Liam Emma NovelAn Epilogue Without You

The day Emma Williams's company went public marked the eighth year we'd been together.
All those people who'd called me a fool and a loser suddenly changed their tune.
Until Emma heard that her ex-boyfriend, Chase Montgomery, was back in the country, she let her wine glass slip from her fingers. .
Crash.
Right then, I knew. She'd said she loved me for this lifetime, but the man she'd always dreamed of marrying would never be me.
Fortunately, I wanted to set her free too. A clean break.
At least, that was the plan until the day I died.
Emma was utterly shattered, begging for me to open my eyes.

When I walked into the ballroom holding the diagnosis report, Emma spotted me instantly.
She raised her glass to excuse herself from the group beside her and hurried towards me.
Liam! You're late.
Instinctively, I tightened my grip on the folder in my hand, inside which was the terminal diagnosis I'd just received.
Late-stage brain cancer.
Tonight was the gala celebrating the listing of Emma's company.
I knew she'd waited too long for this moment. So I just clenched my fist and shook my head slightly.
Got held up.
Well, Emma, if you're so attached to your boyfriend, why not just set a wedding date already?
We're all waiting for the big day!
Teasing laughter rippled from nearby and others chimed in.
Mr. Harrison, you wouldn't believe it! Our CEO here was staring at the ballroom entrance all evening.
Afraid she'd miss you.
Teasing remarks flew back and forth, urging Emma to set the date.
Emma lowered her gaze slightly, her eyes soft and serene as she looked at me.
Oh, stop it, all of you. Anyway, in this lifetime, I'm definitely sticking with him.

Sticking with mebut not a word about marrying me.
Emma and I had been together for eight years.
Eight years ago, the Williams family went bankrupt. Her father killed himself.
Her mother got critically ill. And Chase Montgomery, her childhood friend, chose to go abroad to avoid the mess.
I was the one who stayed by her side. I helped Emma pick up the pieces until she clawed her way back up to become Willow Creek's newest business star.
Over those eight years, everyone went from being absolutely certain Emma would never love me, to marveling at the depth of our bond.
No one knew the truth. In eight years
Emma never once said she loved me. She never once mentioned marriage.
It was as if she didn't love me. She'd just learned how to pretend she did.
She fooled her mother. She fooled everyone in Willow Creek. Hell, she almost fooled me.
But thinking about that diagnosis in my bag, a bitter ache spread through my chest.
Now that my time's running out what would Emma do if she knew?
I looked at her deeply, just as someone nearby cmentioned casually,
Speaking of which, I heard that Chase Montgomery is back in town.
The Montgomery Group's cash flow is a disaster. He's probably back looking for a marriage alliance
Before the sentence was finished, crack.
The sound of shattering glass made everyone turn.
Emma's wine glass lay in pieces on the floor.
A sharp fragment flew up and cut her leg, crimson blood trickling down.
She froze for a few seconds before snapping back to reality under everyone's stares.
I carried her to a private lounge, and found a first-aid kit to bandage the cut.
Maybe my expression was too grim. Emma looked a little scared.
Liam, I just didn't hold the glass properly. Don't overthink it.
Don't overthink it?
Why the hell shouldn't I?
Looking at her tense face, I couldn't tell if her wound hurt more, or the ache in my chest did.
Emma. You still haven't forgotten him, have you?
We both knew who him was.
Emma grabbed my hand, her voice soothing. Liam, I really just dropped the glass.
There's only you in my heart now.
I looked into Emma's eyes.
I'd looked into them countless timesgentle, calm, cool, with pull making you want to believe every word she said.
I knew I should be searching for any flicker of guilt.
But what was the point? Even if I found it, I'd only end up convincing myself otherwise.
I pushed her hand away, lowering my head. Yeah. I believe you.

You're the star tonight. Your wound's taken care of. Go entertain the guests.
I'm beat. I'll rest for a moment.
Emma studied me for a moment, then hurried out of the lounge.
The second the door closed, I slumped onto the sofa, numb inside.
I glanced at the diagnosis report beside me.
When I went for the first-aid kit, I casually left it on her left side.
If Emma had paid even the slightest attention, she would have seen it.
Seen that I had brain cancer. That I was dying.
But Emma never even realized it herself: when she lied, she always looked to her right.
So that diagnosis on her left was destined to go unnoticed.
Fate was playing a cruel joke on me.
On the day I felt most helpless, it showed me this harsh truth.