Chapter 4
When I got to the hospital, my dad was still in surgery.
The red light glowed ominously, like a blade hanging above my head.
My mom was sitting on a bench, sobbing. As soon as she saw me, she rushed over and clung to me. "Olivia, your dad—"
"Mom, it's going to be okay. He'll make it through," I whispered, hugging her tightly, my voice shaking.
Liam went to talk to the doctor. When he came back, his face was grim. "It's a little tricky, but the surgeon is an expert in this. They're doing everything they can."
He paused, then turned to me. "Don't worry about the medical bills. I've already covered it."
I wanted to thank him, but my throat was so tight that the words wouldn't come, so I just nodded.
The surgery dragged on for five hours, and Liam stayed by my side the whole time.
He took several calls, probably company matters, but he didn't leave; he just stepped aside to handle them quietly.
Leah called him, but Liam declined her call without hesitation.
Comments popped up.
[Well done, Mr. Myers.]
[You can really count on him. He's always there when you need him.]
[What about that ring? Is he ever gonna give it to her or not?]
At three in the morning, the surgery finally came to an end. The doctor came out, looking wiped out but with a relieved smile. "We managed to save him, but he'll need to stay in the ICU for a few days."
My legs went weak, and Liam steadied me.
"Thank you, doctor. Thank you so much," my mom cried, her voice shaking with relief.
I watched as the nurses wheeled my dad out, tubes everywhere, his face ghostly pale.
Liam wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "He's going to be okay."
The calm in his voice somehow made me feel safe.
My dad spent seven days in the ICU.
During those seven days, Liam ran back and forth between the company and the hospital every day. He had his assistant bring my daily necessities to the hospital and arranged for a caregiver to look after my mother.
On the eighth day, my dad was transferred to a regular ward.
By the ninth day, he was still weak, but at least he was out of the woods.
My mom held Liam's hand, thanking him repeatedly.
Liam just shook his head. "It's the least I could do."
His eyes were rimmed with dark circles. He clearly hadn't slept well.
Liam had to head back to the office for a meeting in the evening.
As I walked him out of the hospital, I finally said, "The ring—"
Liam stopped in his tracks.
"It all happened so fast that day," I said, my voice trembling. "I didn't know what to do."
"I know," Liam said, looking at me. "You don't need to decide right now. When your dad's recovered, you can take your time and think about it."
He reached out, as if he wanted to touch my face, but his hand faltered and fell back to his side. "I'll come back tonight," he said.
Watching him get into the car and drive off, I stood at the hospital entrance, emotions tangled.
The comments were buzzing anxiously.
[Looks like Olivia is starting to crack.]
[Seriously, Liam has been incredible these past few days.]
[But the ring is still not on her finger.]
When I got back to the ward, my dad was awake. He still looked weak, but when he saw me, he managed a small smile.
My mom was eating an apple, and she said softly, "Olivia, Liam really cares about you."
I didn't say anything.
"You have been together for three years," she went on. "Your dad used to worry, saying a family like his is out of our reach, but from what I've seen these past few days, he truly cares about you."
My dad asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Olivia, do you like him?"
I froze.
Did I?
We'd spent three years together, and it would be a lie to say I didn't feel anything. Yet that contract always felt like a wall I couldn't cross.
Now Liam offered me the ring, and I was just more afraid. What if this was just a spur-of-the-moment thing? What if he mixed up gratitude and love? What if, in three months, everything went back to how it was?
When my dad was finally discharged, Liam came to pick him up.
He'd had the house cleaned and even added a bunch of things to make it easier for my dad to recover.
My dad sat in his wheelchair, looking at the freshly cleaned house, his eyes growing teary.
He said, "Liam, thank you."
"No worries, Mr. Lester," Liam replied, crouching down to meet my dad's gaze. "Just try to get some rest. If you need anything, just let me know."
After we got my dad settled in, Liam walked me downstairs. As we reached the car, he suddenly said, "I'm heading out on a business trip tomorrow. I'll be in Denvos for a week."
I nodded. "Okay."
"Leah is on the team, too," Liam added, "but I'll make sure not to spend time alone with her."
I smiled. "You don't have to tell me that."
Liam was quiet for a few seconds. "I want to."
The breeze ruffled my hair, and the streetlights cast a long shadow of him on the ground.
He said softly, "Olivia, there are still two months left on the contract. For these two months, could you just forget about the deal for a while?"
I looked up at him.
"Let's live like a normal couple," Liam said. "I'll treat you well, and you won't have to be so cautious all the time. If you still feel it's not right two months later, I'll respect your choice."
His gaze was so earnest that I almost believed he truly liked me.
People in the comments held their breath.
[Here it comes. Mr. Myers's ultimate move.]
[Olivia, just say yes. Give him a chance.]
[What if he bails again after two months?]
I took a deep breath. "Liam, why are you doing this?"
He said, "Because I realized that letting you go is even harder for me than you think."
My heart skipped a beat.
I said, "Fine, let's see how it goes for these two months."
Liam's eyes lit up, like fireworks suddenly bursting across the night sky. He reached out and hugged me gently.
It was a restrained hug, barely more than a touch before he let go.
"Wait for me," he said.
I stayed there under the streetlight as the car pulled away.
The comments erupted with cheers.
[Congrats to Mr. Myers. He's officially got a chance.]
[Olivia finally took the first step.]
[Wait, I've got a bad feeling. Leah is probably gonna do something.]
My cheeks were still burning as I headed back home.
Why not give it a try? Worst case, we were back to where we started.