Chapter 22
“Liam!” The second Grandma Mitchell heard he was coming home, she claimed the best spot on the living room sofa, waiting for him like she used to when he was a boy.
“Where’s Esme?” She craned her neck, searching behind him, but he stood there alone.
“Grandma, she’s not coming back.” The bruises on Liam’s face hadn’t even healed yet. Seeing him like this, Grandma Mitchell’s heart ached.
“Here, Grandma. This is yours.” He held out his hand, and in his palm was the jade bracelet, its cracks delicately mended with gold.
“She didn’t want it?” Grandma Mitchell froze, then pressed her hand to her chest, her face crumpling with regret.
“It’s all Joy’s fault–she drove my sweet daughter–in–law away!” she burst out, her voice trembling with anger.
Liam just listened, letting her vent.
“That woman’s lost it. She’s been making a mess in the house, can’t control herself anymore. I finally had her sent off to Dr. Price’s place–I couldn’t stand it for another day!”
“If it weren’t for her, Esme never would have run away…” Grandma Mitchell’s voice cracked. Then she paused, a glint of something sharp in her eyes. “But you know, that woman gave me an idea.”
She grabbed Liam’s arm and pulled him close to whisper in his ear. “Liam, what if you gave Esme something? If she got pregnant, she couldn’t just leave
you-”
Liam shook his head immediately. “Grandma, we can’t do that. Esme never wanted kids in the first place-”
He didn’t even get to finish before Grandma Mitchell cut him off.
“Liam, what else can we do? Do you want me to find you someone else to marry? Would you even go for that?”
“This is the only way. Get her pregnant, keep her home, I’ll take care of her myself. Esme’s got a soft heart–if we treat her right, and she’s carrying your child, you really think she’ll still leave?”
Liam stayed silent, but Grandma Mitchell wasn’t giving up. “You love her, don’t you? You do! And do you really trust her out there, alone? Wouldn’t it be better if she had your child, and we made it up to her after?”
“Women always say they don’t want kids, but once they’re pregnant, they can’t let go. You’d be the dad–she wouldn’t leave, not really.”
Liam’s voice was barely above a whisper. “Grandma… fine.”
Grandma Mitchell lit up, patting her chest like she’d just won something. “Leave it to me. When
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the time comes, you just go see Esme.”
But days went by, and Liam still couldn’t bring himself to do anything.
Then Grandma Mitchell pressed a little bottle and a folded note into his hand. “Liam, here’s Esme’s address. Took me ages to track her down.”
Liam stared at the note. He unfolded it slowly.
Hillcrest.
“So she really moved to a whole new city…” The ache in his chest got even sharper.
Was he really that awful, that she’d rather give up her shop and her life here, just to get away from him? Was Neil really that much better?
He closed his hand around the bottle, his voice rough. “Grandma, I’ll go find her.”
Grandma Mitchell’s face broke into a smile. “I knew it! She still has you in her heart, Liam. After all these years, she can’t just let go.”
She practically pushed him out the door. “I already booked you a private flight to Hillcrest. Go get her back!”
Even on the plane, everything felt unreal. Liam stared at the bottle in his hand, feeling the weight of all his doubts.
I’m scared… scared of pain, scared of marriage, scared of having kids…
And what had he promised her back then?
Then we won’t have kids. If my family asks, I’ll just say it’s my fault.
Liam closed his eyes, tucked the bottle in his suit pocket, and slumped back in the seat, shaking.
“This time,” he whispered, “let this be the last goodbye.”
When the plane finally landed, it took him forever to dial the number on the note.
‘Hello? Who is this?” Her voice was as soft and clear as ever, and it made his heart twist.
‘Hello? Are you there?”
Liam squeezed the phone tight, then finally found his voice.
‘Esme, I’m in Hillcrest. Please–just give me one last chance. Let me say goodbye, okay?”
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