09:53 Chapter 1 " That's eighteen losses for Liam tonight ! Is he throwing the game on purpose ? " " He's so whipped ! " 09:53 Liam glanced toward the door , a flicker of excitement in his eyes , but he didn't acknowledge me , He turned , grabbed Zoey from across the table , and pulled her into a brutal , passionate kiss . A bottle of expensive liquor was knocked over , crashing to the floor , but neither of them noticed . When they finally broke apart , a thin , silvery thread of saliva connected them , disgustingly intimate . The catcalls and whistles from the crowd were deafening . A wave of nausea washed over me . I had to get out of there . I took one step back , but a voice stopped me . " Kiara . Over here . " Fighting back the sickness , I walked toward him . Liam pulled me onto his lap . He pinched my cheek , his voice scolding . " That was just a game . Don't you dare get jealous . It's your fault for being so slow . You made me lose . " " I'm sorry , " I said automatically . Someone at the table clicked their tongue . " Damn , Mrs. Archer is so obedient . Liam can do whatever he wants , and she doesn't say a word . 1 need to find a girl like that . " Liam waved his hand dismissively . " Nah , don't . Too obedient is boring . " " Then I'll find one like Zoey . Fun , exciting . " " Go for it ," Liam said , " if you're not afraid of a little pain . " He tilted his head , revealing a fresh bite mark on his neck . Zoey , who was taking a drink , laughed and shot back , " Like you weren't the one begging me to bite harder last night . Said it didn't feel good unless it hurt . " Liam threw a banana at her playfully . " You need to work on your technique . " They bickered as if I wasn't there , as if no one else was in the room . The curious , judgmental stares of everyone else were like knives , pressing in on me , making it hard to breathe . 1 clutched the fabric of my dress . " Can I go home ? " I whispered . " I'm getting tired . " Liam seemed to notice me for the first time . He rubbed his nose and called for a server to see me out . But Zoey objected . " She just got here . Let's make one more bet , for fun . " 4 My first instinct was to refuse . But Liam answered for me . " Sure . You're on ." Zoey immediately produced a set of dice , blocking my exit . " Simple game . High or low . " " The winner gets to ask for one thing from the loser . " Her eyes glinted with a sly , unsettling light . Liam squeezed my shoulder reassuringly . " Don't be nervous . Zoey just likes purses and jewelry . If you lose , just let her pick something from your closet . " I never cared about those things anyway . So I agreed . The dice rattled in the cup . Ten seconds later , she slammed it down on the table . " I call high ! " Zoey declared . That left me with low . I lost . She immediately held out her hand . " I like your necklace . I'll take that . " I froze , my hand flying to the pendant at my chest . I took a step back . " Not this one . " Zoey's face darkened . " What's your problem ? Can't afford to lose ? Where's your sportsmanship ? " 09:53 Chapter 09:53 A dozen pairs of disdainful eyes turned on me . " This was my mother's , " I explained frantically . " It's the only thing I have left of her . I can't give it away . Pick something else . You can have anything from my jewelry collection , even the pieces worth millions . " My parents didn't leave me much , and over the years , I'd lost some of it during moves . This necklace was all that was left . I couldn't lose it . Zoey scoffed . " You should have said that before the bet . It's too late now . A deal's a deal . If we start changing the rules , no one will ever want to play again . " She was relentless , refusing to back down . I looked to Liam for help . He knew how much this necklace meant to me . He would help me . But he just said , " Kiara . Take it off . " I stood there , stunned , all the strength draining out of me . Zoey , impatient , stepped forward to claim her prize . She yanked at the chain , her nails scratching my neck , drawing blood . I didn't even feel the pain . I just stared at Liam . His expression was cold , indifferent . " You can always win it back later . You ... " He was cut off by a sharp crack from the floor . " Oops , " Zoey said , feigning surprise . " My hand slipped . This thing is so fragile . It shattered into a million pieces . How ugly . " She stepped on the shards as she walked away , even giving one a kick . The room was dead silent . My hands were numb as I knelt to pick up the pieces . The last one was near Liam's foot . He moved to help , but I snapped at him . " Get away from me ! " Liam was used to being the center of attention . Being challenged like this , in front of everyone , extinguished any flicker of guilt he might have felt . His voice was glacial . " Kiara , there's a limit to your tantrums . " I ignored him . I carefully wrapped the fragments in my handkerchief and turned to leave . Behind me , there was a loud crash as he kicked som- ething over . Someone tried to play peacemaker . " Liam , maybe you should go after her . She looks really hurt . " Liam snorted . " Let her go . We're already divorced . If she drops dead in a ditch , it's got nothing to do with me . " " I've been too good to her over the years . I've spoiled her rotten . She thinks the whole world revolves around her . Now she's throwing a fit and ruining everyone's fun over some stupid dead person's necklace . Is it really that serious ? She's insane . " " Let her go . Mark my words , she's got no parents , no friends . I'm the only savior she's got . In three days , she'll come crawling back , begging for my forgiveness . " He kept talking , his words a venomous torrent . I didn't look back once . I didn't shed a single tear . This time , we were really , truly over . 5 Back home , I put the pieces of the necklace into a small silk pouch and hung it back around my neck . I stared at the empty room , feeling a profound sense of nothingness . It was like I had nothing left . After all these years , I hadn't managed to hold on to anything . Useless . I found myself thinking again , why wasn't I on that plane with them ? Then I would be with my parents forever . I wouldn't have been taken in by an uncle who only wanted my inheritance , and I wouldn't have been rescued by a boy whose heart would eventually change . I wouldn't be like a piece of driftwood , tossed about , unwanted . I sent a message to the person I was supposed to meet . " I'm not going to make it tomorrow . Have a safe trip . " Then , I went into the bathroom . Just as the water in the tub was about to close over my head , my phone started ringing , loud and insistent . By some strange impulse , I struggl- ed to the surface and answered it . My throat was raw and swollen from the water . It took all my strength to force out his name . " Ethan ? " Ethan Vance was a student I had sponsored . 09:53 Chapter 09:53 0 After Liam and I got married , he had turned down every job offer I received . He said the world was a dangerous place , and he was afraid that if I was exposed to too much , my depression would return . He said he would take care of me , that I should just stay home and be happy . For the first two years , it was bliss . I was completely cared for . I watched movies , surfed the web . One day , I came across a website for under- privileged students , kids who were struggling but full of dreams . My heart ached for them . I had the money , so I sponsored a dozen of them . Later , I found out most of them were scams . Only Ethan was different . He had the saddest story - no parents , working since he was in elementary school . He was also the most honest . He never asked for an extra penny . As long as he had enough for food each month , he would return the rest . He gave me all his personal informat- ion , sent me regular updates , shared his awards and certificates with me . I watched as Ethan got into a top university and started his own company with a friend . The day he graduated , he was not only the valedictori- an but also a successful young entrepreneur . I was so proud of him , but I declined his invitation to the ceremony and cut off all contact . My father always used to say , " Lend a hand when they're down , but disappear when they're on top . " Until six months ago , when we met again at the headquarters of Liam's company . He was there for a business meeting ; I was there to bring Liam lunch . The negotiation had just ended . Liam , furious that he hadn't gotten the terms he wanted , took his anger out on me , knocking the lunch I'd brought to the floor before storming out . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!