Chapter 7: Cold and Detached

A wave of hurt washed over Liana Carver. It had never crossed her mind that the man she'd pined for all this time had been lying to her. "Marshall, you're getting engaged? Why did you lie to me?" Marshall ignored her. He slipped an arm around his mother, Daphne, steered her to the sofa, and coaxed her in a low, placating voice. "Mom, Mom, don't be angry. Things aren't always what they look like. I know what I'm doing." Soothed and having vented her anger, Daphne gradually calmed. "As long as you know what's at stake. Our business depends on the Brewsley family. If we can't secure this marriage, three generations' work will have been for nothing." Marshall hung his head, then, after a long pause, seemed to remember Liana, frozen in place. "Liana, go home for now. I'll explain later." He hit the elevator button and ushered her in. Liana cried all the way down. She crouched by the curb with her phone clenched in her hand and wept until her throat rasped. Cars streamed past; every pair of headlights belonged to someone else. Marshall had actually thrown her out. She truly regretted the breakup. Micah Baron would never have made her swallow this kind of humiliation. The night wind scraped her burning cheeks. Staring at a familiar number in her contacts, she hesitated. Should she call Micah and swallow her pride? Her best friend's warning echoed in her mind: He's just a jerk playing games. Whoever caves first loses. She perched on the curb and sobbed a while longer. Marshall still didn't come after her with an explanation. At last, the knot in her chest tightened until she gave in, and she walked into a convenience store. "Hi, my phone died. Could I borrow your phone to make a quick call?" The clerk handed her his phone. Liana dialed the number she knew by heart. The call connected. Micah's voice came through. In that instant her composure cracked, and she choked out, "Micah, it's me. Could you come pick me up?" On the other end, his voice was flat-cool and detached. "I'm not available. Ask Marshall Chambers to pick you up." With that, Micah hung up. Liana handed the phone back and stood there in a daze. Had Micah really stopped wanting her? She refused to believe it. He was only angry because of the cruel things she'd said. She was sure he'd come crawling back within three days. The wedding was only a week away, after all. Micah set the phone down and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, hollowed out by the thought that his three years of devotion had not been worth it. The next day was Saturday. When he opened his eyes, all he could think was: seven days until the wedding. Archie Carrington called to say he'd arranged a visit with Camilo; they would go to Camilo's apartment that morning. Micah slipped the bank card into the nightstand drawer in the master bedroom, bought a few gifts at the supermarket, and met Archie downstairs at Camilo's building. Camilo had reached retirement age, but he stayed on-hired back on contract-and kept teaching. The professor didn't look pleased with Micah. "So you finally remembered you have a teacher?" Micah rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Professor, I'm too ashamed to face you." Three years earlier, Camilo's lab had a project that needed a technical ace. Camilo had wanted Micah to take the lead, but Micah had turned him down. Nicholas Carver had fallen ill around then, and Micah had spent day and night in the hospital; he simply couldn't juggle it. Later, an investor had taken a shine to that project, and it was already gearing up for an IPO. He didn't dare mention any of it in front of Camilo. Camilo snorted. "Good that you know. In a bit I'll introduce someone to you; you'll hit it off." Knock, knock, knock. Camilo went to the door. "Speak of the devil. Come, meet each other. Lionel Brewsley, your junior. He's the student I've been most pleased with these past few years." Lionel's face lit up. "You two are the seniors Professor always talks about, Micah Baron and Archie Carrington? Corvaina University is still using the exam system you built." Camilo shot him a look. "Who always talks about them?" They traded smiles. After chatting, Lionel was very interested in the game they were making and wanted to join. Micah and Archie learned that Lionel, a few years below them and close to graduating, was on par with people who'd been working for two years. He had a gift for mathematical logic and would go far. The three exchanged contact information. When they left Camilo's place, Micah didn't get in the car with the others. He wanted to walk alone. He needed to figure out the bride situation-it was driving him crazy. Knock, knock, knock. On the other side of the city, the pounding at the door jolted Liana awake. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and opened the door. Standing there were her parents, Nicholas and Gloria, with her younger brother, Cain. Nicholas got straight to the point. "Your brother has set his sights on a girl, and she likes him too. But they want $38,800 in betrothal gifts, plus five gold jewelry, and the family is still short. Find a way to make up the difference." Liana snapped to. "How much are you short?" Making herself at home, Gloria helped herself to some fruit from the table. "We're still short $37,000 for the betrothal gifts and five gold jewelry. Honey, whether the Carver family carries on the line depends on you. You're the older sister; you can't just wash your hands of it." Liana wanted to cry. That was what they called a little bit? "Mom, I don't have that kind of money. You know my monthly salary. I can barely feed myself." Nicholas shot her a look. "What about Micah? Ask him." Her face flushed. "Dad… I broke up with him. I don't have money." Regret clawed at her. If she hadn't broken up with Micah, she could've moved money straight from his account to help her brother; if that wasn't enough, she could've figured out a way to take a cash advance on his credit card. Now… she truly couldn't scrape together that much. "What, you broke up?" Gloria's voice jumped a few notches. "Why didn't you discuss it with us first? You might not live in the lap of luxury with Micah, but at least when your brother needs help, he can chip in. Whatever you do, you line up your next prospect before you split. What about your brother's betrothal money now?" Nicholas paced back and forth, then jabbed a finger at her. "You got this apartment, right?" Liana nodded. "Yes." Cain blurted, "Sis, why not go apologize to Micah? I already agreed on a day for the families to meet. The betrothal gifts have to be paid then. You marry Micah first, take the betrothal gifts they give you, then ask for a divorce. Wouldn't that cover the shortfall?" Liana's head spun. "Don't rush me. Let me think of something." Micah had already blocked her, and he was still furious. If she went to ask him for money, she'd always be at a disadvantage. A name surfaced in her mind-Marshall Chambers.