And after she went inside, Bert’s hands clenched tightly in anger. He knew she couldn’t be as calm and indifferent as she appeared.
If she didn’t care, why would she ask to leave and go to Arica with him?
If she didn’t care, why would she personally make a birthday cake for Morrison?
If she weren’t truly hurt, who would leave their family, their ho, and everything familiar to go far away?
Her outward calm and indifference—it was only to prevent those who cared for her from worrying too much.
This side of her, so thoughtful and mature, made his heart ache.
anwhile, Morrison’s bar had descended into chaos.
Because both Morrison and Dave were people of so standing in Burg Eltz, the bar owner decided to clear out the other patrons to avoid unnecessary trouble.
The vast bar was left with only Morrison, Dave, the owner, and a few staff mbers.
The owner tried to step in and separate Dave, but Dave’s rage was too intense. He kept swinging at Morrison’s face and body. Only when a few of the stronger staff mbers intervened were they able to pull him away.
Dave, still panting heavily, grabbed a nearby bottle and took several large swigs before shouting,
"Morrison! I can’t believe I thought you were my friend!"
Morrison had been knocked to the ground by Dave. Normally, if he had resisted, it would have been a fair fight, but he barely defended himself, letting Dave vent his anger.
Now he was in a sorry state: bruised cheeks and mouth, clothes disheveled. Slowly, he pulled himself up, leaning on a table to steady himself.
Looking at the furious Dave, he said flatly,
"If you want to end our friendship, then end it."
Then he walked off, nonchalantly.
Dave, enraged, grabbed a bottle and smashed it on the floor.
"Morrison! Is this how you deal with things?"
Morrison paused for a mont but didn’t turn back.
He understood Dave’s anger, so he hadn’t resisted. If this outburst made Dave feel better, then so be it.
After all, he had truly hurt Lilian.
Even earlier, in her apartnt, after she left, he’d felt a gnawing pain in his heart, especially seeing all the preparations she’d made for his birthday.
She was amazing. Bright, cheerful, beautiful, and well-mannered.
It was his fault. He couldn’t bring himself to walk steadfastly with her.
And yet, despite having said the words "let’s break up" countless tis in his head, he still thought of her tearful, stubborn eyes—and found himself turning back to search for her.
When he reached the building’s entrance, she was nowhere in sight. Within monts, the entire neighborhood was searched, but she was gone. Her car, however, was still parked there.
He called her—hung up. Called again—turned off.
He had no idea where she was or what condition she was in.
But she had to be in a bad state; otherwise, Dave wouldn’t have co all the way back in the middle of the night to confront him.
Now everyone knew about them. Morrison hadn’t expected their relationship to beco public like this—through a breakup.
When they were together, no one knew. But after breaking up, everyone did.
How ironic.
As for Dave saying, "Is this how you handle things?"—yes, that was exactly his attitude: turn and walk away.
Because, at that mont, Morrison felt he had no face to face Dave.
Dave glared at Morrison’s retreating back, furious to the point his lungs felt ready to explode.
At that mont, Bert’s call ca through. Dave answered coldly,
"What?"
"Hospital?"
"Could it be... she’s pregnant?"
Dave’s voice shook, raised with shock.
Even Morrison, who had already walked several steps away, heard it. In disbelief, he turned around and stared at Dave, stunned.
Dave’s brow was tightly furrowed.
"I’m coming over imdiately."
Morrison snapped back to reality and hurried to intercept him.
"How is she now?" he asked, urgent, his voice trembling slightly with concern.
"Hospital... pregnant?"
Morrison was bewildered by what Dave had just said over the phone. He was sure he had heard the word "pregnant" clearly, and after the initial shock, an indescribable feeling stirred in his chest.
Dave’s gaze locked on Morrison, laced with venom. Through gritted teeth, he asked coldly,
"What does that have to do with you?"
Dave was already under imnse psychological pressure at the thought that Lilian might be pregnant. All he wanted was to tear Morrison apart.
Even though in today’s society, being unmarried and pregnant isn’t shaful, the thought still filled him with rage.
Being dumped or broken up with isn’t shaful in today’s society.
But if a girl were pregnant out of wedlock and dumped... that would open her up to relentless ridicule. Lilian’s reputation for the rest of her life could be ruined.
And knowing Lilian’s personality, if she did get pregnant, she’d most likely keep the child. That would make her a single mother—a young woman facing endless gossip and judgnt.
Morrison couldn’t help but roar in frustration,
"Of course it matters! If she’s pregnant, the child is mine!"
Dave sneered.
"Then let make this clear: if she really is pregnant, that child has nothing to do with you, Morrison. You won’t get to see it. And you’d better never appear in her life—or mine—again!"
He spoke each word like a dagger, then pushed past Morrison and left without looking back.
Morrison growled after him,
"Dave!"
He knew Dave’s thods: what he said was exactly what he would enforce.
Dave’s final words left Morrison panicked, desperate.
He didn’t even know exactly what he feared, what he despaired over.
The bar owner was also a longti friend of Morrison’s. Back when Morrison first started dating Lilian, he’d hosted her graduation party there. The owner had seen Lilian and knew their relationship.
Back then, the owner even jokingly told Morrison not to forget to invite him when he got married. And now, all he’d learned was that Morrison and Lilian had broken up.
After Dave left, the bar owner glanced at Morrison, who had been standing motionless all this ti. Morrison’s expression seed strangely desolate. By all logic, he had initiated the breakup—he should be the one most carefree—but why did he look like he was hurting too?
Before Dave arrived, the bar owner had asked Morrison why they broke up. Morrison honestly replied that he wasn’t sure he could walk with her to the end of their lives—that he feared marriage.
Before the owner could respond, Dave had shown up, and the chaos that followed had begun.
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