Love Rents A Room
Chapter 63: Remembering Wrong

Chapter 63: Remembering Wrong

Joanne’s breath caught in her throat. Her entire body froze. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

If Philip Winchester had named someone else—anyone else—would she have still accepted?

Of course, she would have. Wouldn’t she?

She had been drowning in debt, cornered with no way out. Her grandfather had just died, leaving her with nothing but creditors banging on her door. It was pure desperation that had driven her to agree to Philip’s terms. That was the truth, wasn’t it?

But if it had been some other man, another Winchester... would she have been able to go through with it?

The thought unsettled her.

Joanne swallowed hard. "What are you trying to say?" she asked, her voice quieter than before.

Liam didn’t look away. He was watching her carefully, like he was waiting for something.

"I’m just asking a question, Jo," he said evenly. "If it had been another name, would you have still agreed?"

Joanne let out a shaky breath. "I—"

The words tangled in her throat.

Why was she hesitating?

Joanne hated it. She hated that Liam had put this seed of doubt in her mind, that he had unearthed something she had locked away years ago.

The weight of the memory pressed down on Joanne like a stone sinking into deep water.

Sitting in that luxurious restaurant with a warm ambiance, she had been so close—so close—to throwing that glass of water on Philip Winchester’s face when he made that proposal. The sheer audacity of his proposal had set her blood boiling.

Marrying someone to pay off her debts? Like some tragic heroine in a melodrama?

She thought Philip was different and yet...

The insult had burned through her veins, scorching hot and furious. She had been ready to walk away, to tell the old man exactly where he could shove his money.

Until he said the name.

Jeffrey Winchester.

And just like that, all that fire, all that defiance, had flickered out. The storm raging inside her had stilled, like a breath of wind sweeping away dark clouds.

She didn’t even hesitate after that.

Because in her mind, she had already convinced herself of one thing—if Philip was asking, that meant Jeffrey had already agreed.

And if Jeffrey had agreed... Then maybe... just maybe... she wasn’t alone anymore.

The realization hit her now like a punch to the gut. It had never been just about the debt, had it?

Her fingers curled tightly against her sides.

Liam was right.

And she hated that.

Joanne opened her mouth, but before she could speak, Liam stepped closer.

"I don’t want your answer, Jo..." He patted her shoulder lightly, the touch brief, almost distant. "It’s just... once I knew you were marrying Jeffrey Winchester, I could move on. He was the Prince Charming you were waiting for. And when he didn’t come back with the shoe, you worked your ass off to stand as his equal." His voice remained even, casual, but his eyes held something deeper—something unreadable. "But now you’re back here..."

There was a pause, just long enough for the words to settle between them.

Liam had his suspicions about why the wedding had never happened. It couldn’t have been her fault. Not Joanne.

If he ever ran into that snobby redhead again, maybe he’d realign his jaw for him.

Maybe.

He shook the thought away.

She had returned the day after he proposed to Fiona. At the time, it had unsettled him. But with Fiona, he had finally understood what love was meant to be. What it felt like to be chosen, to be wanted in a way that didn’t feel desperate or doomed.

Holding on to Joanne had dragged them both down. Letting her go had been the right thing to do.

And look at her now.

She had changed after coming back, but maybe this was who she had always been. Joanne had always been a star, burning bright, refusing to be anything less than extraordinary.

A multi-millionaire entrepreneur. Fierce. Independent. Unstoppable.

She was everything he had once wished for her. And she did that all on her own. No one could share her glory. It was all her.

Joanne stared at him, expression unreadable.

He had moved on because he believed she had truly loved Jeffrey Winchester. That was the only way it had made sense.

But had she?

"Whatever it was like in the past, it’s over," she said, her voice quiet but firm. Then, after a pause, she added, "He’s the one person I hate now."

With a small shrug, she turned and walked away.

Liam’s brows knitted together.

Yeah. He was definitely going to realign that bastard’s jaw.

"You didn’t hear from him after that day?" Liam asked.

"Hear from him?" Joanne scoffed. "He didn’t even meet me once after he left town... Even when he was supposed to marry me..."

"Jo!" Liam stepped closer, his brows knitting together. "You didn’t even meet him once?"

Joanne shook her head, a humorless smile tugging at her lips. "I don’t even know what he looks like now. But I hate him. That, I know." She let out a sharp scoff, shaking her head as if the whole thing was absurd.

Liam let it go, though it only left him with more questions than answers. Clearing his throat, he shifted gears. "Call me anytime, Jo. If you need to fill more ponds to feel safe, know that I’m here. Don’t try to solve everything on your own."

"Okay." She nodded, but in her mind, the escaped lunatic loomed like a shadow. She wasn’t going to involve Liam. Not when he had a family to think about.

"Jo."

She felt his hands settle on her shoulders, firm but warm.

"Look at me," he said.

She lifted her gaze, meeting those piercing blue eyes. They were still beautiful—always had been—but the way they made her feel had changed. Whatever attraction had once pulled her toward him had faded, leaving only warmth and familiarity.

And then, as she stood there, something else settled within her.

Relief.

The guilt she had carried for so long, the weight of their breakup, the unspoken regret—after hearing him say he never blamed her, she felt it lift. She could breathe again.

As much as she hated to say it, Fiona was right. When she said ’We need closure’, she must have meant that they all needed closure.

Joanne was glad they had this talk. She smiled. A real, unburdened smile.

Liam’s lips curved too. This was all he had wanted—for her to be happy.

"I mean it, do you hear me?" His voice softened. "I still remember how you used to get sick every summer after that incident. Even after the pond was gone, like clockwork, you always fell sick, as if you were waiting for him to—"

"Liam!" Joanne shook his shoulders, cutting him off. "Why do you remember everything wrong?"

He blinked.

She frowned. What was he even talking about? She never got sick as a kid. It only started happening after she broke up with him.

Liam studied her, lips parting slightly.

Did she really forget?

But he let it go. "Are you in some kind of trouble?" His tone dropped. "It’s Sam again, isn’t it? You should have unloaded two bullets that day. One for each."

"Liam!" She punched his arm, making him grunt. "Don’t joke about that."

He sighed. Her temper hadn’t changed. But was she still blaming herself for what happened that night?

"Fine," he muttered, raising his hands in surrender. "Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?"

She hesitated.

"It’s... Caruso."

Liam’s expression darkened instantly.

"I was informed he escaped prison. They haven’t caught him yet."

"Escaped?" His voice was sharp.

Joanne nodded, forcing herself to stay calm. "He’s coming for me. I visited the tailor, but it seems like he has no idea about his nephew... I... I’m holding on."

Joanne leaned into his embrace. She needed this—the warmth, the quiet reassurance that she wasn’t alone. For a brief moment, she let herself sink into it, allowing the weight pressing on her chest to lighten just a little.

Then—

"Uh... guys..."

JD’s voice shattered the moment like a pebble breaking the surface of still water.

Joanne jolted back as if burned, her heart hammering in her chest. She turned sharply, and there stood JD.