Love Rents A Room
Chapter 61: Her Cruelty

Chapter 61: Her Cruelty

Liam tried to walk away, but Joanne stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"I need to know, Liam."

Her voice wavered, and her eyes grew glassy. Damn it. That was the biggest shame of her life. Fiona bringing it up had ripped open old wounds she thought had scarred over. Now, she needed the truth.

Liam exhaled sharply, stepping back. "Why didn’t you marry him? What happened?"

Joanne knew that look—he was trying to stare her down, trying to pull the answer out of her with sheer willpower. But she had a technique of her own. Tears. He never could stand her tears.

She took a slow breath, steadying herself. "It didn’t happen. It’s never going to happen. I’m never getting anywhere near the Winchesters again. Does that answer your question?"

Liam studied her, his expression unreadable. "Never going to happen?" His brows knit together. "What did he do?"

Joanne hugged herself, rubbing her arms in a soothing motion. She clicked her tongue, wetting her lips. Then, she shook her head.

"I can’t tell you."

Liam’s jaw tensed. It wasn’t can’t. It was won’t.

"So... this is where we’re at," he muttered.

Joanne forced a smile, though it didn’t reach her eyes. "You don’t have to feel bad for me. I’m doing fine now. Don’t waste your concern on someone like me."

She watched him carefully. Fiona had told her Liam never believed the lie—that she’d cheated on him. She needed to know if that was true.

Liam scoffed. His face darkened, his cheeks burning red, followed by his ears and the tip of his nose. Oh, she’s made him mad.

"Did you even see me at your grandfather’s funeral?"

Joanne stilled.

Liam’s voice lowered, rough with barely contained emotion.

"I watched you do everything. Arranging the funeral. Talking to the debt collectors. And the life insurance company? They gave you hell, didn’t they?" His hands curled into fists. "All that money Papaw was supposed to leave you, and they barely gave you a third. But the debt? That fell entirely on your head."

Joanne swallowed hard.

Back then, she wanted to rush to him, bury herself in his chest, and forget everything. But that wasn’t an option, not then, not anymore.

Instead, she whispered, "You had a girlfriend, Liam."

She didn’t tell him the rest. That Fiona had come to her and warned her not to use the tragedy to crawl back to Liam.

Joanne hadn’t blamed her then, and she didn’t now. Fiona was justified. She needed to mark her territory. Liam was not hers.

Liam’s throat bobbed. His anger shifted into something else—guilt. But only for a moment.

"So what?" he asked, voice tight. "You stood there and took all those cruel words. You let them bury you in debt. And you couldn’t ask me for help?"

Joanne turned away.

"What was it? Ten million? Twelve?" Liam pressed. "I would’ve signed whatever you needed. I would have sold everything I had. Did you think I’ll lose it all? I came from nothing and you made me something. I would have risen, you by my side... I would’ve stood by your side...You didn’t have to go to him for money!"

Joanne’s heart clenched.

"And drown you in debt? To drag you down with me when you had just seen prosperity for the first time in your life?" she asked, voice raw. "Why? Why would I do that to you, Liam? Why should you take on all that for someone who broke your heart?"

He stared at her, chest rising and falling with unspoken words.

Because he would have, she realized. Because no matter what had happened, he still would have.

Liam scoffed, shaking his head. "This is your problem, Jo. And I can’t even blame you for it."

Joanne frowned. "What do you mean?"

"You have no problem giving, but you can’t accept anything in return."

Joanne looked away. Maybe that was true.

Liam let out a bitter laugh. "You gave me everything, Jo! Even the blood running through my veins is because of you! If you hadn’t fed me, I would’ve been dead a long time ago. If you hadn’t been there—if you hadn’t cared—I would’ve overdosed, just like my mother did."

Joanne’s breath hitched.

"I grew up with meth lying around the house, Jo. She left it everywhere. Do you think I ever had a chance to turn out decent?" His voice wavered with restrained fury. "You know what happened to Nick. And Hank. And Bernie. And Vic. And—" He cut himself off, swallowing hard.

"I should’ve been in a grave by now," he continued. "But you... You saved me. You taught me discipline. You kept me alive. If not for you, I would’ve been a dealer or worse. That was the path laid out for me the moment my father walked out and my mother picked up a needle.

"And in the end?" His voice dropped to a whisper, filled with something close to heartbreak. "You wouldn’t even let me stand by your side when you needed me the most. Aren’t you the cruel one here?"

Joanne shook her head furiously. "I did nothing of the sort. I’m not some angel you’re painting me as. I—"

"Shut up, Jo."

Liam slammed his hand against the wall, the sound echoing through the garage. Joanne flinched.

"I know you lied." His voice broke. "I know you didn’t cheat on me."

Joanne inhaled sharply.

"I wanted to run away," he admitted. "Leave everything behind. But... I couldn’t." His jaw clenched, his hands fisting at his sides. "I still don’t know why you lied. But I wasn’t going to throw away everything you helped me build. That’s why I stayed. Why I bled and sweat and built my damn business from the ground up."

Joanne let out a slow, shaky breath.

This man—who had never once let himself be vulnerable—was laying himself bare in front of her. The least she could do was tell him the truth.

Her vision blurred.

"You still believe me?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.

Liam turned away, jaw tight.

She took that as a yes.

"You’re right," she admitted. "I didn’t cheat on you."

Liam’s body went rigid.

"I just..." Joanne exhaled heavily. "When you proposed, I didn’t know what I wanted. I didn’t want to come back to this town, and... I didn’t know how I could be of use to you."

Liam scoffed. "Of use to me?"

Only then did Joanne realize what she had said.

Was that what she had reduced marriage to? A transaction? A partnership measured by usefulness?

She sounded stupid. And cruel.

"I—I’m sorry." She turned her face away, but the tears still came, hot and unstoppable. "I’m so sorry, Liam. I’m sorry..."

She was sorry for feeling that way.

Sorry for thinking she wasn’t enough.

Sorry for hurting the one person who had never abandoned her.

Liam sighed, running a hand down his face. "Don’t cry." His voice was softer now, but still tinged with frustration. "You still don’t understand why you refused me, do you?"

Joanne looked up at him, tears streaking down her cheeks.