Chapter 680

Vivian stared at his silent face.

The suspicion in her heart suddenly exploded.

Anger surged into her chest like molten lava.

No one could bear living under surveillance every minute of every day.

It was more suffocating than having one's freedom stripped away.

"You planted a tracker on me."

Her voice was cold as ice.

"From the very beginning, you've been monitoring all my movements, haven't you?"

She stepped closer, one step at a time.

"Liam Sullivan, what do you take me for? A prisoner? What right do you have to spy on me?"

Rage burned red in her eyes.

"You despicable, shameless bastard."

Liam's face instantly paled.

She had discovered it after all.

He hurriedly reached out to grab her.

"Vivian, let me explain."

His voice carried panic.

"When I first installed it, my intentions were indeed malicious."

He swallowed with difficulty.

"At that time, I doubted your identity and knew you were close to Zachary Hudson."

He didn't dare meet her eyes.

"I wanted to use it to eavesdrop on the Hudson family's secrets."

He paused.

"But later, when I fell in love with you, I never used it to invade your privacy again."

He grasped her hand urgently.

"Truly, I only used the location tracking when you were in danger."

His gaze was almost pleading.

"Please believe me."

Vivian let out a cold laugh.

"Believe you?"

She raised her wrist.

The silver bracelet gleamed coldly under the light.

"It's this thing, isn't it?"

Her voice was full of disgust.

"I could never take it off. So it was hiding such a filthy mechanism."

She pulled at it forcefully.

But the bracelet only tightened further.

Her fair skin was rubbed raw, leaving bloody marks.

Liam's heart ached as he pressed down on her hand.

"Stop that!"

His voice trembled.

"The more you pull, the tighter it gets. You'll hurt yourself."

"I'd rather be hurt!"

Vivian hissed.

"I'd rather my hand break than wear this disgusting thing!"

She glared at him fiercely.

"Wrapped around my wrist like a leech."

Her eyes reddened.

"Liam Sullivan, you say you love me."

Her voice shook.

"But you used this method to spy on me."

She spoke each word deliberately.

"Did you even treat me like a human being?"

Liam's face turned pale, then flushed.

His heart felt as if it were being squeezed tight.

He knew she wouldn't believe him anymore.

To her ears, all his explanations would sound like excuses.

But he truly hadn't used this bracelet to pry into her daily life.

Only when he was frantic with worry had he ever considered using the tracking.

He held her wrist.

His thumb gently brushed over the bloody marks.

"Vivian."

His voice was hoarse.

"Whether you believe me or not."

He gave a bitter smile.

"This time, I'm really not lying to you."

Vivian also smiled.

There wasn't a trace of warmth in her smile.

"What difference does it make, believing or not?"

She withdrew her hand.

"Even if I'm furious, what can I do?"

She turned away.

"Liam Sullivan, I can't fight you."

"I don't want to fight you."

Liam embraced her from behind.

His arms held her tightly.

"I just wanted to protect you."

He buried his face in her shoulder.

"If it weren't for this bracelet, I wouldn't have been able to save you this time."

His voice was muffled.

"So I don't regret it."

He tightened his arms.

"Even if you hate me, I don't regret it."

Vivian stiffened in his embrace.

"I don't need your protection."

Her voice was very soft.

"Take this thing off."

She lifted her wrist.

"I don't want to wear it anymore."

"Vivian..."

Liam's voice was almost begging.

He released her and walked to face her.

He cupped her face with both hands.

"Just this once."

His gaze was deep.

"Let me keep it."

His thumb stroked her cheek.

"At least let me know where you are."

His voice lowered.

"At least let me be able to reach you first when you're in danger."

Vivian turned her face away.

"This isn't protection."

Her voice was cold.

"This is control."

She pushed his hands away.

"Liam Sullivan, your love suffocates me."

Liam's hands froze in mid-air.

The light in his eyes dimmed bit by bit.

He knew she was right.

But he also knew he couldn't let go.

He was afraid of losing her.

So afraid that he would use any means necessary to keep her within his sight.

"If this is control."

He spoke slowly.

"Then I admit it."

He took her hand again.

Gently turning the bracelet once around her wrist.

"But I won't use it to hurt you."

His thumb brushed over her pulse.

"I swear."

Vivian looked into his eyes.

In those always deep, inscrutable eyes.

They were now filled with a vulnerability she had never seen before.

But the fire of anger in her heart didn't extinguish.

Instead, it burned even fiercer.

"How much is your oath worth?"

She pulled her hand back.

Turning, she walked toward the door.

"I'll sleep in the guest room tonight."

Her hand rested on the doorknob.

"Don't follow me."

Liam stood where he was.

Watching her disappear behind the door.

After a long time, he slowly crouched down.

Covering his face with both hands.

His shoulders trembled slightly.

He knew he was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

But if given another chance.

He would probably make the same choice.

Love to the extreme.

Takes on such an ugly form.

The guest room door closed softly.

Vivian slid down with her back against the door.

The bracelet on her wrist still felt hot.

Like an invisible shackle.

She clawed at it desperately.

Her nails broke in the crevice.

Beads of blood seeped out.

But the bracelet didn't budge.

She finally gave up.

Burying her face in her knees.

Tears fell silently.

So-called love.

Was nothing but an elaborately woven cage.

And she had never been the free one.