The World I Left for You

Six years after I allegedly crossed into this world, Liam Locke slid a ring onto my middle finger and suddenly tightened his grip on my hand. "Keira, the whole parallel world story isn't real." He lowered his voice. "It was just an excuse so I could be with two people at once." I went still. He even winked at me, like this was all in good fun. "I never had a childhood sweetheart. Demi's the woman I cheated with. "The day you showed up at the hotel, I made that story up on the spot. You believed it. You actually thought you were the one who didn't belong here and waited for me for six years." My chest clenched tight as I stared at his face in shock. "Then why are you proposing now?" "Call it mercy. We've been together almost eight years." He smiled. "Once Demi goes overseas to study, I'll give you your old life back. What do you say?" I looked at the girl in the distance, the one who had spent the past six years living openly as Liam's real girlfriend. A heavy exhaustion settled over me. He didn't know this, but I had actually come from another world. A world without him. Chapter 1 I felt as if the blood in my body had frozen solid. I looked around the private room. Everyone was watching me, waiting for me to say yes. And yet, those familiar faces suddenly made my skin crawl. "What about them?" My breath caught. "Are they all actors you hired?" "Yes." Liam Locke didn't hesitate. "I renewed their contracts for six years. They've been playing as your new friends." The truth hit like a lightning strike. Just last night, I had been too excited to sleep, thinking I was finally going to become his fiancée. And now, he was telling me none of it had ever been real. I looked at him, at his calm, almost amused expression. Something dull seemed to be cutting into my chest. Six years ago, I came to this city on a business trip and saw Liam walking into a hotel with another woman. I followed them. When I burst into the room, he looked at me like I was a stranger and said he didn't know me. Even when I pulled up photos of us on my phone, he only looked confused. "How's that possible? My girlfriend is Demi." He wrapped an arm around the woman beside him, his expression guarded. "But you have so many photos with me. Could it be…you came from a parallel world?" I tried to call my parents to confirm, but my phone died at that exact moment. Looking at how serious he seemed, I took less than two minutes to accept something that absurd. To stay with him, I agreed to become the second choice. "Keira, I managed to connect with the version of me from your world. He asked me to take care of you." Liam held my hand and sighed. "But Demi and I grew up together. I promised her I wouldn't leave unless she chose to walk away first." Looking into his reddened eyes, I thought of the person I had left behind in my original world, and my heart softened. "I understand. I guess love comes down to who was there first." It hurt more than I could say, but I couldn't bear losing him, too. So I compromised. "I'll wait. I'll wait until she decides to leave." Liam brought me to a new city, which I lived in for six years. He went through my contact list one by one, calling numbers, pointing at strangers, telling me they were my friends. I told myself that in a parallel world, it made sense for faces not to match. I forced myself to adjust and accept it. But now I knew. They were all actors. "I bought you a new phone and changed all your contacts except your parents'." His quiet laugh pulled me back to the present. "You're forgetful. I took a bit of a gamble, but I didn't think you'd fall for it this easily. Guess you really do love me." I couldn't speak. I wanted to tell him the only reason I believed in parallel worlds was that I had actually come from one. Back in my sophomore year, on my way to meet my first love, I crossed over without warning. My parents were still the same, and my friends were replaced by people with the same names. But the person I loved was gone. When I was losing my mind trying to find him, Liam appeared. Liam stayed with me for two years while I searched. In the end, I accepted reality and agreed to be with him. But just as we were about to get engaged, everything came full circle. "Why?" My fingers twisted in my clothes, my voice shaking. "Why go through all this just to lie to me?" "Because I love you." Liam pulled me into his arms, his chin resting against my shoulder, his voice low. "But Demi's way too good in bed. I can't give her up, either. Everyone has someone they can't forget, someone they can't let go of. You're no different, right?" I froze, then shoved him away. The hint of cruelty in his smile made my chest turn cold. "If you were going to lie, you should've lied for the rest of my life. Why tell me now?" "Because your parents just died." I froze. My parents were long gone. Wait, no. That had been part of Liam's lie to make me believe I was in another world. If I never crossed over a second time, then my parents should… "They looked for you for six years. They never gave up." He rubbed his forehead and let out a tired laugh. "Last week, they heard about an unidentified body in a small southern town, so they took a boat to check it out. There was an accident." A loud ringing filled my ears. I stared at him, unable to process what he was saying. "The police have already found you." Liam looked completely unconcerned. "If it's going to come out anyway, I figured I'd tell you first. I'm the only one you have left now. Why not stay with me and make this work?" I looked at the ring in his hand. Suddenly, I thought of the one my first love had bought me after graduation. It was silver, worth almost nothing. I missed him. I wanted to go back, to the world where my parents were still alive, where he was. Chapter 2 I had no idea how I made it out of that private room. What I did remember was the gravestone. The tombstone was engraved with the names of my parents. My legs gave out. I slid down against the stone, clutching it the way I used to cling to my parents' shoulders when I cried as a kid. I let Liam lie to me for six years while they searched for me and came up empty. I didn't even get to see them one last time. After crying for a long time, I pushed myself up and walked away. By the time I got home, it was already evening. The living room was packed. The engagement party they had planned for us was still going on. I walked in late, and just like that, I became the punchline. "Well, look who finally showed up. The bride-to-be." Demi Hale raised an eyebrow and swung her leg across Liam's lap. He didn't move it. He just looked straight at me. "Don't say that. She hasn't said yes yet." He gave a faint smile. "There's no guest of honor tonight. Everyone, just relax and enjoy yourselves." Glasses clinked. Laughter filled the room. I didn't react the way I used to. I didn't rush over to pull her off him. I didn't pretend I saw nothing and leave. I hung my coat up and said, calm and flat, "I'm going to bed." Liam shot to his feet and grabbed my wrist, pulling me back down. Demi was already holding out a glass. "Let's play a game of truth," she said with a bright smile. She set an empty bottle on its side and gave it a spin. "Whoever it lands on has to answer a question." Everyone jumped in immediately. Liam didn't give me a chance to refuse. The bottle spun, slowed, and then stopped in front of someone. Demi spoke first. "During these six years you've been under contract with Liam, what stands out the most?" "Oh, I've got one." The guy grinned and pointed at me. "Two years ago, their anniversary. She caught Liam with you that night, right? She just stood there with red eyes, then ran out. I still remember her face." I froze. My throat tightened. That was our sixth anniversary. I had reminded Liam ahead of time. I cooked a full dinner and waited until after midnight, and then I saw Demi's post. When I rushed to the bar, Liam looked like it had just hit him. "Sorry, Keira. I forgot." He smacked his forehead, playing it off. "But it's Demi's birthday today. I've been celebrating it with her for years…" The message was obvious. I didn't belong, so I had no right to be jealous. I could only wait my turn. Under the low laughter around me, I walked out, eyes burning. "Your turn, Demi." The voice pulled me back. The bottle had landed in front of her. "Here's my question," the same guy said, leaning forward. "What's it like going from the other woman to the real one? Fun?" "Of course." Demi smiled and looped her arms around Liam's neck. "Knowing he bought me a place here and gave me the master bedroom that used to be hers… That feels pretty great. And I've been using all the luxury stuff at her place in Josselville for six years, and even her man. She didn't even dare say a word. Imagine how that feels." My breathing hitched. I looked at Liam without thinking. He stayed completely at ease, as though none of it mattered. He reached out and casually rubbed the sole of Demi's foot. "Alright. Keep it going." She got the hint and stopped. This time, the bottle pointed at me. Liam lifted his eyes slowly. "Keira, is there anyone in your heart besides me?" He watched me closely. There was a faint redness in his eyes. I smiled. "If you have someone else in yours, then yes. If you don't, then no." "That doesn't count," Demi cut in with a laugh. "Answer properly or finish the bottle." I didn't hesitate. I picked up the bottle in front of me and drank, swallowing until my throat burned. Liam tried to stop me, but he was too late. By the time I finished, my stomach had already turned. His expression darkened. "You have stomach problems. What are you doing?" "Again." I ignored him and spun the bottle. It stopped in front of Liam. I spoke before Demi could. "If one day I disappear from your life, what would you do?" He froze. His lips moved, but no sound came out at first. A flicker of unease crossed his face. He grabbed his drink and took two quick swallows before answering. "I'd go abroad with Demi and start over. Forget you completely." I met his eyes and said nothing. Then I stood up, walked into the bathroom, and climbed out through the window. I made my way to that street corner, the place where everything had started. I tossed my phone into a dark corner. Then I looked up at the moon and raised my hand, forming a small circle with my fingers. "Send me back." Chapter 3 Something went wrong with the transfer. I got stuck between the two worlds. A voice echoed in my head, calm and mechanical. It said the passage had malfunctioned, and I needed to wait 24 to 48 hours. During that time, I could move freely in this world, but no one would be able to see me. So, I drifted back through the window and into the living room. Liam frowned and checked his watch. "How long has she been in the bathroom?" "About ten minutes." Demi popped a popcorn in her mouth without even looking up. "She’s probably in there crying." He didn’t answer. He walked straight to the bathroom and knocked twice. "Keira, is your stomach bothering you again?" Seeing there was no response, he knocked harder. "Cut it out. I’ll take you to the hospital." Still nothing. His patience ran out. His face darkened, and he kicked the door open. The bathroom was empty. He froze for a second, then turned and headed upstairs, pushing open the bedroom door. "Keira, we still have guests. If you wanted to go to bed, you could’ve said something." He flipped on the light. The only answer was the wind coming through the window. Liam's breathing turned uneven. He moved quickly, checking the closet, then the upstairs bathroom. He went through the entire house, even the storage room. Nothing. I was nowhere. "Liam, what are you even looking for?" Demi leaned against the staircase, her voice lazy. He ignored her. He went back downstairs and looked around the living room. "Did anyone see Keira come out?" People glanced at each other and shook their heads. If I had left, I would’ve had to pass through the living room. There was no way I could’ve slipped past everyone without being seen. Liam swallowed. A thin layer of sweat formed on his forehead. Then, someone shouted from the bathroom. "Liam, there are footprints by the window!" He rushed over. "She climbed out?" He frowned and pulled out his phone, dialing my number, but no one answered. Again. And again. Each time, he waited through the ringing until it cut off. Standing in front of the window, his fingers slowly curled into fists, his jaw tight. "Keira, don’t pull this disappearing act on me." His voice was low, edged with irritation. "If you don’t come back, I’ll get engaged to Demi next month. You can keep playing the other woman." I hovered by the window, looking at his flushed face. It felt almost absurd. He thought I still cared. Thought I would keep giving in, the way I always had. What he didn’t know was that the moment I saw my parents’ gravestone, whatever was left of my feelings for him was already gone. All I wanted now was to go back to my original world. Back to my parents. Back to my first love. - That night, Liam sent everyone away. He locked himself in the bedroom and kept trying to reach me, over and over. Demi knocked on the door, trying to comfort him, but for the first time, he pushed her away. "Don’t touch me. Stay in your room." The door slammed shut, leaving her standing there in a thin nightgown, stunned. Liam fell asleep at some point. At the crack of dawn, the sound of his phone ringing woke him. He answered immediately. A man’s voice came through. "I found a phone at the street corner. No passcode. There are hundreds of missed calls on it. There’s also a message that wasn’t sent, addressed to Liam." Liam rushed out in his sleepwear. It took him less than five minutes to reach the corner. He grabbed the phone from the man and read the message I had left him. His hands started to shake. "That’s impossible…" His eyes turned red as he grabbed the man by the collar. "Tell me! Where did you hide her?" The man struggled, terrified. "I just found a phone. Are you out of your mind?" "You set this up with her, didn’t you? Tell me where she is, and I’ll pay you!" "You’re crazy!" The man shoved him away and ran. Liam staggered and dropped to the ground. Demi, who had followed him here, stepped forward to help him, but he shoved her off. "I was just joking with you…" he muttered. "Did you really have to disappear like this? So what, you’re the only one allowed to have someone else in your heart?" I froze. What did he mean by that? "I spent two years helping you look for him." His eyes were bloodshot. "You must’ve loved him a lot. Enough to turn the whole city upside down." I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. So he had cared. He just never said it. "Liam… Do you think she went to find him again?" Demi asked carefully. Before she could finish, he slapped her across the face. "Shut up!" He looked at her, his eyes cold. "You were just someone I used to get a reaction out of Keira. Don’t start thinking you’re anything more!" Demi covered her face, not daring to speak. As I looked at her, I felt something close to pity. At that moment, Liam suddenly looked up. His eyes caught a flash of red in the branches of a tree. Ten minutes later, he stormed into the traffic police office, demanding to see the surveillance footage from the street corner where I had disappeared. "Who are you?" the officer on duty asked. "You need authorization to access that." Liam braced both hands on the counter. His voice shook. "My fiancée is missing. She disappeared at that intersection last night. I can’t find her anywhere." "Then go file a report at the police station. Why are you here…" Before he could finish, Liam grabbed his arm. He bent down slightly, looking like he might collapse. I had never seen him like this. Even when his business was at its worst, he had never looked shaken. "Please…" His voice was hoarse, barely audible. "Please. Just let me see it." The officer hesitated, then sighed. "Just this once." The screen lit up. The footage loaded. The timeline moved forward and stopped at 11 p.m. On the screen, I appeared at the corner. Liam stared, his breathing uneven. What happened next made every drop of blood in his body run cold.