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She swiped at another tear, and Liam’s heart constricted. Of course her parents would be the culprits of her state. No wonder she’d avoided talking about them every time they’d come up in the last few days. She might wish to show that she was fine with their negligence, but clearly, she was left with understandably gaping wounds.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, not knowing what else to say. He had a slew of other comments he’d like to make about her parents, but that would hardly be helpful in this situation.

“I just don’t get it,” she whispered, her breath coming out in cold wisps of air. She focused her gaze on the window display, though her eyes looked a million miles away. “I must be just a giant pain to have them not even want to talk on the phone with me. Either that, or I’m just…forgettable.”

He instantly shook his head. “You are neither of those things, Claire.”

She turned to face him, the look of pleading in her broken eyes cutting him to his core. “Then why do people keep treating me like this? I’ve dealt with it my entire life, whether it was my parents, aunts, uncles, friends in school. Even Melody drops me the second she has a better offer. So what is it? What is so fundamentally wrong about me that makes everyone choose me last?”

Her rush of words stopped, her chin quivering before she looked away, as if only just then realizing how much she’d revealed.

A couple walked by, and Claire averted her gaze until they passed.

“Sorry,” she whispered up to him. “I didn’t mean to unload all of this on you. I just…” She stopped, swiping another tear away. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

Her voice broke at her last word, and so did Liam’s heart. He knew they’d promised to keep their distance from each other, but he couldn’t stop himself from comforting her any longer.

With slow movements, he released her hand and pulled her toward him, encircling his arms around her in a tight embrace. She melted into him, her arms wrapping around his waist and trembling as she released silent sobs into his chest.

How long her cries must have been pent up, Liam didn’t know. What he did know was that he would do whatever was in his power to ensure she never felt the need to cry so bitterly again.

* * *

Claire had never allowed herself to release such emotion in front of anyone—let alone a man she’d just met. But as Liam’s arms held fast around her, she lost complete control, allowing him to take away her burdens as she cried into his chest.

“There’s nothing wrong with you,” he whispered down to her, resting his cheek on the top of her head. “You’ve been wronged by people who should be there for you. But that is never, could never be, your fault.”

She wanted to believe his words, but years of evidence stacked up against them, making them nearly impossible to see beyond her grief.

And yet, as her tears eventually slowed, Liam’s mere presence soothing the sorrow in her soul, a calm wave unfolded over her heart.

Liam’s words, whether she believed them or not, had spoken peace to her suffering. But now that the storm had passed, she became keenly aware that she stood in the middle of a sidewalk in London, crying in the arms of an Englishman—whose culture was not typically known for appreciating public displays of emotion.

Gently, she pulled out of his embrace, the cold air circling around her instead of Liam’s warm, comforting arms.

“You alright?” he asked, concern still clouding his eyes.

She nodded, unable to meet his gaze for long. “I’m sorry for all of this. I usually can handle it, but today…I don’t know. It just got to me, I guess.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear, growing more anxious as his eyes focused all the more intently on her.

“We should find your mom and Melody,” she said, unable to handle the attention any longer. “They’re probably wondering where we are.”

She backed away, but Liam remained where he stood, merely shifting his footing to face her again. “Wait, I’d like to say something, if I may.”

She swallowed with a wary nod. Would he now tell her the real reason why no one wanted to be with her? Or would he beg of her to never lose control of her emotions like that again?

“I requested a part-time position for work today.”

Her brow rose. That was the last thing she’d expected him to say. “You did?”

He nodded. “I don’t know if they’ll honor the request, but if they do, I’ll finally have time to pursue my photography. Perhaps even make a living off of it.”

Her heart picked up at the mere notion of Liam’s happiness becoming a permanent fixture in his life. “I’m so happy for you,” she said with an earnest smile. “After so long, you deserve to do something you love.”

His gaze softened, taking on that nearly invisible smile as he stared down at her. “Do you know how I found the courage to finally send that email?”

She had an inkling, but she’d never be so prideful as to actually think she’d helped the man. “Asked the Wizard of Oz?”