Liam and I met at the hospital his family owned.

At the time, my mom was already sick from overwork, and I would often take her for check-ups.

I happened to meet Liam's grandfather, and we got along very well. He often gave my mom free check-ups and waived some of the medical fees.

One day, when I took my mom to the hospital, Liam attended to us.

"You must be Nina, right? Grandpa hasn't been well lately, so he specifically asked me to take care of you."

The first time we met, his handsome face and elegant voice made me fall for him.

Later, with Liam's grandfather's help, we naturally got together.

But that was also when my nightmare began.

At first, I genuinely believed Melanie was just Liam's younger sister.

Until one day, she openly told me what she thought of me.

"Oh, so you're the woman who brainwashed Grandpa and then cozied up to Liam?"

"Your tricks are all ones I've played with before. Be careful!"

I can still remember the disdainful look on Melanie's face.

Downstairs, Liam had chased after me.

"Nina, what are you doing? Didn't you hear me talking to you?"

He stood at the doorway, shouting at me.

I ignored him and continued packing my clothes.

"What do you mean?"

Liam's face darkened.

Seeing that I was still packing, he immediately stepped forward and grabbed my wrist.

"Can you stop this nonsense? It's just a wedding. I'll make it up to you!"

There was a hint of irritation in Liam's words.

As if the wedding was not an interrupted ceremony, but merely a breakfast he hadn't finished.

I shook off his hand and continued packing.

Liam's patience seemed to have run out. He stared at me with a look of annoyance, as if thinking this would make me feel his anger.

Of course, I wouldn't pay him any mind. I grabbed my suitcase and was ready to leave.

Suddenly, Melanie appeared at the doorway.

Her voice came before she entered.

"Oh, Nina, I'm so sorry..."

Before she finished speaking, she subtly raised her elbow and moved toward me.

Five years—I knew every one of her tricks inside and out.

As I sidestepped, I pushed the suitcase in front of her.

Melanie, losing her balance, stumbled to the floor.

Before she hit the ground, I saw the disbelief in her eyes.

"Melanie!"

Liam rushed over like a madman to hold her.

I could hardly believe it; I almost laughed out loud.

Every time Melanie bullied me, no matter how much it hurt, Liam always thought I was faking it. But if Melanie even scraped her skin, he would treat it like the sky was falling.

"Nina! Are you crazy?"

He looked at me, enraged.

"What's the problem?"

I calmly met his gaze.

Melanie clung to Liam's hand, speaking in a soft, delicate voice, "It's not Nina's fault. Melanie just accidentally tripped. Melanie is so clumsy."

Liam's face turned dark as he carried Melanie to the bed that used to be mine.

"Nina, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"

Liam glared at me, his tone harsh.

He probably thought he could bully me like he used to.

That just scaring me a little would make me apologize.

"Are you blind?"

But I coldly threw this remark at him.

Liam was stunned.

In his mind, I had never once defied him!

"If you don't need your eyes, you could donate them. There are plenty of disabled people in the world."

A slight smirk curved on my lips.

Over these past few days, I handled my mom's funeral alone, while Liam stayed in the hospital with his dear sister, not even bothering to call me.

When we met again, they were flirting, and he showed no remorse for the wedding.

He even wanted to treat me like a maid, as he always had.

How could that be possible now?

Now, I had nothing to fear.

"How dare you talk to me like that?"

Liam grabbed my wrist forcefully.

"Exactly! Watch your attitude!"

"Don't forget, it's been Liam who's been supporting you all these years, and it was also Liam who saved your mother!"

Melanie kept shouting from the bed.

She was extremely bothered by her earlier embarrassment and couldn't wait to humiliate me to regain her confidence.

But no matter what she said now, I wouldn't get angry.

"You're like Alex from downstairs at our office building."

"Alex is a poodle that barks at everyone it sees."

"Oh, of course, Alex is much cuter than you."

I looked at Melanie calmly, a hint of mockery in my eyes.

In the past, I would have considered Liam's feelings and usually wouldn't bother to engage with Melanie.

But now, I made up my mind to leave Liam.

I didn't care about anything related to him, so why would I care about some manipulative girl?

"Liam! Look at her! This vile woman has such an annoying mouth!"

Melanie clung to Liam's arm, shaking it in front of her chest.

Only then did Liam realize that I seemed to have changed.

He had a dark expression, unsure how to deal with me.

"When you have time, check your phone for messages."

I glanced at the two of them holding each other and pushed my suitcase, continuing to head out.

But Liam rushed over again and grabbed me.

I pushed him away and pulled my hand back.

"This is your last warning, stop bothering me."

I pointed my finger at his nose.

Seeing the shocked and helpless look in Liam's eyes, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

Five years, I had spent five whole years walking on eggshells.

Because of the difference in our families, I was destined to be the one treated unfairly in this relationship.

Everything I did had to be approved by him; I always had to consider his feelings.

From eating to traveling, I handled everything.

I wasn't like his girlfriend; I was more like his assistant.

And an unpaid one at that.

As for him, he handled everything with grace, maintaining his image and reputation, but he never considered me.

It was as if I was born to be his servant.

Liam clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He looked at me with such hatred, as if he wanted to tear me apart.

"Liam, don't be angry."

"If you keep getting angry, you might end up like her short-lived mother!"

Melanie arrogantly stood between me and Liam.

She said these words many times before, confident that they would provoke me.

Yes, she did provoke me.

But this time, how could I continue to endure it like before?

I raised my hand.

Without a moment's hesitation, I slapped Melanie hard.

A few seconds later, Melanie's scream echoed throughout the villa.

She lunged at me like a madwoman.

But Liam, having come to his senses, quickly pulled her back.

"Liam, she dared to hit me! This woman dared to hit me!"

Melanie was in a frenzy.

No one had ever dared to treat her this way from her childhood to now. She had always been the proud princess of her own world.

To be slapped so hard by someone she never even bothered to look at properly, this might be the greatest humiliation of her life.

Liam held Melanie behind him.

"Why did you hit Melanie?"

He stared at me intently.

I met his gaze without any fear.

If this had been in the past, I would never have laid a hand on anyone.

Because I loved Liam, I cared more about his reputation than he did. I would do everything in my power to preserve his dignity.

But now, I didn't even bother to explain.

"I hit her because I wanted to. Do I need a reason?"