Liam Winston's gaze darkened as he looked at Chloe Evans.
His voice carried suppressed irritation.
"Chloe, what exactly happened earlier?"
He used to think his first love was gentle and considerate.
But the constant troubles and domestic quarrels had worn him down.
For the first time, he felt weary.
When Sophia Sullivan was around, there had been no conflicts between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.
Now, he had to juggle company affairs while mediating between his mother and wife.
Exhaustion weighed on him, both physically and mentally.
Chloe immediately sensed Liam's shifting mood.
A cold smirk curled inside her.
Mrs. Winston's attempt to drive a wedge between them was laughably clumsy.
"It's all a misunderstanding, Liam."
Her voice softened, laced with feigned hurt.
"That brooch was a gift from someone else. I couldn’t just regift it."
She lifted her eyes to meet his, her expression artfully innocent.
"I even bought Mother a new present. I never thought she’d doubt me like this."
When Chloe's eyes reddened, she looked especially pitiable.
Liam suddenly recalled her words from before—
"You only have me now. I’m the only one who’ll stand by you."
Guilt twisted in his chest.
Chloe had once saved his life.
How could he feel annoyed with her?
He reached out to wipe her tears.
"Don’t cry. I believe you."
Mrs. Winston seethed when she saw her son defending Chloe.
"Gift from someone else? It’s just a brooch. Why the secrecy?"
Her tone turned pointed.
"Or was it from some secret admirer?"
When her provocation failed, she switched tactics.
"Chloe, now that you’re part of the Winston family, you should behave properly."
She deliberately brought up the past.
"My Liam isn’t like your spineless ex-husband. Calling each other siblings—how shameless."
Liam’s expression darkened instantly.
"Mother, drop it."
After the wedding fiasco, he had forbidden anyone in the family from mentioning it.
Seeing his anger, Mrs. Winston backed off.
"I’m just looking out for you. If she wasn’t ashamed of her actions, why fear being called out?"
She changed the subject.
"Did you get the Blood Jade from Sophia?"
Liam fell silent, his frustration mounting.
Ever since losing to Sophia, he kept dreaming of her.
Sometimes, it was them skating side by side.
Other times, it was memories of her caring for him.
But when he woke, only emptiness remained.
Lately, he had tried reaching out to Sophia.
Not just for the Blood Jade.
He wanted to talk about the past.
Yet Sophia ignored him completely.
She blocked all contact.
Avoided him entirely.
"I didn’t get it."
His voice was low.
"She refuses to see me."
After Sophia left, exhaustion crashed over him like a delayed wave.
His chest felt heavy, as if weighed down by stone.
He was utterly drained.