No Love Left to Lose のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 9

The door to the private dining room glided open."Chloe... what are you doing here?"The conversation died instantly. Everyone froze.Liam stepped forward. He placed his body in front of Serena. A protective instinct.The first time he betrayed me, my heart felt like it was cut to pieces. Tonight, I felt nothing. Just dead calm.Today was Serena's birthday. It was also mine.Every single year, they brought her to this exact restaurant. Every single year, they booked this exact VIP room.And every single year, they forgot to invite me."Next time, Chloe! We'll give you your own special party next time!"They had repeated that line for ten straight years. They never once kept that promise."Honey, listen to me," Liam rushed over. His voice sounded frantic. "Let me explain."I remained silent."The baby was a mistake!" he stammered. "I haven't seen her since you came back. I swear!"He grabbed my hands. "You've always wanted a baby. When it's born, you can raise it as your

My wrist was yanked backward. Before I could react, I was pulled violently into Liam's chest.He wrapped his arms around me, holding me in an iron grip. Hot tears spilled from his eyes, dripping onto my face."Chloe... you're right here in my arms, but why do you feel miles away?"He buried his face in the crook of my neck, his voice desperate."Let's... let's have a baby. A boy or a girl. Once we have a child of our own, you won't leave me."I kept my eyes down. I didn't react at all.Seeing my utter coldness, panic flickered in the depths of his eyes.I had once been pregnant with his child. I had been so filled with joy, waiting for that child to enter the world.Then Serena fell ill. She urgently needed a blood transfusion.Liam didn't even ask. He forced me to have my blood drawn.I lost the baby that night.While I lay alone on a freezing hospital bed, my biological parents never left Serena's side.Liam only popped into my room for a brief minute."Chloe, we're stil

My mother snorted with disdain."What valuable patent could Chloe possibly have? She's probably just making a scene to get attention again."In their eyes, I was completely talentless and useless. They had no idea how hard I had worked on my own over the years.Austin hesitated on the line."Ma'am is actually a distinguished professor at a top university and a renowned expert in her tech field," he explained carefully."She was supposed to sign a partnership deal with us earlier, but she pulled out. "Right now, she's the only person in the industry whose patented technology can enable the Vance Group's complete transformation."The room fell dead silent. My biological parents froze where they stood, completely paralyzed by shock.They never imagined that the daughter they considered unsophisticated had already reached heights far beyond their touch.Liam's heart went into a tailspin. With trembling fingers, he redialed my number over and over.Every attempt was met with the

"Honey... the doctor said... she had severe depression..."My mother gasped for air, her body shaking. "She was sick, and we had no idea!"They had always believed that providing me with a comfortable life and high social standing was enough. They thought that was love.Standing nearby, Liam heard every word. The last bit of strength drained from his legs, and he slid down the wall onto the cold floor."I ruined her..." he whispered, his voice cracking. "I destroyed her with my own hands."He stared blankly into space. "I swore I would protect her. I promised she would never suffer. But in the end, I was the one who brought every storm into her life. I caused all her pain."She gave me her entire heart... and I broke her. I'm so sorry, Chloe... I'm so sorry..."He was the one who drove the woman who loved him to erase herself from his world completely.My mother collapsed to her knees, breaking down into hysterical sobs.She beat her chest repeatedly and slapped her own face

I raised my hand, cutting off his desperate defense."Don't bother. I used to crave security from other people. I begged for your sincerity, begged my parents for a scrap of affection. "But I finally realized that warmth given by others is an illusion. It can be taken away at any second."From now on, I will live for myself. My own security is something I build with my own hands."Between us, it is completely over. There is nothing left."My absolute coldness crushed whatever lingering hope he had left.He stood frozen on the pavement, watching me turn away without the courage to step forward and stop me.---Not long after, an unexpected confrontation caught me off guard.Serena had completely lost her mind."Chloe! Why did you have to come back?!" she shrieked, her voice manic. "You stole everything from me! "My love, my home, my life, you ruined it all!"I glanced at her sideways, refusing to waste words on a lunatic.My utter indifference pushed Serena over the edge.