Chapter 615

"Vivian, our wedding dresses arrived early."

At the breakfast table, Liam Sullivan set down his coffee cup, his voice carrying a careful, tentative note.

"Let's go try them on this afternoon, okay?"

Vivian Bennett's fingers tightened slightly around her soup spoon.

Steam rose from the porridge, blurring her vision.

She didn't look up. She didn't answer.

Liam watched her silent profile, his heart sinking bit by bit.

Lately, a layer of invisible glass seemed to separate them.

He could see her, but he couldn't feel her warmth.

"If today isn't good, tomorrow is fine too."

He softened his voice, trying to sound light and natural.

"I'm free anytime to go with you."

Vivian finally lifted her head.

Her eyes were calm, still as the surface of a deep autumn lake, without a single ripple.

"Liam."

She spoke softly.

"Let's postpone the wedding."

The air froze solid.

The smile on Liam's face stiffened.

He stared at her blankly, as if he hadn't heard her clearly.

Several seconds passed before he found his voice again.

"Why are you saying this all of a sudden?"

He struggled to maintain his composure, but his fingers clenched tightly under the table.

"Is something wrong? The venue, the arrangements, the dress style? Tell me, I can change anything."

Vivian set down her spoon.

The sound of porcelain touching the table was light, yet it struck Liam's heart like a heavy hammer.

"It's not any of that."

She shook her head, her voice quiet but each word clear.

"It's our current state. We're not in a place to get married."

She had originally wanted to say "cancel."

But the word changed to "postpone" before it left her lips.

A final bit of leeway left for him.

Yet she knew in her heart—

She had long lost any anticipation for this wedding.

When love is riddled with cracks, marriage only becomes chains that bind two people together.

She didn't want to be locked in again.

Liam looked at her calm face, his chest feeling as if soaked in ice water.

He had waited so long, hoped for so long, finally seeing the wedding dresses arrive.

And now she spoke in such a flat tone, saying they should postpone the wedding.

"What about us isn't right?"

His voice trembled slightly, but he forced himself not to show weakness.

"We've overcome so many obstacles, Vivian. I love you, and you love me. Isn't that enough?"

He leaned forward, his eyes holding a stubborn, almost pleading intensity.

"If it's because of the engagement party, I can wait. Wait for you to calm down, wait for you to forgive me. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it."

Vivian pushed her bowl away.

The porridge had gone cold, forming a thin skin on top.

Just like the feelings between them—outwardly maintaining a complete shape, but inside, long grown cold.

"I'm not angry."

She looked at him, her calm gaze making his heart panic.

"And I don't need you to beg for my forgiveness."

"I just feel we're missing too many things between us."

"Trust, understanding, emotional connection... These aren't things love alone can fix."

A bitter smile touched her lips, a faint weariness rising in her eyes.

"I used to be too naive, thinking that as long as we loved each other, we could overcome any difficulty."

"Now I understand some cracks can't be filled by love."

Moreover, love itself had been worn down to almost nothing by the daily suspicions and distance.

She wanted to give them both a period of calm.

Perhaps some time apart was needed to see clearly where this relationship should go.

Liam understood her subtext.

His face paled gradually, but his eyes grew darker.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

He stood up, his voice carrying an unyielding finality.

"But the wedding will proceed as scheduled."

"I'll spend a lifetime waiting for you to change your mind."

"A year isn't enough, then ten years. Ten years isn't enough, then a lifetime."

Vivian looked up, shocked.

"Are you forcing me?"

Anger finally colored her voice.

"Liam, marriage can't be maintained by force!"

Liam stood across the table, backlit, his figure appearing exceptionally tall and lonely.

He looked at her, speaking word by word.

"I'm not forcing you."

"I'm just fighting."

"Fighting for a chance to spend the rest of my life with you."

Outside the window, the sunlight was bright, but the dining room felt as cold as deep winter.

The wedding dresses were upstairs in the walk-in closet—white, gorgeous, symbols of promise and happiness.

Yet now, they felt like an invisible wall standing between them.

Vivian turned her face away, no longer looking at him.

She was afraid that one more glance would soften her heart.

But she knew some problems couldn't be solved by a soft heart.

"I won't go."

She said softly, but her tone was firm as iron.

"Return the dresses."

Liam's pupils contracted sharply.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but no sound came out.

After a long while, he finally asked in a hoarse voice.

"Vivian, do you really... not want me anymore?"

Vivian didn't answer.

She stood up and turned to walk upstairs.

Her back was straight, but her steps were slightly unsteady.

Liam remained standing where he was, watching her disappear around the staircase corner.

Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a bright patch of light at his feet.

Yet he felt as if the whole world had darkened.

The wedding dresses were still upstairs.

The wedding invitations were already printed.

The guest list was long finalized.

Everything was ready—

Except her heart.

He slowly sat back down in his chair and raised a hand to cover his eyes.

Warm liquid seeped between his fingers.

He thought he wouldn't cry.

But it turned out some pain was too much even for a heart of steel.

A soft door closing sound came from upstairs.

She had shut herself in her room.

And shut him out of her world.

Liam lowered his hand, his eyes rimmed red.

He stared at that bowl of cold porridge on the table for a long, long time.

Then, he picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Don't return the wedding dresses."

His voice was hoarse, but carried an unshakable resolve.

"Continue preparing for the wedding as planned."

"I'll wait until the day she's willing to wear one."

Even if it took a lifetime.

He would wait.

Because he knew—

Some people, once let go, could never be found again.

And he would rather be hated by her than lose her.

Outside the window, the sky was a clear, washed blue.

But their story, on this day, descended into a long, bitter winter.