I feel so bad for Ruth, she's literally sobbing in Arthur’s arms. Mrs and Mr Payne pat her back and try to calm her down whilst Nicola seems about to burst out crying, too. I take a look at Liam and he doesn't even seem affected, he just keeps drinking as if everything were fine. I feel this urge to smack him and force him to apologise to his sister because no matter how angry he was at me or hurt because his sister couldn't change the date for him, that doesn't give him reason enough to do this to his sister. He's not only hurt her but also humiliated her in front of everyone. I can't believe he can be this cruel to his own sister. Doesn't he feel sorry for her? Isn't he a little bit concerned about this whole situation?

I feel like an intruder but I still go to Ruth with the idea of apologising for Liam. I know it's not my place to do that, I'm just the girlfriend and I just met his family, but I don't know what else I could do. When I get to the table where Ruth is still crying I can hear what she says, and it breaks my heart but also makes me angrier.

"I tried to change it but the venue is only available that day," she sobs. Some of the words are unintelligible but I figure them out thanks to context. "Of course I want him to come!"

"We all want him to come, Ruth. I'm sure he knows you don't mean it, he's just—" Mrs Payne can't finish the sentence and I clench my fists because I know exactly the reason why. 

I can’t ignore that Liam is hurting his family, that he can’t see past his own aching and feelings. A human being should be able to consider other’s feelings, especially his own family’s. But in Liam’s little world he is all what matters. His feelings, his desires, his whims.

“He’s drunk and he doesn’t know what he’s really saying, Ruth,” I speak and they all look up to see me. “I bet that once he sobers up he’ll apologise.”

“He said it because he means it! That’s how Liam is when he’s drunk,” Ruth sobs and I don't know what to say. I’m also pretty sure he meant every word he said but I really think he shouldn’t have said anything at all or at least not when he did. “It’s all my fault, I should’ve tried harder to change the date even if it had to be somewhere else,” she cries out and Arthur looks in physical pain.

“But love, it’s your dream to get married there. We talked about it,” he reminds her but she shakes her head stubbornly.

“What’s the purpose of getting married there if Liam’s not gonna be with me? He’s my little brother!” I have to work hard to control my breathing as I see Ruth losing it because of this.

I look around and notice all the guest standing awkwardly and looking like they are dying to leave this place as soon as possible. In a corner I see Liam drinking and flirting with another girl and I feel rage in the pit of my stomach. His sister is crying her eyes out and he is flirting? I can’t believe him!

I was feeling bad about this because I thought it was all my fault, that I pushed him towards this but now I don’t regret my words. For a moment I believed he was trying, that he was maybe changing a bit but that was all an illusion. He’s still the jerk and even worse because family is something sacred yet he treats them like this. He’s still the beast I first met, he was just pretending to be nice.

“I’m gonna change the date!” Ruth blurts out and I turn to look at her with my eyes wide in horror.

“What?!” we all exclaim in unison, no one believing this. “Ruth, your wedding is next weekend. You can’t change it now!” Nicola intervenes trying to get to Ruth but she pushes them all.

“I’ll change it! It’s been causing trouble all this time and I should’ve done it before,” she insists and I know she’s trying to sound sure and confident but her voice breaks at the end and my heart breaks for her.

I can’t believe she’s willing to change her wedding date for Liam, for a jerk who’s flirting with another woman, completely pissed. He doesn’t deserve the family he has, he doesn’t deserve a sister like Ruth who’s capable of such extent just for him, and what’s he done for her? He’s insulted and humiliated her in front of all her friends.

I’m seeing red.

I turn on my heels and march up to Liam and without a word I grab his arm and drag him towards the scene I just left. I don’t care about the woman’s complaints or Liam’s, and it’s not like it’s hard to drag him or anything, he’s wasted already.

I push him towards Ruth when we get there and they stop saying whatever they were talking about. Probably trying to make Ruth change her mind about this foolish idea. “Apologise. Now!” I order him and he looks at me like I grew I second head. “Your sister is thinking of changing the date just for you and that’s not fair. You’re being a moron right now and she deserves better. Apologise!” I cry out and everyone looks at me with shock but I don’t care, I’m too angry to care. They should be thankful that I’m not making a full scene and slapping him across the head.

Liam stares at Ruth with a questioning look that seeks for confirmation of what I’ve just said.

“I want you to be here, Liam… I really want to! The venue doesn’t m-m-matter if you… if you’re not here with me. I need… I need my whole family, not a place,” she says between hiccups and I see sense in her words, I mean family is more important than a venue, but still, it shouldn’t happen like this. She shouldn’t give up on something she wants so badly because of Liam. He should be the one trying to move heaven and hell to be on his sister’s most important day.

“Apologise,” I nag him but he doesn’t even flinch.

“Good. Let me know the new date and place. You know the dates of my concerts,” is what he says instead of apologising.

My jaw opens in disbelief and the reaction from the other guests is basically the same. Liam turns on his heels and walks away and I can only blink. This didn’t just happen, there must be a mistake of some sort because I refuse to believe there’s someone as cruel as to allow her sister to sacrifice herself like this. It’s not just changing the venue, it’s changing it all: the invitations, the catering service, the whole ceremony, the honeymoon plans, everything! They prepared to get married next week and now she’ll change it just to please Liam. And he allowed that! How? I can’t compute this, it makes no sense to me.

“I’m sorry,” I apologise to Ruth and her whole family and turn around, still dumbfounded, to follow Liam. If he gets in the car in that state he’ll kill himself and changing the wedding is enough, they don’t need a funeral now.

“Liam!” I shout, calling him out as loud as I can but if he can hear me, he ignores me. “Liam! For fuck’s sake, stop right there!” I cry even louder and he finally stops. I keep walking until I reach him and I grab his wrist, pulling him to turn around. “How could you do that? To your sister, to your whole family?! Don’t you care a little bit about them?” I spat and he only looks at me with indifference. “Say something!”

“What’s the matter? She wanted to change the date, I didn’t force her to do it,” he says and I want to kill him here and now.

“In a way you did, you jerk! How can you not realise?!” I scream and I even push him a bit. I’m so angry I can’t even see straight. “She’s your sister and you made her cry. Don’t you feel a little bit remorseful?” I say next, a bit softer.

He looks away and I don’t know if he does it because he doesn’t care or because he’s indeed sorry about it. I take a deep breath and accept that it’s futile to keep pushing this. The damage is done and he won’t apologise.

“Get in the car. We’re leaving now,” I state and walk past him, bumping shoulders with him like an immature teenage boy. I don’t care, really. I’m done with this, with him.

I walk up to the car and get in the driver sit and I don’t care about going to his family’s house to get out stuff, I just drive back to London once he’s inside. During the whole ride I don’t bother to look at him, I don’t say a word because I’m still fuming. I feel bad for leaving like this, but I wouldn’t be able to show my face to his family after what happened. I know I won’t see them again because I can’t keep doing this. After what happened today, after what he did to his family, I don’t think I can look him in the eyes without feeling angry. Monday first thing in the morning I’ll go talk to Simon and Havi and see what we can do about the contract because I’ve reached my limit.

And thinking I was about to stop mentioning the contract and kind of ignore it just to get along better with him. Ha! I’m glad I didn’t do that.

I drive to his building and I even park the car in his usual spot—which he points for me. I’m surprised he’s still awake and not as drunk as before. I get down first and he follows me and from the corner of my eye I see him stumbling, which is the only sign that he’s still pissed drunk.

I turn to glare at him and he stands straighter. “When I thought you were changing, when I was believing that you were trying, you show me your true colours. Liam Payne, you’re a beast,” I state and don’t wait for a comment from him, I turn on my heels and walk away.

I don’t even use the lift, I just take the emergency stairs and leave with what I had on the moment I walked away from the dinner rehearse party: my dress, coat and the small purse with my mobile and wallet. I don’t know how I’m going to get my bag back but I’m okay with losing it if that means I won’t have to see Liam again.

Outside his building I call for a taxi and wait until this comes, freezing to death but growing more determinate that it’s over.

-:-:-

Uuhhh Belle reached her limit. What's gonna happen now? 

Anyhow, did you read the Christmas One Shot? You find it on the Aware Princess Series (Extra Material) book for free! go, go, go! You'll end up with more questions hehehehe

Bel, xx

PS: Remember you can also check my other books: Rewind and Happenstance (Sequel of Post It).
PPS: Follow me on twitter! @BelWatson or not, you're not obliged.