4 I started sorting through all the things Liam had given me over the past decade . This necklace was his eighteenth birthday gift to me . I wore it to school once , and not long after , I saw Chloe wearing an identical one . She bashfully said , " Liam told me that anything anyone else has , I'll have too ... " Only the box of the limited edition teddy bear remained . Liam took the bear , saying he liked the perfume I'd sprayed on it . But the very next day , I saw it sitting on Chloe's desk . And the high heels for my eighteenth birthday , the indigo aromatherapy diffuser ... It turned out that what I thought was uniquely mine had already been given equally to others by Liam . Or not even equally . I recalled Liam's boundless protectiveness and endless favoritism towards Chloe . A cynical smile tugged at the corner of my lips . If that was the case , these things had no reason to exist . I booked a flight for the next day , preparing to spend my last night in peace . At two in the morning , I was woken by a phone call . I groggily answered , but the line remained silent . Just as I was about to hang up , Liam's voice came through . " Aria , I'm sorry . " My mind instantly cleared . If he was finally going to tell the truth ... Liam's voice deepened . " Chloe self - harmed . I can't leave her alone right now , so the transfer application , I'll get to it a bit later ... " < mum .... My mind instantly cleared . If he was finally going to tell the truth ... Liam's voice deepened . " Chloe self - harmed . I can't leave her alone right now , so the transfer application , I'll get to it a bit later ... " My heart , which had soared with a sudden hope , crashed back down to earth , pathetic and ridiculous . I suddenly wanted to ask Liam , what about all the pain I suffered because you faked being bullied ? Liam's voice continued , " Just apologize ." I thought I'd misheard him . " What did you say ? " Liam's voice was firm . " Aria Blackwood , you really should apologize to Chloe . " " Can you honestly say Chloe's self - harm has nothing to do with you ? " I was suddenly speechless . Because I suddenly understood that with Chloe around , every word I said would be wrong . Liam spoke again , his voice like cold steel . " Aria Blackwood , you truly disappoint me . " "Just apologize , and I can pretend none of this happened . I'll even come to the new school with you in two months ." " Are you really going to be so selfish and throw away all these years of our connection ? " I heard the threat in his words . But there was no longer any resentment or sadness , only annoyance . I sharply hung up the phone , blocked his number , and deleted his contact . I eagerly anticipated my flight tomorrow . < 10:18 Wed , 1 Oct W PO But there was no longer any resentment or sadness , only annoyance . I sharply hung up the phone , blocked his number , and deleted his contact . I eagerly anticipated my flight tomorrow . The foreign scenery felt fresh and new, and someone took my luggage . 25 % I looked up and met the eyes of the legitimate heir of the Thorne family . " Aria Blackwood , long time no see . " I reached out , a gentle smile on my face . " Long time no see , Julian Sterling ." My phone rang , interrupting our pleasantries . I swiped the screen , only to find it was one of Liam's friends ' numbers . Puzzled , I answered . Liam's voice , faintly anxious , came through . " Aria , which class did you transfer to at Northwood High ? " " Why does everyone in every class say they haven't seen you ? "