The Afterglow of Us

I let out a cold, mirthless laugh. My gaze slipped past Liam to the overly theatrical Alexa.

Her eyes brimmed with tears, and her hands twisted together as if she had suffered some grievous injustice.

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have troubled Khloe… I…"

Judging from her persistence, Alexa wouldn't rest until she got her way.

I gave in—not out of kindness, but because I wanted to avoid unnecessary trouble before my departure.

The moment I agreed, her expression brightened instantly. She even leaned toward Liam, her voice laced with deliberate sweetness.

"Liam, you always say Khloe has a terrible temper, but I don't see it at all."

Liam cast me a fleeting, uneasy glance. I pressed my lips together, offering no reply. My indifference seemed to unsettle him, but I no longer cared.

"Let's go," I urged flatly. "Weren't you in a hurry to try on the dress?"

I had already let go of Liam; his opinion mattered even less.

The drive was filled with Alexa's cheerful chatter about wedding-house renovations, the air in the car syrupy with affection. I sat in silence, eyes fixed on the scenery rushing past the window.

As we neared the city, Alexa suddenly spoke up.

"Liam, my parents and relatives just arrived. We need to pick them up now."

"Alright," Liam said gently. "We'll head to the airport."

She bit her lip, feigning reluctance.

"But… there aren't enough seats."

She shot me a subtle, triumphant glance.

Liam turned to me, his tone cool.

"Khloe, get out here. We'll come back for you later."

I frowned.

"We're not even in the city yet. Can't you drop me off somewhere populated? There's no one out here."

This was the middle of nowhere and completely unsafe.

"Get out," he snapped. "We're heading straight to the highway."

When I didn't move, Liam stepped out and yanked the door open. His rough grip made me feel like nothing more than a stranger.

"Liam, don't be like that," Alexa interjected softly. "My parents can just take a taxi."

Her words sounded considerate, but to Liam, they were proof that I was being unreasonable and forcing her to back down. His grip tightened painfully, and he all but dragged me from the car.

I stumbled hard, my knees scraping against the coarse asphalt. A searing pain shot up my leg as blood welled up, staining the hem of my white dress.

Liam didn't spare me a glance. He slammed the door shut.

"Wait here. I'll be back soon."

The engine roared, kicking up a cloud of dust that stung my face as the black Bentley sped away.

Leaning on my hands, I slowly pushed myself upright, watching the car vanish down the road. A nameless sense of dread coiled in my chest.

I pulled out my phone and called the family driver, only to learn the car was in for maintenance. It would be at least an hour or two before he could reach me.

Just as I hung up, heavy raindrops fell without warning. Within seconds, the skies unleashed a torrential downpour, drenching me to the skin.

Shivering, I ran to the roadside, waving frantically in hopes of stopping a passing car.

That was when a sedan came speeding around the bend, its tires screeching against the slick pavement. It swerved violently out of control, the hood veering straight toward me.

My pupils contracted.

Somewhere else on the road, Liam's heart lurched violently, and an inexplicable unease flooded him. Lightning split the sky, and for a fleeting moment, the image of the figure he had left standing in the rain flashed through his mind.

Irritated, he reached for his phone, almost without thinking, and began to dial my number.