Right after high school graduation, I got engaged to my honorary "younger uncle." But he only ever treated me like a kid. On our first night in our new home, my hands trembled as I reached up to untie his tie. He brushed my hands away with a lazy, mocking smile. "Do you honestly think I'm such an animal that I'd sleep with the niece I raised?" The very next day, he used a business trip as an excuse and flew overseas. Two years later, we ran into each other at a karaoke bar. At that exact moment, a senior from my university was publicly confessing his love to me. And my "uncle"? He was leaning against the wall, holding a drink, watching the whole show with absolute indifference. ... Later that night, I sat nervously in the backseat of his Maybach, while he pinched my chin, studying me intently. "I raised you with my own two hands. Do you really think you could ever run away with anyone else?" 1 I only stepped out of the karaoke room to get some fresh air. I never expected to run into Liam Vance, the "younger uncle" I hadn't seen in over two years, right there in the hallway. And I definitely didn't expect to get cornered by a senior student confessing his feelings at the exact same time. I shook my head, completely flustered. "I'm sorry, Matt, I..." "Chloe, is it because I'm four years older than you?" He cut me off, clearly having prepared his speech in advance. "Actually, older guys know how to take care of you better. Like me, for example..." Liam was leaning lazily against the wall a few feet away, holding a drink. He looked completely detached, like he was watching a theater performance. Matt had probably been planning this confession for a long time. The moment he finished his sentence, the rest of the people from our private room poured out into the hallway, surrounding us. "Say yes! Say yes!!" "Come on, Chloe! Matt is so handsome, and he's rich too!" "You definitely won't regret it!" I waited for the cheering to die down before biting my lip and finishing my sentence. "I'm sorry. I already have a boyfriend." A short distance away, Liam slowly lifted his eyes. Matt frowned, his patience visibly wearing thin. "You've been using that 'I have a boyfriend' excuse since freshman year! How come none of us have ever seen him?!" "Call him right now, and I'll believe you!" "Yeah, Chloe. You always use that excuse to reject people. It's so obviously fake." I was getting a little annoyed now. I argued back, my voice muffled but firm: "We're getting married this year. Why would I lie to you?" Honestly, I realized it shortly after seeing Liam in the hallway. I was about to turn 20. He flew back to the States this time specifically to marry me. And knowing him, shortly after we got the marriage certificate, he'd probably leave again. Being rejected so publicly made Matt furious and humiliated. "Getting married?!" "Are you playing me for a fool, Chloe?!" "Did I give you too much leeway?!" He pointed a finger directly at my face, his expression turning ugly as he prepared to curse me out. But before he could speak, a much larger, stronger hand grabbed his finger and ruthlessly bent it backward. A shrill, agonizing scream echoed down the entire hallway. 2 The one who acted was Liam's bodyguard. He followed it up with a sharp kick to the back of Matt's knees. Unable to support himself, the senior student dropped straight to his knees right in front of me. Hearing the commotion, the club manager rushed over. Acting as if we weren't even there, he bowed slightly and scurried straight to Liam, his face pale with panic. "Mr. Vance, is there a problem?" "Did this kid do something to upset you?" Liam didn't answer. He simply raised the hand holding his drink, and the manager immediately took the glass with both hands, bowing subserviently. Liam looked at me, raising one eyebrow, a faint smile on his lips. "Aren't you going to come over here?" The crowd that had been cheering just moments ago was now dead silent. They even voluntarily parted to create a clear path for me. I obediently walked over to Liam's side, catching the faint, clean scent of alcohol on him. One of the girls from my group mustered her courage and asked me, her voice trembling slightly: "Is this... your boyfriend?" Liam had always treated me like a child. He definitely wouldn't appreciate me making bold claims like that on my own. I shook my head to deny it, introducing him: "This is my younger uncle." Liam's face remained completely unreadable. He just casually rubbed his left ring finger—right over the engagement ring I had put on him two years ago. The manager, completely unable to read Liam's mood, was sweating profusely. "Has your anger subsided, Mr. Vance...?" "If not, I can have my guys teach this kid a proper lesson!" Liam raised a hand to stop him. "No need." He then ordered someone to go back into his private room and fetch his suit jacket. Holding it in one hand, he turned to me. "Do you want to keep playing, or are you coming home with me?" The curiosity burning in the eyes of everyone behind me was practically overflowing. There was no way I was staying here to be interrogated. I subconsciously moved a little closer to him, seeking safety. "Uncle Liam, I want to go home." 3 The moment we got in the car, the driver immediately raised the privacy partition, making me feel incredibly awkward. The cabin was so quiet I could hear the steady hum of the tires on the highway. Beside me, Liam sat with his eyes closed, rubbing his temples. I curled my fingers nervously on my lap, gathering my courage before speaking softly: "Uncle Liam, do you have a headache?" "I... I can massage it for you." It had been almost six months since we last saw each other. The dynamic between us had reverted to a stiff, polite boundary line. The man's deep, magnetic voice held a hint of a chuckle, making it impossibly alluring. "Oh? And I should just let you work hard for me?" "The second I got off the plane, I was dragged to that welcome party. I didn't even have time to tell you I was back." It took me two seconds to realize he was explaining his presence at the club to me. "It's okay." I unbuckled my seatbelt, kneeled on the seat, and straightened up. I reached out and placed my hands on his temples, massaging them earnestly. Since his eyes were closed, I finally dared to openly trace the lines of his face with my gaze. He really was incredibly handsome. His features weren't overly delicate, nor were they too sharp or aggressive. He was just simply more handsome than anyone I had ever met. A sudden, sharp honk shattered the silence. The driver slammed on the brakes. Inertia threw me violently forward and to the side. "Ah—" Just as I thought I was going to crash into the door, a pair of strong hands caught me by the waist. I was pulled effortlessly onto Liam's lap, sitting sideways across his legs. I instinctively threw my arms around his neck to steady myself. Our eyes met. His ink-black pupils clearly reflected my utter bewilderment. At this proximity, the smell of alcohol coming from his collar was much stronger. Snapping out of it, I tried to scramble off his lap. But Liam's hands clamped down on my waist, trapping me completely. He stared directly into my eyes and suddenly asked: "Are you dating someone?" I looked at him in sheer confusion, having absolutely no idea where that question came from. "What...?" Liam calmly scrutinized my face. Suddenly, he raised a hand, pinched my chin, and tilted my face up. I unconsciously held my breath, too nervous to look at him. Liam was drunk. The intimidating aura he usually kept carefully restrained was now fully unleashed. "You've grown up. And your courage has grown with you." "Uncle Liam..." I gripped the fabric of his shirt at the shoulder, calling his name with a slight tremble. The man's murmurs grew quieter, yet they seemed to harbor some unspoken, obsessive possessiveness. "I raised you. Doesn't that mean you belong to me?" He smirked slightly. "How could you ever dare to run away with someone else?" I wasn't entirely sure what Liam meant by that, and I definitely didn't dare to interpret it romantically. After all, over the last two years, we had probably spent less than three months actually in the same room together. And he had rejected me before. He certainly couldn't be talking about 'liking' me. But right now, he was drunk. He was only going to hear what he wanted to hear, and he refused to let me go. I had to put my confusion aside for the moment. I clumsily lifted my arms and wrapped them around his shoulders. Fighting the intense heat rising in my ears, I whispered: "I am yours..." "I won't run away." As a reward, Liam gently kissed the top of my head. "Good girl." 4 I had called our housekeeper in advance, asking her to prep the guest bedroom for Liam. But when we got home, he completely ignored it and followed me straight into the master bedroom. His intention was obvious. Honestly, this was bound to happen sooner or later. After all, in half a month—on my 20th birthday—Liam and I were getting our marriage certificate. When my hands reached for his tie, my heart was pounding so loud I half-suspected he could hear it. Facing the terrifying unknown, I couldn't tell how much of what I was feeling was anticipation versus pure fear. Liam lowered his eyes, watching me silently. A few seconds later, just like two years ago, he gently brushed my hands away. "You're still terrified." I pressed my lips together tightly. "I'm sorry, Uncle Liam." But it was different from two years ago. This time, it was more nervousness than actual fear. Liam wrapped his hand around my wrist and lifted it. He tilted his head slightly and pressed his lips against the fragile skin of my inner wrist. "You don't need to apologize." That night, I slept curled up in Liam's arms. But my body remained subconsciously tense the entire time. In the dead of night, Liam gently stroked the back of my head. "Do you want to marry me?" I nodded slightly, giving the perfect, obedient answer. "I do." As if to prove my point, I snuggled even closer into his embrace. I think... I might actually have a little bit of a crush on Liam. 5 Liam and I actually had an arranged marriage set up since we were kids. He was 9 years older than me and had never taken the ridiculous arrangement seriously. He told me to call him "Uncle Liam." When I was little, during the years my dad was abroad expanding his business, Liam was the one who took care of me. But during my senior year of high school, my dad's company faced bankruptcy. My dad went gray overnight. He finally sat me down, his voice heavy with desperation: "Chloe, will you marry Liam right after you graduate?" "We don't have to get the legal certificate right away. We can just have the ceremony first." "My company desperately needs funding from the Vance family..." I was incredibly resistant. I didn't want a loveless marriage. Besides, at that time, I truly only saw Liam as an uncle figure. But then, my dad ended up in the hospital from severe overwork and exhaustion. Sitting by his hospital bed, I finally compromised. However, when my dad went to discuss it with Liam, he rejected it without a second thought. The next day, the moment I got home from school, my dad dropped to his knees in front of me. He cried hysterically: "I'm so sorry, Chloe." "After you graduate... go to Uncle Lee. Please..." "Liam doesn't want you, and I have absolutely no other options." "Uncle Lee is the only one willing to help me." That "Uncle Lee" was seven years older than my dad. He had a massive beer belly and was already balding. More importantly, he already had a wife. My dad was shaking violently as he cried. Blood was seeping through the bandages on his wrists. After Liam rejected him, the pressure from the debt collectors broke him, and he tried to slit his wrists. But he survived. So now, he was forcing me to essentially sell my life instead. 6 I ran through the pouring rain all the way to Liam's house. When Liam opened the door and saw me standing there, my school uniform completely soaked through, he frowned deeply. He pulled me inside. "What happened?" Tears and rainwater mixed together, dripping onto his hardwood floor. I helplessly grabbed his sleeve and begged him: "Uncle Liam, please marry me... Please..." I didn't want to die, and I couldn't just stand by and watch my dad die either. My only option was to beg Liam for help. I knew I shouldn't burden him like this. So the moment he agreed, I resolved myself to spend the rest of my life repaying the massive debt I owed him. The night of our engagement party, we went back to the new house he had bought. Liam had been toasted round after round by the guests, and his steps were slightly unsteady. I had been mentally preparing myself for this all day. But my hands still wouldn't stop shaking when I reached up to untie his tie. Liam leaned back on the sofa and dodged my hands. Resting his head on his hand, he looked at me with an amused, mocking expression. "What are you trying to do?" I squeezed my sweaty palms together, closed my eyes, and leaned in to kiss him. Liam tilted his head back, dodging me again. He let out a short laugh, looking at me like I was a child throwing a ridiculous tantrum. "You don't need to do this." "Or do you honestly think I'm such an animal that I'd sleep with the niece I raised with my own hands?" He pushed off the armrest, stood up, and headed for the guest bedroom. I grabbed his hand, fighting back my panic, and looked up at him. "It's fine... " "After all, we're going to be married eventually anyway." Liam frowned and scoffed lightly. He reached out and flicked my forehead, a bit harder than usual. "Stop acting crazy, little girl." "Just go to sleep."
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