8 . x After that , he never appeared again . Later , I heard that after I withdrew my investments , the Donovan family went bankrupt . After I left , Liam didn't bother with the company anymore . He drank heavily every day , mentally unhinged . Amber Stone had long since dumped him , and his family was in chaos because of his actions . His father suffered a stroke from anger , and his mother cried constantly . He himself was working odd jobs at a bar , living a miserable life . A friend sighed and said , " One time , when he was drunk , he cried and said , ' If I hadn't treated you that way back then , would it still be me standing by your side now I didn't answer . Time flew by . Rhys Sterling and I got married . On our wedding day , the sun was bright , and the hall was filled with guests . Rhys Sterling , dressed in a sharp suit , beamed with happiness . And as I looked at him , my heart was full of joy . Just as we were about to exchange rings , My peripheral vision suddenly caught a familiar figure standing in the corner of the back row of the church . It was Liam Donovan . He was so thin he was almost skeletal , his face pale as paper . He wore a faded , old suit , his eyes hollow as he gazed in our direction . Our eyes met for a brief moment . He flinched as if burned , hurriedly lowered his head , and quickly turned and left . Ifroze for a moment . Rhys Sterling gently squeezed my hand and asked softly , " What's wrong ? " I came back to myself and smiled at him . " Nothing ." The church doors softly closed , and Liam Donovan's figure completely vanishart into the sunlight The church doors softly closed , and Liam Donovan's figure completely vanished into the sunlight . One evening , a year later , I was organizing documents in my study when my phone suddenly vibrated . It was a message from an old friend . " Chloe Miller , did you hear ? Liam Donovan is dead . " I stared at the screen , my fingers hovering above the keyboard , unsure how to reply . Another message immediately followed . " He found Amber Stone at her company , grabbed her , and jumped with her from the nineteenth floor . They both died instantly on imp tragic , gruesome scene . " My heart lurched . Liam Donovan's last appearance at my wedding flashed in my mind . Gaunt , pale , like a hollow ghost . His eyes had already lost their light by then . I never imagined that would be the last time I'd see him . " When did it happen ? " I slowly typed my reply . " Yesterday . The news reported it , but didn't mention the specifics . " " I heard he'd been harassing Amber for a long time , but she always avoided him . " " Yesterday , he just stormed into her office , they argued for a bit , and then ... " My friend's message carried a heavy tone . I put down my phone and walked to the window . The lingering rays of the sunset painted half the sky red . The distant city skyline blurred into the twilight . A complex emotion spread through my chest , neither sadness nor relief . Rhys Sterling pushed the door open , carrying a cup of hot tea . He noticed my unusual quietness and asked softly , " What's wrong ? " I handed him my phone . He read the message , was silent for a moment , then took my hand . " Are you okay ? " I nodded , then shook my head . " I don't know . I thought I'd moved on completely, but hearing this news , I still feel ... uncomfortable . " He leaned his head on my shoulder , not asking any more questions . We stood there quietly until night fell . A few days later , I went to Liam Donovan's grave alone . < Aich ways falci , i MENIL LU LIQNi Dunuvana yrave aivnic . His parents had chosen a quiet corner for him . The tombstone was simple , carved only with his name and dates of birth and death . No photo , no eulogy . As if his entire life had been lightly summarized . I placed a bouquet of white lilies down and stood before the grave , lost in thought . The Liam Donovan in my memory was still as he was in high school . Wearing a red basketball jersey , his smile bright . Back then , his eyes were only for me . " You came . " A hoarse voice came from behind me . I turned and saw Mrs. Donovan standing not far away , also holding a bouquet of flowers . She looked much older , her hair almost completely white , her eyes sunken . " Mrs. Donovan ... " I didn't know what to say for a moment . She gave a bitter smile . " In Liam's last days , he often talked about you ." " He said if he could do it all over again , he'd never treat you the way he did . " I remained silent , my throat tight . Mrs. Donovan placed her flowers before the grave and said softly , " He was crazy , he'd been crazy for a long time . " " Honestly , from the day you left , he was never truly normal . " Her voice trembled . " But I , his mother , didn't even realize ... didn't realize he harbored such deep love and hate ." I didn't know how to comfort her , so I could only murmur , " I'm sorry " She shook her head " It's not your fault . Liam just couldn't get over it himself . " With that , she turned and walked away , her back hunched , making her look like a withered tree . Back home , Rhys Sterling was preparing dinner in the kitchen . Seeing me return , he put down what he was doing and walked over to hug me . " Did you go see him ? " " He was crazy , he'd been crazy for a long time . " " Honestly , from the day you left , he was never truly normal . " Her voice trembled . " But I , his mother , didn't even realize ... didn't realize he harbored such deep love and hate . " I didn't know how to comfort her , so I could only murmur , " I'm sorry . " She shook her head . " It's not your fault . Liam just couldn't get over it himself ." With that , she turned and walked away , her back hunched , making her look like a withered tree . Back home , Rhys Sterling was preparing dinner in the kitchen . Seeing me return , he put down what he was doing and walked over to hug me . " Did you go see him ? " I murmured " Mm - hmm , " burying my head in his neck . His faint scent brought me a sense of peace . " Chloe , let the past stay in the past , " he whispered . " You have me , and you have our future ." ! looked up at his bright eyes and nodded . Yes , life had to go on . Liam Donovan's choice was his own , and I had long since chosen a different path . That night , I had a dream . In the dream , Liam Donovan , wearing his high school uniform , stood in the sunlight , smiling at me . He said , " Chloe Miller , I hope you find happiness ." Then he turned and ran off , disappearing into the light . When I woke up , my pillow was wet . Rhys Sterling was still asleep , his breathing even , I gently kissed his forehead , got out of bed , and walked to the window . The sky was already turning a faint pearl - gray ; a new day had begun . Liam Donovan's death was like a stone thrown into a lake , creating ripples that quickly faded back to stillness . Life moved forward . And his story , forever frozen in that moment of despair .