Expected Love

Bonus chapter

Liam Copper

"That was intense." A girl sitting a few seats away from me spoke. I gritted my teeth to avoid snapping at her. My jaw twitched. Of course, she heard the whole conversation between me and Richard, there was hardly anyone in here. Though I wonder what a girl was doing drinking alone in the bar that too at broad daylight. I kept drinking from my glass.

"But you did the right thing." She continued. Who the fuck asked her opinion. I did the right thing? Like hell, l did the right thing. I regret it still now. Why, just why, I couldn't pretend like I never heard that conversation in the hospital. It would have been me getting married to the love of my life. But my sorry conscious merrily swapped place with Richard, and now it's me sulking and drinking, taking unwanted advice from strangers. I glared at her.

"Sorry, but I am saying with experience." She held up her hands, in surrender.

"Experience," I raised my brows at her. She nodded and took the seat next to mine. Just great!

"I, too, married someone who didn't love me. It's been two years and I still regret it." She shrugged, and my eyes landed on the thick diamond studded wedding band on her ring finger. She did marry someone rich.

“What happened” I asked. She knew about my life, so it's fair enough to ask about hers, right?

"I was so in love with Darren that I married him knowing, very well, he loved someone else. I was not smart like you to back away at the right time. I was stupid to believe I will make him fall in love with me, just like in movies and those romantic novels. He never even looked at me. So, here I am drinking my sorrows while he is celebrating the birth of his first child with his…his, what do I call her.  Exgirlfriend? Mistress?.. I don't know, maybe she is the one he chose as his family." She chuckled sadly.

I was overwhelmed by her story. Maybe I did the right thing. No point in being in a marriage that has only one-sided love.

"By the way, I am Madeline Silv..." She extended her hand towards me, but then.

"Any Liam Copper in the house?" The bartender's voice bloomed in the entire bar. I furrowed, wondering who would call me here?

"That's me" I mumbled and went to take the landline.

"What the hell, Liam?" Came Lia'a voice from other side.

"Lia" I sniffled.

"I don't know where you are, Liam, but you better get back here and marry me." She fumed with cracked voice. I closed my eyes to compose myself.

"You don't want that, Lia, accept it. Love of your life is in front of you. Marry him." I  replied.

"No, Liam, I won't at the cost of your happiness." She was sobbing on the phone.

"And I won't marry you at the cost of your and that bastard's happiness. Marry him, lia, for me. I want you to be happy" I want her to be happy and if that happiness comes from that Richard, then I am happy to move aside.

"Liam..." She quivered.

"See you soon, sweetheart. We will meet again. Bye." I cut the call after that and stood still, breathing heavily. I never knew at which point my eyes started burning with the ushered tears I was dying to got to Lia, but consoled myself that what I did was the right thing. Today I am hurting a lot, but tomorrow will be better.
I wiped my face with the back of my sleeves and went and sat on my seat, gulping down the whole glass in one go.

"Are you...ok?" Came a small voice from beside me. I rubbed my face with my palms and turned towards her.

"Ya..I am okay." I gave her a tight-lipped smile.
She nodded her head in understanding.
She introduced herself, right? What was her name?

"Hi I am Liam Copper." I extended my hand towards her.

"Madeline...you can call me Madi" she said, shaking her hand with mine. Her hands were cold, too cold, just like her eyes. When I gave her proper glance, I noticed that she was beautiful with black eyes, small little nose and thin lips. Her skin was flawless, and her hair was straight black strands of silk. Why wouldn't her husband love her, she was pretty and thoughtful too.

Again, who we love is not in our hands, right?
I chuckled at my thoughts. She frowned at me, but didn't ask the reason, just smiled and went back to her glass.

I need to call mom, she must have freaked out. I took my mobile from the pocket of my Jacket and switched it on. There were countless missed calls from mom, Lia, Saba, Viktor, and my friends. Just then, a notification of the message popped up. It was from mom. I opened and glared at the pic she had sent. Tears that I had restrained for so long came without permission. It was a photographer of Richard sliding ring in Lia's ring finger. They got married. Richard was beaming. My heart ached, and it was getting difficult to breathe. Why? Why didn't she love me. I sobbed with my head held in my hands. After some time, I felt a soft hand on my shoulders, patting them gently, then it was gone, and I missed the support it provided. I know it was Madeline, but when I looked up to face her, she was gone. I peeked over to the door, but she was nowhere.

It was so strange to meet her and to get a console and support from a total stranger who was there for me in my weakest point. Life is so unpredictable and had this unique way of bringing people in our life, and they teach us so much. Madeline was no one to me, and we may never meet again, but I won't be able to forget her and her words forever.

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Hope you enjoyed Liam's point of view. There is a rough idea about his story but nothing strong enough.

What do you think? Would you like to read his story? Do comment about your thoughts.

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