"Once having seen the best, the rest is not worthwhile looking," Maria muttered. "You like Celeste; I'm sure you understand the feeling. So you don't have to convince me either. Liking you is just my business." Liam's eyes narrowed. After a while, he said, "Nothing would ever come out of Celeste and me."

"Indeed." Maria nodded, matter-of-fact. "She belongs to my cousin. Gary is so domineering; he will never give you a chance to pursue her. Even though you have a bad temper sometimes, you're still a warm- hearted person deep down. With your character, you won't be able to get much out of anything. Furthermore, Celeste has been in love with Gary since four years ago."

Liam didn't say anything. He knew Maria was speaking the truth.

That was the result of him being in love with a girl, the result of hopelessness.

He wouldn't be able to have her no matter what.

"My love for Celeste is futile, and it's the same as your feelings toward me," he said.

"No, it's not the same." Maria shook her head and turned toward Liam.

Liam was shocked by the clear look in her eyes. His pupils contracted a few times, looking straight at her.

"I won't be able to return your feelings," he forced the words out of his lips, as if he was trying to convince himself that he was speaking the truth.

"What I gained from my love for you is a better version of myself. Maybe in the future, I might make you an even better version of yourself, and that's enough." She said lightly, "You don't have to feel pressured I've never thought about being in a relationship with you."

Liam's heart tightened.

That was because Maria's words had shocked him to the core.

"I'm no saint. In fact, I accept reality. It's not wrong to like a person. You don't have to think that I'm committing a deadly sin, nor that I'm putting myself in an inferior position. I do not think so at all."

"I don't either." He shook his head. "It's just... just..."

He didn't know how to continue as the feeling was indescribable. It was overwhelming.

"Just what?" She smiled and tilted her head as she looked at Liam. "Just say whatever you want to say. If you want to say something harsh, go ahead. I'm used to your cynicism toward me. Just say it; I can bear it."

"It's not sarcasm." Liam quickly denied it. "I just understand the feeling of hopelessness in a relationship. That's why I don't want it to be the same for you."

"What can we do then?" Maria smiled and said, "You won't love me back, yet you're worried about me. Are you hearing yourself?"

Liam also knew it was horrible for him to do so. He didn't even dare to look at Maria in the face; he couldn't bear to.

He couldn't bear to let such a wonderful girl become so forlorn just because she had fallen in love with him.

Seeing a trace of sympathy in his expression, she was stumped. Bitterness and comfort filled her heart. She let out a laugh.

"It doesn't matter, Liam. You can just treat me as one of your fans." She smiled and said, "They love you as well and have never stopped supporting you even now. You can totally regard me as one of them. You don't need to worry about it." "You're not them." He shook his head, levelheaded. Because she couldn't be overlooked, he became anxious and inevitably raised his voice.

She was a little dumbstruck. "Liam, what's wrong with you?"

"I don't know either." He shook his head. "I'm just feeling very suffocated."

He felt suffocated for her, listening to her confession to him.

Maria thought she had pressured him, so she consoled him. "Don't feel stressed. I'll be leaving for England soon. You won't see me by then."

His brows knitted into a frown, and his heart ached.

After a long time, seeing he was still silent, Maria continued, "I know your sudden change is because your career has been stalled. But life is full of ups and downs. Don't worry; I believe you'll rise again." "I don't care about that." He shook his head.

Maria was taken aback.

Liam looked at her seriously and said, "If I say I don't care about fame and wealth anymore, would you believe me?"

"I do." She nodded. "I'll believe whatever you say."

"Maria." Liam felt a little upset. "You're the daughter of the Lowe family. I know who your father is. You shouldn't put yourself in such an inferior state." "Why are you saying I'm putting myself in a low position?" She didn't think that way. "You're strange. It is my choice, and I insisted on it. What's so wrong about it?"

"But I feel sorry for you," he said solemnly.

Maria was once again taken aback.

They looked into each other's eyes.

Maria's heart was pounding wildly.

His deep gaze at her was nerve-wracking.

"You." Are you falling for me? Maria wanted to ask.

However, she could no longer go on after a word. She dared not ask it because she was afraid she was too greedy.

"What do you want to say?" Liam asked.

Before Maria could finish her sentence, the phone rang and interrupted the atmosphere.

"You should answer the call," Maria said quickly.

She turned her head to look outside. Only then did she realize that the towing truck was here.

Someone was making a phone call outside.

"Are you here? Yes, it's this car. I'll come out right away," Liam said.

He then hung up the phone.

"I'll get out. Wait for me," Maria said hurriedly.

However, Liam replied seriously, "Give me your key. Wait for me in the car."

Maria was stumped.

"Hurry up." He reached out his hands and urged.

Seeing him like that, she was flattered.

It gave her the feeling as if Liam was caring for her.

"Your key." He repeated.

Maria gave him the car key at last.

He got out of the car and talked to the person in charge. He also asked for their name card.

Soon, Maria saw her mother's car getting up into the towing truck and got towed away.

Liam then got back in the car and handed her the business card. "Take this. The car will be repaired here. They'll call me when it's done. I'll call you and fetch you there to get your car." Maria didn't expect he was actually offering to help her.

"You don't have to." She wanted to refuse him.

"It's fine," he said. "I'm quite free lately."

Her heart ached. He had nothing to do. It was very uncomfortable for her to hear it straight from him.

"You... Has your career been on hold like that?" She asked with concern.

"Yes." Liam smiled. "They said they wouldn't help me with my career anymore."

"They told you so directly?" she asked, feeling a little agitated.

Hearing her tone, Liam smiled and said, "They told me that."

"What if you terminate the contract then?" she asked.

"I can't afford to pay for that."

"How much is it?" Maria asked.

"One billion dollars."

Maria took a deep breath. One billion dollars. How many years would it take for a person to earn such a sum of money?

"They're obviously bullying you!" Maria said as she felt indignant, "How can they?!"

Liam just scoffed. "Are you feeling injustice for me?"

"Of course." She said, "Anyone would feel angry hearing that. Why don't you take it to court and get a lawyer to help you sue them for intentionally ruining your career?" "It's no use." Liam said again, "Don't worry about it.

Let's go. I'll buy you a meal."

"Huh?" Maria was a little surprised. "What did you say?"

"I'll buy you a meal." He said again.

"Wh-what for?"

"Maria, just take it as an apology and gratitude. Thank you for loving me, and sorry for not being able to love you back."

"Then, can we still be friends?" she asked.

"Sure, you are quite loyal. It'd be nice to have you as a friend. It's just that you'll suffer a grievance." He was still rather sincere. "Even so, are you still willing to be friends with me?"

"It doesn't matter. I don't feel that way." She smiled and said, "Where are we going to eat then?"

"You'll know when we get there," he said.

"Sure, I'll take you up on your offer then." Maria did not ask any more questions. She was shocked when the car drove into the underground garage of a luxurious condominium. "Where is this?"

"It's my place," he said.

Maria was gobsmacked. "You're taking me to your place for food?"

"I've made some food before I came out, but I got a call and left without taking a bite of it." He continued, "What's the matter? You do not dare to go to my house?"

Maria shook her head and joked, "Why would I be? It's my pleasure to be able to go to your house. You should be worried instead."

Liam fixed his eyes on her with a smile, "Let's go in then."

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