She bit her lower lip, swallowing back the sob in her throat, then slowly nodded, her voice low and hoarse as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper: "...Okay, I'll listen to you."
Liam released his hand with satisfaction, and the moment he turned around, the gentleness vanished from his face.
Clara groped her way back to the wardrobe, her fingertips touching a cold photo frame. It was a picture of her and Liam, taken backstage at a jewelry exhibition last year. In the photo, he was personally placing the "Starry Night" necklace she designed around her neck, leaning down to whisper in her ear, "This jewelry set, only you in the whole world can wear it."
But yesterday she clearly heard him say that he was going to give that necklace to Vanessa as a congratulatory gift for her becoming K's apprentice.
Clara's fingertips curled up, her nails digging deep into her palms. She fumbled to open the bottom drawer of the wardrobe, shoving the photo frame inside as if to bury the absurdity of the past seven years in a dark corner.
The sudden movement caused the drawer slides to rattle, startling Liam, who was leaning against the door frame.