After Refusing to be Luna, I Marked the Alpha's Shadow Chapter 23

After a whole day of torment, it was late night when I got home.

Pushing open the apartment door, a hand pinned me behind the door. The door slammed shut with a *bang*.

Before I could react, a cold yet frenzied kiss landed on my lips, carrying a sense of punishment.

Kissed breathless, I pushed Ethan's shoulder. "Why the rush?"

"I have seven days off. You spent five days with your ex-boyfriend."

Ethan's voice sounded ghostly, thick with vinegar.

In the dark, I couldn't see his face, but I heard the grievance in his tone, like a big wolf dog neglected by its owner.

My lip was bitten, not too lightly or heavily. "Do you think you deserve punishment?"

His voice was magnetic and hoarse. My waist felt weak. I nodded blindly. "Can I take a shower first?"

"Ethan, I'm so tired today."

I shook Ethan's arm. Silence for a moment, then he reached out and turned on the light.

That handsome face appeared. All fatigue vanished. I kissed Ethan's lips.

"Go to the bedroom. Wait for me."

Just showered, preparing for the bedroom, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door and saw Liam standing there, wearing a hospital gown, pale-faced.

Still haunting me?

I tried to close the door, but Liam blocked the frame.

"I have something to say."

I pushed, couldn't close it. Looked back at the quiet bedroom. Knowing Liam wouldn't give up soon, and not wanting Ethan to see him (or the building might collapse), I pulled him into the stairwell.

"Speak quickly."

Liam looked at my nervous state and sneered. "You care about him that much?"

He took out a document. "If you see this, will you go crazy?"

I looked down. Large words read "Blackwood Family & Evans Family Marriage Agreement."

I froze. I had seen this document. It was from four years ago, and I signed it myself.

"The agreement was never voided. It's still effective."

Liam said, "Harper, the penalty is ten billion dollars. Do you have that much money to pay me?"

My blood froze. I squeezed words through my teeth. "You want to marry me that badly? Using such methods."

"You seem to misunderstand." Liam smiled, a twisted smile. "I don't want to marry you. I just don't want to see you happy."

"Just thinking about you being happy with Ethan makes my skin crawl. Are you in pain now? Good! Because the more pain you feel, the happier I am!"

I took a deep breath, calming down a bit. "Are you really happy?"

Liam paused. I said, "Or should I ask, why does my pain make you happy?"

Liam thought for a moment. "Because I hate you."

Yes, he hated me.

Even gouging out his eyes, he wanted me to lose light.

Cutting off his legs, he wanted me unable to walk.

Alive, he didn't want to see me happy. Dead, he wanted me restless.

Hate seeped into his blood. He hated me.

Hated me enough to drag me to the eighteenth level of hell with him.

He thought so, but I suddenly spoke.

"Hate me?"

I spoke softly, then laughed.

Liam looked at me coldly. "What are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing because you don't even know yourself..."

My smile slowly faded, replaced by mockery in my eyes.

"Are you hating me? Or hating that I don't love you?"

Liam froze, as if struck by lightning.

I said, "If I loved you today, would you still hate me?"

Liam pressed his lips tight.

"If I said the one giving me happiness was you, would you make me suffer?"

"..."

"If I kiss you now." I smiled, pitying and dismissive.

"Would you refuse?"

Liam's lips moved. He wanted to say he would.

But he couldn't say it.

In this moment, he started hating himself.

Because he couldn't refuse.