Chapter 23: Chapter 23
Finally, after that emotional, tear-jerking episode, we are now perched at the dining area, almost finishing off our breakfast. A very delicious breakfast that I have not had for ages. These are some of the things we occasionally manage to afford in our home. Things like pizza, I only got to taste them in his house. Anyway, such was life, and this still is life.
Touring my eyes around the beautiful house, I realize just how plain the inside of his house looks. Aside from the cream paint and the furniture, there is no interior decor aside from this one picture of Liam and Mitch that hangs so lonely on the wall in the sitting area. Even back then, they just wore gloomy faces—no sign of brightness on their faces, and there was even some distance between them. Holding hands ought to have been the only convincing gesture to convince the camera, which failed despite an attempt.
Anyone can tell that they were miserable souls, angry at the whole world. It seems like it was taken in one of those moments when they realized what lay ahead. It hangs exactly like an insignia on their lonely soles. It denotes how plain this house is. The loneliness engulfing their souls And the loneliness they will dwell in forever if they don’t resolve this.
I didn’t know I was so lost in breaking down the supposed portrayal of the picture. That is why I did not even realize Liam was getting up from his seat and strutting to the sitting room. I just noticed him now as he climbs to the couch and takes the photo frame down with him, leaving me perplexed.
Now, what is he doing?
He walks back to me with the picture and flips it upside down as he slams it on the table, then walks back to his seat and settles. What happened? I mean…
“I will put it away.” He says this, throwing a quick, not-so-pleasing glance at the poor frame.
What?
“Why?” I ask with a lot of curiosity.
“It has done enough mockery to this house. There is no use in having something like this in this house.” He says, So flat. Emotionless.
“You simply cannot do that, Liam. What on earth will you tell Mitchell? She will go berserk!” I ask.
“Nothing. It won’t make a difference. I doubt she even notices it. And if she does, I am sure she and I share the same sentiments on this.” He says it, and I am left dry of words.
Well, what can I say? The only thing they share in common is the sentiment that this is just a sham; they are both suffering from it, and they have both come to terms with that fact. I guess this is not a big deal to her either. Like Liam said, this photo is nothing but a mockery to them.
Did anyone ever say that money is everything? Now, that would be the biggest lie of a lifetime. I mean, look at these two here—they are both stinking rich, living in a posh home, yet they are the miserable of the Miserables. Their wealth can not even put a smile on their faces. They are swimming in both luxury and sorrow. Goodness!
“Will you ever stop worrying?” He asks, reaching for my hand across the table and giving it an arousing squeeze.
Will I ever Good question. How can I ever do that as long as I am here in this situation? Every single passing minute makes me realize how deep this shithole is. So, how can I stop worrying about him and where and how all this will end? That is, if there is an end to this web.
“Your story scares me every moment. I cannot imagine myself surrounded by all this wealth yet wallowing in misery. Now I understand perfectly what you meant by ‘I am not the only one suffering’. What you are going through is quite deep.” I state.
“You know, I am partly to blame for all this. I should have tried harder to stop this. Things would not have been the way they are right now.” He says it in a faint tone.
He can’t start blaming himself. There was nothing he could have done. He did what he did to save his family. The fact that he tried to stop this is more than enough. Sometimes we need to sacrifice even our happiness for the sake of the people and things we love, and this was his sacrifice. It is not his fault that things turned this sour. And it is just a pure pity that his sacrifice will probably render him sorrowful forever. But can he be blamed for this choice? I would say no.
“You are not to blame for any of this, Liam. You…”
“Yes, I am, Lynn.” He shoots at me, cutting me off. The self-blame is so heavy in his tone. “I had substantial grounds to refuse to gamble my freedom and happiness the way I did. But what did I do? I hurt you, let you go, and agreed to this insanity. And now I am paying dearly for my choices.” He whimpered the last part, guilt hanging heavily in his tone, and his eyes are a good portrayal of the pain he is concealing.
I understand that choices have consequences, but this was out of goodwill, right? I mean, he couldn’t bear to stand and watch his family suffers. He shouldn't be punished for this, and he shouldn't blame himself for the cruelty of fate.
“But you could not have lived in peace after watching your parents suffer, Liam. That is why you did this—to save your family’s fortune and reputation.” I try to console, but as early as now, I know I didn’t make any sense at all.
“That is the point, Lynn. I did it to protect them—our business. But tell me, Lynn, what am I supposed to feel now after starting to doubt the authenticity of this alignment? Should I still be proud even after knowing that by signing this agreement I just signed our business off to some goons?” He implores.