Chapter 104 Simple–Minded
Chapter 104 Simple–Minded
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Liam hesitated for a long time before he finally asked, “Did you let yourself get kidnapped on purpose?”
Erin stared at him, stunned. After a long pause, her eyes turned red. “Liam … are you using me?”
His grip on her shoulders loosened. He couldn’t quite meet her eyes.
“I … I … ”
He fumbled for words, but nothing came out.
Erin’s eyes grew wetter. “Yes. I told the bodyguard to leave on purpose. I went to the old district on purpose. But it was for … for Tracy!”
Her tears started to fall. “Tracy’s rtionship with the family has always been tense. If everyone found out she was living with some man, it could’ve caused an even bigger fight.
“I only went to talk to her. But she didn’t appreciate it. And then … I ended up getting kidnapped.
“Normally, I’m never without a bodyguard. But this one time–right after seeing Tracy–it just happened…”
She didn’t finish the sentence, but it was clear she was pointing the me toward Tracy.
Liam’s angry expression froze. His thoughts started following her words without him realizing it.
“You only saw Tracy before you were kidnapped?” he asked.
Of course, Erin had seen more people than just Tracy, but that didn’t stop her from answering, “Yes.”
Liam’s mind became a mess, like two voices fighting in his head.
He didn’t want to doubt Erin, but Ronald’s words kept echoing.
He didn’t want to doubt Tracy, but he couldn’t stop remembering all the cruel things she’d supposedly done out of jealousy.
Erin looked hurt, but her eyes stayed locked on Liam’s face, reading him. She could feel his
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Chapter 104 Simple–Minded
uncertainty.
She hadn’t expected this.
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Among the Jackmans, Liam was the most impulsive and the easiest to sway. She had imagined almost anyone else could waver–but not him.
Now she was curious. <i>What </i><i>had </i><i>happened </i><i>that </i><i>nearly </i><i>pulled </i><i>him </i><i>out </i><i>of </i><i>my </i><i>grasp</i><i>? </i>
Erin’s voice trembled as she spoke. “Liam, you’re the one I trust most in this family. I never thought you’d doubt me.
“You’ve disappointed me. Maybe… maybe I never should’vee back.”
She pushed his hands off her. Her broken expression stirred an ache of pity.
In that moment, all the battling voices in Liam’s head went silent. All that was left was panic and regret.
“It’s
my
fault. Erin, please don’t be mad. I was misled–I never really meant to doubt you.”
He reached for her arm again, gripping it tightly, his face full of guilt.
“It’s all Walter and Ronald’s fault. If they hadn’t been saying those things to me, I never would’ve started imagining the worst.”
Andrew used to say Liam was stubborn and simple–minded. Back then, Liam didn’t believe it. But now he could see <i>it</i>–he was too naive, letting a few words turn him against Erin. It was shameful.
He
gave himself a light p across the face. It wasn’t hard, but it was loud.
“It’s all on me. If you’re mad, hit me. But don’t ever say you’re disappointed in me or that you shouldn’t havee back.
“I promise–I’ll never let anyone turn me against you again. Please, don’t be upset.”
Erin still looked pouty, but her hands curled slightly. Franklin and Walter, those useless old men, were already a headache–and now there was stubborn Ronald too.
She needed to get rid of one of them.
But she didn’t pull away from Liam’s hand. Instead, she gave him a small, uncertain voice, tinged with hurt. “You mean that?”
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Chapter 104 Simple–Minded
Liam nodded over and over, looking painfully sincere.
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Finally, Erin’s angry expression softened, and she gave him a haughty little warning. “Then I’ll trust you this once. But if you ever doubt me again, I’ll never forgive you.”
“Don’t worry–there won’t be a next time,” Liam promised quickly.
By now, he’dpletely forgotten why he had started questioning her in the first ce. All he cared about was keeping Erin happy, doing whatever she wanted.
She let out a smallugh through her tears, as if she believed him.
But of course, Erin didn’t believe their promise.
After all, the Jackmans had once adored Tracy and sworn to treat them both equally. She’d seen how that turned out.
Their promises meant nothing.
Still, she didn’t say that aloud. Instead, she gave a touched smile. “I knew you were the one who cared about me most. I know you didn’t mean it.
“In the end, this is my fault,” she said, sounding self–ming. “If I hadn’t told my bodyguard to leave and gone to the old district by myself, no one would’ve had a chance to twist things and make you doubt me.”
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