
Her gentle words worked like poison. The pain in Brian’s eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by cold fury. He glared at me coldly as he angrily accused me, "You’re doing this again! Lilian, your lies are so obvious now. No one believes you anymore!"
This time, I didn’t answer. Instead, I just stared at him as I silently memorized the face I had once loved so deeply. His eyes were still beautiful, but now, they no longer held even a trace of love for me.
Brian the turned to Adeline, gently holding her hand as he spoke while he was looking at me, "If you have the strength to hurt yourself, then you have the strength to walk home."
"Watch her closely. Don’t let her take a single shortcut."
After that, both Brian and Adeline walked away. Step by step, I forced myself to walk home. Every painful step burned the same words into my mind.
‘I would make them pay for this. All of them.’
When I finally reached home and pushed the door open, the sound of Adeline’s sobs filled the living room. She sat on the sofa, trembling as she cried in Brian’s arms.
"Brian, I don’t want to go through with the arranged marriage. I don’t want to marry that lunatic. He’s cruel and brutal. The women from previous arranged marriages … they all died! Why does it have to be me and not Lilian?"
Brian stroked her back gently. His voice was soothing and tender as he said, "Don’t worry. With me here, no one will dare force you. It doesn’t matter who has to go through with the arranged marriage. It won’t be you."
My parents immediately chimed in, their voices full of reassurance as they said, "Don’t worry, sweetheart. We would never agree to let you go. We’ll protect you."
I stood silently at the doorway. No one turned to look at me. Without a word, I walked straight to my room. The moment the door clicked shut, memories flooded my mind like a relentless tide.