Liam's heart tugged in his chest as he walked out the door, leaving behind Ruby and Rowan. He walked aimlessly without direction because he felt used by his wife. He had been the driving force in her acting career, and now he was being repaid in this way.
But then, realization dawned on him, mixed with anger. He remembered that this was his home, and the ones who should be leaving were his cheating wife and her lover, not him!
The sudden ringing of his phone brought him out of his reverie. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and placed it to his ear.
"Good news, sir. The new movie is set. The director has agreed to your terms, and your wife has been cast as the female lead," Lilia's voice came through.
A bitter, cold laughter escaped Liam's mouth. "Too late, Lilia. We are already divorced."
Lila, on the other hand, was thrilled as she voiced out, "Finally, this is great news!" Liam was taken aback by her reaction.
"What was that, Lila? You seem so happy about the news."
"Nothing, sir. I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't mean to react that way. It came as a shock, and some good news just dropped on my desk, hence my reaction."
"It's okay. Just cancel the movie plans. I don't want her involved."
"Yes, sir. Right away," Lila responded, thrilled that Ruby was finally out of her way to get Liam. She had liked Liam even before he married Ruby and had shown much effort to win him over, but it had been futile.
Once she dropped the call, she did a twirl dance that made her subordinates in the office wonder what had gotten into her.
"Get back to work, everyone. Show time is over," she barked at them, and they all went back to their tasks.
Thrilled with the news of Liam's divorce from his wife, she knew she had to act right away. Without wasting time, she called the director. "Cancel the earlier plan of making Ruby the lead actress in the movie."
Murphy hesitated for a moment, thinking he hadn't heard right. "Are you sure?" he asked again, wondering about the change in plan.
"Yes, I'm positive. After due consideration, we believe she isn't right for the role," she said with glee, knowing that Ruby wasn't a good actress without Liam's help.
"Okay, I'll cancel it," Murphy said, though he thought to himself, "She's not that talented anyway." It was a great relief to Murphy that Ruby wasn't part of the cast any longer. She had always been a handful whenever she was cast in movies and had always been disrespectful to fellow actors.
Once she ended the call, she had a broad smile on her face, happy that she had protected Liam from the painful reminder of his past. Now that Ruby was out of the way, she had a chance to get closer to him.
"I did it for you, Liam," she whispered to herself, her heart filled with hope as she stared into space, imagining how perfect her life with Liam would be.
Once Liam ended the call with Lilia, his heart was heavy. He found his way to his mother's cemetery. It had been a long time since he visited her, and his heart grieved for his failed marriage.
"Mum, I wish I had done better. I made a promise to you to love and cherish my wife, but now she has left me for another man despite my sacrifices. Mum, the pain in my heart is so grave. I wish you were here to console me..."
But before he could complete the statement, he heard a faint cry for help not far from the cemetery.
"Help, please! Somebody help me!"
Liam's instincts snapped into action, and he followed the desperate voice to an alley not far from the cemetery. He rushed to help, and there he saw a group of thugs cornering a young woman. Anger surged within him as he couldn't bear to see the ugly sight.
"Leave her alone right this minute!" his voice boomed with anger. The thugs turned their attention to Liam.
"Who are you to tell us to leave her alone? Do you know who we are?" one of the thugs said, moving closer to Liam.
"I don't give a fuck who you are. Just leave the young woman alone and come face me like a real man."
One thug immediately rushed at Liam and tried to punch him in the jaw, but Liam dodged it and countered with a punch to the thug's jaw. The thug crumpled to the ground, moaning in pain.
The second thug charged at Liam but was met with a rapid, angry punch that left him reeling. Liam then kicked the thug, causing his head to hit a nearby headstone, and the thug cried out in pain.
The third thug attempted to grab Liam from behind, but Liam quickly flipped him over his shoulder and slammed him to the ground. The first thug, having regained his strength, rushed at Liam with a rod and hit him on his side. Liam tried to get up again to defend himself, but the thug landed a few blows that made Liam stagger and fall to the ground.
Just as the thug was about to deliver another punch, the woman kicked him in his balls. The thug came crashing to the ground, groaning in pain.
Satisfied with the outcome, she went to each of the other thugs on the floor, took off her shoe, and hit them in their balls as well. They all cried out in pain, unable to cause more harm.
Liam was in awe of how the woman exacted her revenge on them. "You're... quite fierce," he said, wincing in pain as he clutched his injured side.
Her attention turned back to Liam, and she helped him up. "They deserved it. Let's get out of here and tend to those wounds."
They walked away together from the scene, with Liam leaning on the young woman for support. Liam looked at her with admiration for the way she had given the thugs what they truly deserved.
"Thank you for your help," Liam told her.
She let out a small laugh, and that smile captivated Liam's heart, drawing him to her in an inexplicable way.
"You are funny, young man. I should be the one thanking you for saving me. If it wasn't for your intervention, they would have gotten away with their plan," she said in a trembling voice, still shaken from the earlier attack.
"Are you okay?" Liam asked, noticing her shaken state while his heart was still racing from the fight.
"Yes, thanks to you. The whole thing is just so overwhelming; it happened in the blink of an eye."
Unknown to Liam, the young woman he had just saved from the thugs was one of his past girlfriends. He had ended things with her to pursue a relationship with his now ex-wife and, in doing so, had also chosen his wife for a lead role over her.
Liam looks into her eyes and feels an inexplicable attraction. They both stare at each other, caught in a moment that seems to stretch time. She coughs, trying to break the spell that has engulfed them."I'm Remi, and you?" she asks, adjusting her hair and tucking a few loose strands behind her ear. She looks up at Liam with a hesitant smile."I'm Liam. Nice to meet you," he says while nursing his sore side."Would you like to grab a coffee?" she asks, her voice still a bit shaky from the earlier ordeal. "I could use someone to talk to right now.”He nods. "Sure, that sounds good," he replies, trying to push aside the pain from the fight. "I could use a break."They walk together to a nearby café. Inside, the atmosphere is cozy, with dim lighting. They find a quiet corner and order their drinks.As they sip their coffee, Remi begins to open up. "It's been a rough few days. I was supposed to get a lead role in this big movie. I’ve worked so hard for it, and I knew I was the best fit. B
Liam stiffens as Ruby and Rowan step into the elevator. Ruby looks at Liam and Remi with disdain, noticing how close they are standing. Her heart tugs in her chest as jealousy flares up, but she quickly masks it with a sneer."Well, well, isn’t this cozy," Ruby says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn’t realize you had moved on so quickly. And to think you accused me of being unfaithful in our marriage—talk about the pot calling the kettle black. And with *her* of all people," she adds, spitting out the words as she glares at Remi.Remi stays calm, though Liam can sense the tension in her. She’s putting on a brave front, holding herself together despite the hurt Ruby’s words are causing.Though Ruby's words sting, Remi is determined not to give her the satisfaction of seeing her hurt.Ruby has always been jealous of Remi—the way she carries herself with grace and poise, and she knows Remi is a great actress. Ruby just got lucky in landing the lead role.Liam steps forward, tryin
Liam was dressed in a shirt and trousers that didn’t fit him well, but he tried to look confident as he arrived at the party. He stepped out of the taxi, ready to walk into the event, but just as he was about to enter, a bodyguard stopped him.“Hey, you! Stop right there. Where do you think you’re going?” the bodyguard asked with a stern look.Liam smiled brightly, trying to stay calm. “Hello, I’m going right into the party,” he replied.The bodyguard looked at Liam with disdain, eyeing his poorly fitted clothes. “Dressed like this? Are you sure you haven’t lost your way?” the bodyguard sneered.“No, I haven’t lost my way. I’m here on invitation,” Liam insisted, standing his ground."Invitation?" the bodyguard asked, looking surprised. "Oh, I guess you must be one of the servers who didn’t come with the company bus. Wait right here while I call your boss from the catering company to come and identify you."“No, you’re mistaken. I’m not a caterer—Murphy invited me,” Liam said, trying t
Ruby was stunned as murmurs spread through the hall. Everyone watched as Murphy humiliated her. The upcoming actors and actresses, who admired Ruby as a big name in the industry, were shocked by what happened. Ruby, however, didn’t back down. Her face showed disgust as she turned to Murphy.“You invited this low-life actress trying to get noticed, and she brought this worthless man who looks like a beggar?” Ruby said, pointing at Liam.Murphy looked in the direction Ruby was pointing and saw that she was referring to Liam. He was furious to realize that Ruby was insulting Liam.Ruby doesn’t realize how powerful her ex-husband is. She thinks he’s just a worthless househusband with no ambition.Murphy quickly approached Liam to show his respect, and everyone was surprised by the gesture. However, before Murphy could get too close, Liam raised his hand to stop him and gave him a look that signaled not to come any nearer. Murphy understood that Liam didn't want to reveal his identity y
Lady Williams sits in the living room, watching her youngest child, Ruby, on the television. She eagerly waits to hear about Ruby's latest achievement as an actress."That's my wife. I'm so happy, and I'm sure she's going to win," Liam says excitedly.Lady Williams, Liam's mother-in-law, laughs heartily, looks down at Liam, and snaps, "Get out of here right now and slice some apples for me. You're such a disgrace to the family.”Liam is married to Ruby, the actress. He has worked hard, doing endless tasks and being treated like a servant. He has supported Ruby's acting career out of love.Liam feels humiliated right in his own house. This has been his life for the last three years. He clenches his fists tightly, trying to swallow the humiliation from Lady Williams's outburst. But for the love he has for his wife, Ruby, he rushes into the kitchen to do Lady Williams’s bidding.The soft hum of the refrigerator and the rhythmic chopping of the crisp apple are the only sounds in the kitch
Liam’s happiness knows no bounds. He believes his wife has declared him the most important person in her life. Unaware that she actually praised someone else in the crowd, he gazes at his reflection in the mirror, a smile spreading across his face, thrilled to think he is the center of his wife's universe.He answers the call, his tone cheerful. It’s his manager, Lila, on the line. She has watched the entire awards show and saw that Ruby acknowledged someone else."Prepare a transfer agreement for the company's shares and send it over," Liam instructs Lila."But sir," Lila starts, wanting to tell Liam what she witnessed during the ceremony.“No buts, Lila. Just do as I say, and please don’t question my decisions again,” Liam says, his voice firm and commanding, reflecting his position as the owner of the largest entertainment company in New York City.Lila hesitates, then replies, “Yes, sir.”Liam ends the call and takes a deep breath, still riding the wave of joy from Ruby's success.
After an exhausting night with Rowan, Ruby returns home, her face flushed, thinking about her escapade with him. She bites her lips as she steps into the room and gasps when she sees that it is decorated according to her preferences. Even her favorite food is placed on the table. She scoffs, "Is this the only thing you can put together after you kept bugging me to come home?" She kisses her teeth in annoyance.Liam, who is standing nearby, looks hurt and confused. He takes a deep breath and tries to keep his composure. "I wanted to make last night special for you. I thought we could celebrate your success together."Ruby rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed. "Celebrate? Really? I work hard day and night to keep the family going, and this is what you put together? But anyway, I’ll pardon you for being silly. Come over here and give me a massage," she says, flopping onto the sofa. "Gosh, I’m so tired."When she sees that Liam remains unmoved and does not immediately respond to her request, s
Rowan sends the picture to Liam to hasten the divorce. He senses Ruby's reluctance to end her marriage, so he goes to their house, knowing the picture will create a rift between them. He hopes to appear like a prince in shining armor, ready to protect her.“How dare you hit a woman like that, you fool who doesn’t know her worth?” Rowan says. Liam is taken aback by his sudden appearance. “You have no right to walk into my house and tell me what to do with my wife,” Liam argues.Rowan’s expression hardens. “I’m here because you clearly don’t understand the value of the woman you’re mistreating. Ruby deserves respect and love, not this kind of humiliation.”Liam’s face reddens with anger. “And who do you think you are to come here and lecture me? You have no idea what’s going on in my marriage.”Rowan steps closer, his face redden with anger. “I don’t need to know every detail to see that Ruby is being mistreated. You’ve shown her nothing but disrespect. If you truly cared for her, you’d