The Gregory family's head shot his son a glare full of bitter disappointment , then raised his hand to signal the bodyguards . " This boy must have lost his mind today . Take him outside to cool off . " The bodyguards answered in unison and dragged Connor out the door . With the commotion over , the guests settled back into their seats . Before everyone present , I offered my gift to Liam . He went down on one knee and , with quiet solemnity , slipped a ring onto my finger . " Helen , thank you for agreeing to marry me . From now on , I'll protect you . I'll never let you suffer even the smallest grievance . " For some reason , the scene felt eerily familiar . It was as if , long ago , someone else had once promised to rescue me from hell . The hazy memory unsettled me . During the break in the party , I wandered alone into the garden to clear my thoughts . I hadn't gone far when I ran into Connor . I turned to leave without a word , but he grabbed my arm . " Helen , stop being stubborn . They may be fooled , but I know you've only ever loved me . " Come on , I'll take you to my uncle and explain everything . As long as you apologize , I'll divorce Rachel . But she has no one else , so she'll have to keep living with us afterward . " He thought he was making a compromise , but I had long since stopped caring . " Who you marry and who you live with is your business . It has nothing to do with me . " I'm engaged now . Don't hold my hand like this . If rumors spread , it won't end well for either of us . " But Connor only tightened his grip until my wrist ached . " Quit pretending ! You're really going to marry my uncle ? " You told me once I saved your life , that you'd spend your whole life repaying me . Why deny it now ? " His words stirred a memory I had buried for years . As a child , Rachel tricked me into the mountains . I lost my way and nearly died in the forest . A boy had saved me , holding my hand all the way back home . The trauma had left me so ill afterward that I forgot his name . All I remembered was his face , his voice ... 1/3 Chapter 6 And those warm hands , along with the faint stirrings of a first crush . When I first met Connor , I thought he looked like that boy . That was why I clung to him , why I slowly grew to like him . Later , when I asked , he lied - claiming he had been my savior , all for the sake of a marriage alliance . +25 Bonus It wasn't until I discovered his affair with Rachel , until they betrayed and killed me , that Connor finally admitted the truth . Two lifetimes of pain and betrayal crashed together in that moment . All I felt now was disgust . I fought against him with all my strength . In the struggle , my foot slipped . I lost my balance and fell backward . The terror of my last life's fall down the staircase gripped me . I squeezed my eyes shut , bracing for the pain . But it never came . Instead , I landed in a solid , protective embrace . Liam . " Connor , let her go ! " His familiar voice cut through the air , and instantly the pressure on my wrist vanished . Unable to defy him , Connor released me , though his eyes still burned with resentment . He then tried to smear me with vicious accusations . " Uncle , this engagement is a mistake ! Helen is just jealous . She staged all this to get my attention . Don't be fooled ! " " That's enough ! If you dare harass Helen again , I won't hesitate to use force . " Liam drew me into his arms , his broad chest shielding me from Connor's glare . Only when Connor slunk away did Liam loosen his hold , looking down at me with concern . " Are you hurt ? I'm sorry I came too late . " I shook my head . " I'm fine . Thank you . " Relief softened his stern expression . With gentlemanly grace , he offered me his hand . " Helen , let's go back . " The early summer sunlight filtered through the trees , casting golden shadows across his face . In the depths of his amber eyes , all I saw was my reflection . 2/3