He Broke Me Quietly, So I Left Quietly Chapter 02

He Broke Me Quietly, So I Left Quietly Chapter 02

The day I was discharged, Liam came to pick me up.

I sat in the passenger seat and noticed two pink suitcases piled in the back.

Mia’s suitcases.

I turned to Liam. “What’s going on here? Are you moving her stuff in?”

His expression didn’t change.

“She’s not moving in fully. Mia’s been struggling with her depression lately, and I hate leaving her on her own, so she’ll stay with us for a while.”

“These are just her last few things. The guest bedroom’s sitting empty as it is, so try to cut her some slack.”

Our house. That was supposed to be our future home.

I’d spent half a year picking out every last thing and fixing the place up with great care.

Yet she’d moved right in without a second thought.

“Fine.”

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.

The car drove smoothly into the suburban villa estate.

By the front door sat a pair of cartoon bunny slippers that hadn’t been there before.

Mia sat on the carpet playing video games, dressed in one of Liam’s white linen shirts and nothing else on her lower body.

“Liam, you’re home!” She scrambled up from the floor as soon as she heard the door open and threw herself at him.

“Elara, you’re home too.”

“I’m so sorry. I’ve just been in such a bad place lately. Liam insisted I come stay for a while.”

I slipped on my shoes and didn’t so much as glance her way.

Then I walked straight to the master bedroom and started packing my things.

There wasn’t much to pack. A few changes of clothes. My important documents.

Everything else, I planned to leave behind.

Mia made dinner that night.

Liam carried a bowl of cream seafood chowder over to me, his voice gentle and careful.

“Mia spent ages making this. At least have a bite, okay? It’s her way of saying she’s sorry.”

I looked at the shrimp floating in the bowl. My stomach turned.

I have a severe seafood allergy.

Five years ago, I accidentally ate a bite of shrimp paste and almost went into anaphylactic shock.

Liam had carried me on his back for two blocks to get me to the emergency room.

His eyes were red when he swore he would never let me go near seafood again for the rest of my life.

And now he was handing me a bowl of seafood chowder with his own two hands, just to make his childhood friend feel better.

“I’m not hungry.”

I picked up the bowl and dumped it—bowl and all—into the trash.

A dull clatter echoed through the living room.

The room went silent.

Liam stared at the bowl in the trash, and his expression finally darkened.

“Elara, your temper’s getting out of hand.”

“Mia slaved over this for two hours and burned her hands. How can you treat her kindness like this?”

I watched him overflow with sympathy for Mia while criticizing me.

Not a single emotion stirred inside me; I was dead inside, numb to it all.

“Liam. I’m severely allergic to seafood. It could kill me.”

Liam froze. He finally remembered.

For a second, he looked flustered.

But then his pride took over. He covered his discomfort with irritation.

“It’s just a bit of seafood. It’s not a big deal.”

I didn’t say another word.

I turned around, went back to the bedroom, and locked the door behind me.

A strained sigh escaped Liam outside the door.

“Don’t cry, Mia. That’s just her way. Pay her no mind.”

I leaned against the doorframe and closed my eyes.

I finally understood: when your heart is broken beyond repair, tears simply run dryy.