He Broke My Hand… and Us

Liam, my boyfriend, deliberately locked me on the rooftop the day before my piano competition finals, just so his childhood friend could win. He stared at me intently, his voice low: You'll have plenty of other opportunities later. What's the big deal about letting her have this one?

Later, to secure his childhood friend a spot in the orchestra, he even shattered my fingers with his own hands. I angrily confronted him, demanding to know why, when we were the couple. He replied: "Willow, Eloise's mother saved my life back then. I have to fulfill this wish for her." But what he didn't know was that, without my hands, I was as good as dead.

When I decided I no longer loved him, he smashed his own hand, begging for my forgiveness.

"Please, Liam, please don't hurt my hands!" I pleaded, tears streaming down my face, twisting and struggling, shaking my head desperately. In this moment, I had no dignity, begging Liam to spare me. All because tomorrow was the day for orchestra auditions. If I performed exceptionally, I wouldn't only secure a spot in a renowned orchestra, but Id also have the chance to become a student of the legendary piano master, Mr. Fletcher.

For tomorrow's performance, I had tirelessly practiced in the music room, all to seize this once-in-four-years opportunity. Because this wasn't just my dream; it was also the heartfelt wish my late mother had entrusted to me. With the long-awaited opportunity finally within reach tomorrow, my boyfriend, Liam, was paving the way for his childhood friend, Eloise Clark.

Right now, he was using two bodyguards to hold me down, intending to smash my hands. All to ensure I couldn't participate in tomorrow's orchestra selection, thus allowing his childhood friend to win the competition. I knew Liam was biased, but I never imagined he would be this biased.

Liam clearly heard my pleas, yet he still approached me step by step, a dark expression on his face, holding a stool. He stared at me intently, his voice low: "I'm sorry, Willow. You're a genius, everything has come easily to you, so you don't understand how difficult Eloise's path has been. You'll have plenty of other opportunities later. Just let her have this one, alright?"

Just because Eloise's path was difficult, did that mean mine wasn't? I stared at him in disbelief, my heart filled with anguish: "So, for her, you're going to smash my hands?!"

"Do you remember? You once said you'd protect me and cherish me for life. But now, for Eloise Clark, you're doing this to me."

Hearing my words, Liam's body stiffened, his expression visibly wavering. I noticed his hesitation and felt a flicker of hope, quickly continuing: "Liam, for the sake of all these years we've been together, please let me go. Playing the piano has always been my dream too."

The next second, Liam's phone rang. I caught a glimpse of "Eloise" on the screen, and my heart sank. Liam put it on speaker, and Eloises pitiful voice clearly reached my ears. "Liam, I get so nervous thinking about tomorrow's performance, what should I do?"

"I know I've always been no match for Willow all these years, but entering the orchestra is my dream, and it's also my mother's dream. I"

Hearing Eloise's voice, a trace of heartache involuntarily flashed in Liam's eyes. He lowered his voice, gently comforting her: "Don't worry, I'll take care of it for you."

I stared at him, my unease intensifying. With that, Liam hung up. His gaze returned to me, cold once more. "I'm sorry, Willow. Eloises mother saved my life back then, so I have to fulfill this wish for her."

"Don't worry, I'll compensate you."

I was so terrified my voice trembled: "Liam, you you can't do this to me!"

But Liam had already raised the stool in his hand, and meeting my terrified gaze, he brought it down heavily.

"Ah!" Ten fingers, ten pains. The searing agony made me unleash a desperate scream. My fingers were instantly a bloody, mangled mess.

I stared blankly at my hands. The physical pain, however, was far less than the emotional torment. Ruined Everything was ruined My hands, and my mothers dream, all vanished with Liams single blow. Large tears streamed down my cheeks.

At this, Liam rushed forward and embraced me. I leaned quietly against his broad, warm chest, but the voice above my head was chilling: "Im sorry, Willow, just forgive me this once."

"I know this isn't fair to you. But Eloise's mother died saving me. Once she successfully joins the orchestra, I'll have repaid my debt."

"Repaid your debt?" I repeated bitterly. "Liam, so your way of repaying Eloise Clark's debt is to hurt me."

I pushed him away with all my might, holding up my blood-soaked hands, a flicker of hatred in my eyes: "Do you know how long I've worked tirelessly for tomorrow's opportunity?"

Perhaps startled by the hatred in my eyes, Liam's face actually showed a hint of guilt. But quickly, he became impatient again, his voice cold: "Enough, what are you still making a fuss about? This has always been Eloises dream, and her mothers dying wish."

In that moment, I finally, completely gave up on this callous and ungrateful man. I sneered: "How dare you destroy me for her dream?"

Liam spoke indifferently: "It's alright, Willow. I know you're upset. Don't worry, I'll compensate you well. Once Eloise is in the orchestra, I'll bring you into the Thorne family, ensuring you'll be well-provided for for the rest of your life."

Hearing those words, my stomach churned with disgust. I took a deep breath, speaking each word distinctly: "Alright, then let me tell you, I don't need your so-called compensation. From now on, I'm breaking up with you."

"Are you serious?" Liam's face suddenly changed, and he said darkly: "I don't agree." He frowned, glaring at me, almost gritting his teeth: "Willow, I'll let this slide this time. If you dare to say that again, I really will break up with you."

With that, Liam no longer looked at me, turning angrily and walking away. I watched his retreating back, helplessly collapsing onto the cold floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Liam and I met in college. He pulled me out of the way when I was lost in thought crossing the street, saving me from being hit by a car. I looked up, still shaken, and met a handsome, aloof face. It was because of his life-saving grace that I fell uncontrollably in love with him. With my fervent pursuit, Liam agreed to be with me.

But as our relationship progressed, I gradually discovered that in Liams heart, there seemed to be someone more important than me. That was Eloise Clark, his childhood friend, who had grown up with him. Each time Eloise made a call, Liam would rush to her side without a second thought. He even, for Eloise, tricked me onto the rooftop and locked me in, the day before a major piano competition final. And so, I was locked on the rooftop for an entire night, not only missing the competition the next day but also developing a fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Eloise, meanwhile, smoothly won first place.

Afterward, Liam lightly explained that he did it only to repay a debt. Eloise came from a single-parent family; her mother was the Thorne familys housekeeper. She had lived with her mother at the Thorne estate since childhood. During a large fire, Eloise's mother had already escaped, but she returned to the burning building to save Liam. Ultimately, Liam was rescued safely, but Eloise's mother suffered severe burns and passed away in the hospital not long after. Out of this gratitude, the Thorne family raised Eloise almost as their own daughter. They cherished her, sympathized with her. And whenever Eloise had a request, Liam would fulfill it.

Just like now, to prevent me, Eloise's most formidable competitor, from appearing in tomorrow's audition, Liam ruthlessly shattered my fingers. But why should his debt to Eloise be repaid with my hands, with my dreams? Whenever I questioned his relationship with Eloise, Liam would furiously tell me that he only saw Eloise as a sister. He told me not to overthink things.

Before, for Liam's life-saving grace and the admiration in my heart, I had chosen to forgive him again and again. But now, looking at my bloody, horrific hands, I cried and laughed, laughed and cried.

At six years old, my father had an affair and abandoned my mother and me. My mother was devastated, driven to self-harm by his departure. Her profound depression, coupled with the scars on her hands, once made her abandon her dream of playing the piano. Until one day, my despondent mother heard me playing a song at the piano and her eyes lit up. She began to pick herself up, working tirelessly to earn money. She personally taught me piano and hired renowned teachers for me, sending me to various competitions. My mother delivered food, washed dishes, and single-handedly raised me with great difficulty. Perhaps because she suffered so much to raise me, my mother died prematurely of cancer during my college years. On her deathbed, she held my hand and told me her dying wish. It was for me to continue to pursue piano, to join an orchestra, and to become a student of the great Mr. Fletcher.

But now, because I fell in love with Liam, I missed the competition, my hands were ruined, and perhaps I would never be able to play the piano again. I used to not understand why my mother was so despondent and even self-harmed because of my father's departure. So, Mother, is this the price of loving someone? Then this time, I truly don't dare to love again