30 Tell Me Why

"Why are you getting mad at me now?" Liam stopped the car. "I am saying that I get you." he tried to hold her hand but she didn't let him. But he continued in a soft voice clutching the steering wheel.

"She never listened to you and called you names. Now you have a chance to get back at her! Otherwise why else would you want to tell your dying grandmother about our divorce which would obviously hurt her? Cherry, I get it-"

"Shut the fu-" Rory gritted her teeth and took in a deep breath. She wanted to mind her words considering there is a baby in the back seat. "Just stop talking, Liam," she rubbed her forehead.

Liam noticed her eyes ending up at the back and realized that she doesn't want to fight in front of the baby. But he didn't understand what he did wrong.

Why else would she insist on telling her grandmother about the divorce? She could let that old woman die peacefully without her knowing about their divorce, right?

Rory got out of the car and walked to the side of the road. She took deep breaths to compose herself, but she couldn't. The entire day was taxing for her. One moment she was happy, the next moment her happiness gets trampled.

Going through a rollercoaster of emotions in a single day... It was no one else's fault but her own.

What hurt her the most are the words she heard just now from Liam's mouth. She never thought of hurting her grandmother. But for him to say that as if he was sure that she is someone who thinks of hurting a dying old lady…

It broke her!

He should know me at least a little, right? Is that what he thinks of me? When did I ever give the impression that I am someone who wants my family hurt?

Her stomach churned as she leaned on the fence post. In the distance, there were cows grazing and the fresh air was scented with grass and blooming wildflowers… the scent that she got used to as she grew up…

But she felt lost!

"Cherry, are you okay?"

His voice coming from behind her made her cringe. The tears that were hanging on the brim of her eyelids got back in. She didn't want to hear more of his voice. She feared what more she would hear from him. She didn't have the guts.

"Please don't say one more word, Fitzwilliam… Please…And please open the trunk for me."

She turned and walked back to the car. After getting the diaper bag, she got to the back seat to get the carrycot.

"What are you doing?" Liam asked gritting his teeth. He pushed her to the side and closed the door before she could get to the baby. "We are in the middle of nowhere. Just get back in the car, Aurora! We can fight later."

They are five miles from their home and it is not the city to get a cab wherever they want to. Just a mile further there would only be a dirt road. It is turning dark and soon it would be pitch black out there with bobcats and coyotes roaming free. And she does not have any weapon with her.

She knows it would be dangerous! He didn't understand what she is thinking of doing with a baby in hand.

"No! I don't need you," Rory pushed him away and tried to open the back door. Liam held her wrist to stop her.

"Are you f*cking crazy?"

Rory gritted her teeth and tried to get her hand free, but she couldn't.

"I am crazy. There… I said it. Now, let go!" she twisted her arms to set herself free.

But it did nothing to Liam's grip. He let out a long sigh and without saying anything, he pulled her to the front passenger seat. Rory, unable to even move on her own, got livid. Her disappointment she tried to hide burst out as anger.

"Let go!" she tried to take a bite of his arm. "Let go of this murderer!"

"What the…" Liam pushed her to the car and pinned her hands above her head. "What murderer?" he furrowed his brows.

Rory struggled to get out of his hold. He was looming over her. He then bent to reach her eye level and his lips were trembling out of anger. Although his menacing glare should frighten her, she was not scared.

This is not the first time she is seeing him angry.

"You said I am trying to kill my grandma," she turned her face. His hold on her hands tightened and she scoffed as she couldn't bear the pain. She felt the fringes of his hair on her hair but she didn't look at him. His breaths displaced a bunch of her hair and it fell in her eyes.

"When did I say that?"

His deep voice filled with anger didn't make her react. She closed her eyes as her hair irritated her eyes. She tried to blow her hair out of her eyes but she couldn't. Her eyes watered out of irritation.

"Idiot," Liam mumbled before fixing her hair. His middle finger gently caressed her forehead slowly getting the bunch of hair out of her eyes. She opened her eyes and her eyes met with his.

He didn't look angry anymore. Slightly biting his lower lip, he wiped the tears out of her eyes with his thumb finger.

"I did not mean it that way, idiot," he said and let out a deep breath. "Why would I ever blame-"

"Then what else did you mean?" Rory raised her voice. She would go silent if he gets angry but since he is not, she showed her anger. "You said that I planned to hurt my grandmother. Is this how you think of me? I am someone who would hurt my family in your eyes?" she asked.

Liam let go of her hands and took a step back. He let out a sigh. Looking at the ground, he appeared to be lost for words.

Rory started to think. She didn't think that way, but it certainly could be interpreted that way. She didn't even think that her divorce would hurt her grandmother. She thought her grandmother would blame her and throw her out. But she didn't think that her grandmother would do that because of her hurt. If she is not hurt, she would ignore it. If she would react to it, then it means she cares, right?

But still… how could he think of me this way? I am stupid but I am not someone who would deliberately hurt my family! He should know that.

His lack of answer made Rory's sadness return tenfold. "Who thinks that way about their family, Fizzy? Will you?" She asked.

Liam truly was lost for words. He couldn't believe he had hurt her. He wanted to know why she wanted to tell the truth to her grandmother. But he didn't think he would hurt her.

Yeah, she wouldn't deliberately hurt her family whether she likes them or not! She is very loyal to her family.

"Oh…" Rory chuckled as she realized something. Liam looked at her wondering what she is going to say.

"But you will, won't you, Fizzy?" she poked her finger on his chest. "You will say anything to hurt the one you don't like… how can I…" she scoffed and her eyes filled with tears. "How could I forget?" her voice shook.

Liam could not bear her crying. He reached his hands to hold her shoulders. "What do you-"

"Don't touch me!" she slapped his hands away. "That day…" she pointed her finger at him. She gulped to swallow the lump in her throat and continued not minding her shaking finger.

"You said the baby wasn't yours… Why, Fizzy? Why do you hate me that much?" she asked tears rolling down her cheeks.

Liam's eyes widened and he staggered a couple of steps backward. "What?" he asked.

"You forgot already?" Rory scoffed. Her lips trembled and the tip of her nose and her cheeks turned red. "The day Ellie was born… You shouted that she was not yours for me to hear. Why? Tell me!" she shouted and let out the grievance she kept in her heart for months.