Somehow I manage to make it back to my apartment and I stand in the center of the living room. I don't know what to do. The room seems small all of a sudden like everything is closing in on me. Everything in me hurts and I feel like I can’t catch my breath. I collapse on the floor and sob uncontrollably. "I knew it. I just knew something bad was going to happen. It always does." I say out loud to myself. "But, this time...this time it was supposed to be different. It's Liam." I sigh. "It's Liam." I whisper. I eventually cry myself to sleep in the middle of my living room floor.

I don't know how much time has gone by but the sound of knocking wakes me up. I don't make a sound; I just want them to go away. The knocking continues. "Desiree, it's me, please open the door." It's Liam.

"No, go away." My voice is low and barely audible. The words come out so faint that I don't know if he's even heard me.

~ 12 ~

"Desiree, please. You need to let me explain. Please let me in." I don't say anything. "Des, I'm not leaving so if you want me to make a spectacle of myself in your hall then I'd suggest you let me in." I still don't say a word. I have nothing left in me to speak. I hear a noise as if he is sliding down the front of my door to sit. "Desiree, I'm not going anywhere until you hear me out." I still say nothing. After a while it gets quiet but I don't hear him leave. I have no idea how much time has passed so I figure he must have given up. It's been at least an hour. I try to stand but I'm weak. I shuffle myself on my knees to the kitchen. My throat is dry and I need a glass of water. I pull myself up by holding the granite counter top and I hear a noise at the door. I make my way to the front door and I look through the peek hole. I notice Liam's legs stretched out across the hall outside my front door. He’s still here and he must have heard me moving around.

"Des, I need you." He says the words softly but I heard them. He sounds tired and worn out. I crawl over to where I can hear him better. I sag against the inside of my front door and just listen to his voice. I miss him already. I miss his voice, his touch, his eyes, his lips. I

~ 13 ~

need to hear his voice so I press my ear against the door and listen to him. "I need you, Desiree." He sounds desolate and defeated. "You're my sweet angel. Desiree, do you understand me? You are my sweet angel." I didn't get it at first but I do now. Mi Dulce Angel. He is saying that he named his penthouse after me. My eyes start to well up with tears again. The sobbing takes over. I am completely heart broken and I don't know what to do. "Des, I need you. Please don't leave me." He is still speaking softly but I can hear every word he is saying but I do not respond. I just listen. "My sweet angel, please do not leave me." I lay my palm flat against the door. I want to touch him. I need to touch him. "The only reason why I wanted to sell the building is because you said you would need a bigger shop with more space and more employees in order to keep seeing me. I couldn't lose you again and you wouldn't let me help you but I did anyways. I'm sorry but, I bought you one." I close my eyes and keep listening. "Des, I bought you that bigger building. That second space you looked at with my real estate agent. It has everything you would need. I know I shouldn't have but I did because...because I love you Desiree. My sweet angel, I love you. I have from the

~ 14 ~

moment I laid eyes on you." Liam sounds completely depleted.

It’s quiet again. A few minutes pass when I hear another voice.

“Liam, what did you do to Desiree?” I hear Emily ask.

“It’s not what it seems, Emily.”

“It’s exactly how it seems. How could you? Where is she?”

“She’s inside her apartment. I need to explain to her but she won’t let me in.”

“Good! You don’t deserve her, Liam. How could you be so heartless? She trusted you. You have no idea what she has gone through in her life and it took everything in her to trust you. And to think I was the one that talked to her over and over again to give you a chance.”

“I love her. I went about this the wrong way but I love her. You have to believe me.”

“If you loved her then you wouldn’t have taken her company from her, you bastard. Just leave her alone. Besides, I know

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