10
I didn’t come out.
Wang Ma, the housekeeper, heard the commotion and came upstairs.
The moment Liam saw her, he grabbed her arm, his voice frantic.“Where’s madame? Where is she?*
Wang Ma shook her head, bewildered.“I don’t know, sir. She was on the balcony alone for a long time last night. She asked me to go home, so I went. When I came this morning she was gone.”
What? Liam’s voice was icy.
“Why weren’t you taking care of her? Didn’t I tell you she can’t be left alone? Wang Ma panicked.“But… I didn’t know you weren’t home last night!”
Liam froze.
He hadn’t been home either.
He had no right to question the housekeeper.
He remembered dinner last night. Summer had been unusually quiet, but he hadn’t noticed.
He was a monster.
If she’d had the abortion, how heartbroken and alone must she have felt? But he’d been with Chloe, because Chloe was pregnant, and Chloe wanted a reward… a night with him.
He’d lied about work.
He’d left me alone.
He was a monster.
crushing.
Summer
Liam’s
had probably
probably discovered was regret He clutched the empty box, his legs weak, his body trembling.
his
affair.
Wang Ma said, ‘She burned the photos yesterday, sir. I saw her burn a lot of things.” Liam grabbed Wang Ma’s throat suddenly.“Why didn’t you stop her?”
Wang Ma was distraught.“Sir, she’s the maʼam. What could we do?”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You’ve been so busy lately, always gone. And she told us not to tell anyone, including you.” Wang Ma’s words hit Liam like a punch.
Liam stumbled back, his face ashen. He’d been with Chloe whenever he had free time recently, neglecting his own home. Even Wang Ma had noticed. How could I not have noticed?
Haven’t you
Wang Ma frowned.“Ma’am didn’t just burn things, sir. She gave some things away.
noticed?”
Her words jolted Liam.
He started searching frantically.
< 10
Menu
Closets, drawers, upstairs, downstairs… He discovered everything he’d given me was gone. Even the jar
of origami stars he’d painstakingly folded for me was missing.
Then he saw AiYi’s dog bed.
He rushed towards it, his voice choked with desperation.“AiYi… AiYi, come here, boy! I have a bone for you!”
AiYi was gone.
Wang Ma sighed.“Sir, don’t call. Ma’am
gave
AiYi away.”
What? Given him away?”
Liam collapsed onto the sofa, his body limp.
