Where the Cornflowers Grow, Love Died novel

Sierra's POV
After I was diagnosed with cancer, I decided to take a spontaneous trip as I wanted to avoid everyone.
But the moment I got off the bus, I ran straight into my ex-husband.
We hadnt seen each other in ten years, and neither of us was who we used to be. Hed scrubbed off the tattoo I drew for him and traded his cheap clothes for designer brands. I, on the other hand, had taken off our matching wedding rings and was now walking around with a urine bag.
We exchanged a few polite words, both of us consciously avoiding the past.
Right as we were about to part, Liam Carter suddenly asked, Sierra, do you still hate me?
I shook my head lightly and calmly replied, Not anymore.
I didnt have the strength or the time. At the end of my life, all I wanted was to see the fields of blooming cornflowers one more time.

This time, winter came early in North America. By August, the wind already carries a bite of cold.
The bus hadnt arrived yet when Liam glanced down at me. Without a word, he took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders.
But a strong wave of perfume hit me, the scent that belonged only to Veronica Cooper.
I sneezed and gently pushed the coat back. No need to be so polite. Im allergic to perfume.
He looked surprised. Werent you the one who loved
Suddenly, he stopped mid-sentence, stunned, then quietly took the coat back. He didnt say another word and just angled his umbrella a little more in my direction.
But the two of us were far past the age of sharing an umbrella in the rain. And we had long lost the right to do so anyway.
I didnt want to linger around him, so before he could say anything else, I quickly slipped into a taxi parked nearby.
The driver had been watching us while cracking sunflower seeds. He grinned and teased, Miss, looks like someone was trying to hit on you. That guys pretty good-looking. Not interested? From the moment he walked out of the station until you got in this taxi, he kept looking back at you.
I took two pills from my bag and tossed them into my mouth, speaking a bit unclearly, Not interested. That was my ex-husband. Weve been divorced for ten years.
The driver froze, then scratched his head awkwardly and quickly changed the subject. I see. Well, Miss, youre here to see the cornflowers too, right? You shouldve come earlier. Theyre almost withered now.
I turned to look out the window. Raindrops blurred Liams silhouette, and I couldnt see the road ahead clearly either.
I took a sip of water, trying to wash down the bitterness in my mouth, and softly explained, I wanted to come earlier. But in June, my mom passed away. Im the only one at home, so I couldnt leave. In July, I had to undergo chemotherapy, so no time then either. One delay after another, and here I am now.
When I finished speaking, the driver fell completely silent. After a long moment, he quietly reached over and paused the meter.
I couldnt help but laugh. Sir, no need to treat me like that. Life and death have their own timing. Ive already made peace with it. Weve got a long ride ahead. Lets talk.
Ever since I got sick, people had always looked at me with pity that I fell ill so young, that I didn't even have someone to take care of me.
But honestly, I stopped caring a long time ago. Back when I divorced Liam, I finally understood that life was what it was. Good or bad, you still had to live it. You didn't always get to choose.
The driver let out two dry laughs and nodded awkwardly. After hesitating for a long time, he finally asked carefully, So, why did you and your ex-husband divorce?

Sierra's POV
It looked like he still has feelings for you, the driver said. With the way things are for you now, having someone around to take care of you might not be a bad thing.
I gave a small laugh and replied softly, There wasnt any dramatic reason. He just cheated on me with my best friend.
This year marks twenty years since I first met Liam. For twenty years, our small hometown hadnt changed, but the people had.
I still remember that year clearly. My parents had just moved us from North America to the city. Right after I stepped off the bus, I brushed shoulders with Liam as he walked by.
We were teenagers thenyoung, bright, and full of possibilities. In that brief moment, when our shoulders bumped, something sparked in my heart.
The town was small, so it didnt take long before we fell for each other. We spent the most carefree, beautiful years of our youth together.
Later, trouble hit his family. They had no money left, and he couldnt afford school anymore. Before he left, he gave me an oil painting and told me he was heading south to work.
I stood there in silence for a moment, then turned around and ran home. Through tears, I told my parents I didnt want to be apart from him.
My dad lit a cigarette, thought for a long time, and asked me just one question, Are you sure? Is Liam the person you want for the rest of your life?
I nodded.
Because from the very first moment I met him, long before we fell in love, I had already decided that no matter what happened in this life, I would only love him.
My dad didnt say anything else, yet he stayed up the whole night thinking.
The next morning, he sold ten of our cattle, took a stack of cash, and went straight to find Liam. He patted him on the shoulder and said, Dont worry about the tuition. Just study well and grow into someone worthy.
Liam froze for a long time before falling to his knees, bowing again and again. He said that once he graduated, he would repay this kindness a thousand times over.
But my dad only helped him up and said with a meaningful tone, Im not asking for repayment. If fate brings you and Sierra together, just treat her right.
Liam agreed. He raised his hand toward the majestic snow-capped mountains and swore he would never fail me in this lifetime.
From that day forward, we officially started dating.
And he didnt disappoint my father. He got accepted into a top art academy, quickly gained fame with his paintings, and after graduation, became a faculty member at the school. For a time, he was the rising star everyone talked about.
Also, he didnt disappoint me. After years of being together, his love for me never wavered.
On our wedding night, he tattooed the little doodle I once drew for him right over his heart.
He held my hand, letting me feel the beating beneath the ink, and said, Sierra, remember this feeling. My heart will only ever beat for you.
That year, our love was at its brightestso intense that we couldnt stand being apart even for a day. Whenever he traveled for work, we were on the phone nonstop.
Once, I had a fever. I took some medicine and accidentally fell asleep in the middle of our call. When I woke up, my phone was covered with hundreds of messages.
Panicked, I video-called him to let him know I was okay.
The moment the screen lit up, I saw him sitting in the drivers seat, crying. Sierra, why didnt you answer my call? I called you several times, but you didnt answer any of them. I even had the delivery guy knock on your door, but no one answered. I was terrified something happened to you. If anything ever happened to you, what would I do?
He said he had been scared out of his mind. He said he was just worried. He admitted he was probably overthinking, but he didnt dare take that chance.
Over a thousand kilometers away, in temperatures below freezing, he completely lost reason. He pushed aside all his work and started driving straight toward me.
By the time I rushed downstairs to meet him, it was already the middle of the night.

Sierra's POV
At three in the morning, snow was falling hard across the empty streets. Liams face was streaked with tears that had frozen into tiny crystals.
When we fell into each others arms and cried, the snowflakes on his eyelashes melted into clear drops, and in that moment, they slipped straight into my heart.
Right then, I truly believed that nothing in this world could ever separate us. Our love had crossed a thousand kilometers, so it could survive anything. Hardships, distance, timenone of it mattered. We would, without a doubt, spend our lives together in happiness.
But the cruelest thing was that very night, I discovered he had been cheating.
The taxi driver watched me through the rearview mirror, waiting for the rest.
I gave a small, resigned smile and said calmly, He drove too long that night. After making sure I was okay, he passed out immediately. He forgot to lock his phone and didnt switch chat accounts. The very first pinned message was a nude photo from my best friend.
The driver let out a long sigh and handed me tissues kindly.
But I didnt need them. I had run out of tears long ago.
All I remember was that, in that moment, it felt like the blood in my body flowed backward. It was like a massive stone had dropped into a peaceful lake, shattering every beautiful illusion Id ever held.
Back then, I kept scrolling. I saw years of messages between them, uninterrupted.
The very first one was from the day Veronica returned to the country after her divorce, the day I threw her a welcome-back dinner.
While I was drunk, Liam confessed to her.
He told her, [My feelings for Sierra arent love. Theyre responsibility. Youre the unattainable love of my youth.]
The latest message was from last night.
She had said to him, [You already undressed me, and now you say youre leaving?]
[Liam, what exactly do you take me for?]
[If you cant let go of Sierra, then we should cut this off.]
[Sierra is my best friend. She helped me find a place to live and a job when I came back. Without her, I wouldve been on the streets. I dont want to hurt her.]
By then, Liam was already asleep, so he hadnt replied yet. He hadnt even had the chance to choose before I saw everything.
That snowflake that had become a tear now turned into an icicle stabbing straight into my chest.
All the little things Id ignored, all the strange details Id brushed aside, they suddenly connected.
The faint perfume smell I thought I imagined turned out not to be my imagination. It was the scent of betrayal.
That uneasy feeling I kept dismissing as paranoia turned out to be not paranoia. It was instinct.
In an instant, my world collapsed.
I yanked him out of bed like someone possessed, sobbing as I asked him why? Why stay with me if he didnt love me? Why brave the storm just to confess to me? Why cheat with my best friend when I loved him the most?
Watching me break down in front of him, Liam panicked and looked away. He didnt know what to do.
Sierra, its not that I dont like you, he said softly. I just dont like you as much anymore.
Ten years. Youth faded and passion quieted. What used to be fierce love had turned into a debt that could never be repaid.
That time, I refused to accept it. I couldnt believe it.
We had been together for ten years. Ten whole years. Three thousand six hundred fifty days and nights. A thousand kilometers between us. And he wanted me to believe that all of that had been nothing more than repayment?

Sierra's POV
Was I really just the thief standing between him and Veronica, stealing the happiness that shouldve been theirs?
I broke down. I screamed, I lost control, I completely fell apart.
Refusing to accept any of it, I smashed everything in the house. I clawed at Liams face until it bled.
Yet he didnt move. He just stood there and let me unleash all of my rage.
But before my anger had even burned out, his phone buzzed again.
It was a new message.
A 5 a.m. plane ticket and pregnancy report.
Then came Veronicas shaky and miserable voice, echoing through the dead-silent night again and again.
Liam, I dont want to pressure you, but Im pregnant. Im right next door. I need you to choose between us. Im not like Sierra. I have nothing. If you dont come talk to me when the sun comes up, Ill die with this baby in front of you.
The man who was always calm panicked.
The same Liam, who never wavered at my questions, who showed no reaction to my tears, suddenly lost all reason when it came to Veronica.
And just like that, he rushed to her.
I slumped against the wall, exhausted and hollow, and whispered, Liam, if you walk out that door today, there will never be a way back for us.
There, he stopped, but only for a second. Then he walked out without even looking back.
The driver grimaced, lit a cigarette, then, remembering my condition, quickly put it out. He sighed helplessly and remarked, You can never predict peoples hearts.
He was right. People were unpredictable, and fate was even more so.
If the story had ended there, then at worst, it wouldve been a breakup. Painful, yes, but after some crying, after enough time, I wouldve healed.
But that night, fate played the cruelest joke on me.
I called my dad and told him Liam had hurt me, that I couldnt stay anymore, that I wanted to come back home, back to them.
My dad panicked. He got in the car immediately, driving through the night to pick me up.
But the snowstorm was too heavy. The mountain roads were too dangerous.
And on the way to me, he crashed.
The car was destroyed, and my dad died on the spot.
Just how unfair this world was.
A man as cold and faithless as Liam got to live, yet the person who loved me the most was taken away.
By the time I got the call and rushed to the scene, all that was left was a body covered in a white sheet, waiting to be pushed into the cremation chamber.
They told me his injuries were too horrible, so they didnt want me to see him. They simply advised me to stay strong.
But he was my father. The man who loved me, protected me, and put me first for my entire life.
How could I ever be afraid of him?
Ignoring their advice, I tore away the sheet.
But what I saw wasnt even a face, just blood and ruined flesh. No features left. Even the skull was shattered beyond recognition.
I couldn't describe what I felt then. It was like my mind slipped out of my body as if I drifted into a world far, far away, a world where there was no pain, no death, no betrayal, no tears.
Later, I went to see a psychologist. He told me I was experiencing dissociation, a severe psychological condition. He suggested I get treatment as soon as possible.
But my mother fell apart before I could even take care of myself.
My fathers death broke her completely. She became unrecognizable confused, unstable.
The gentle, graceful woman she used to be had lost control whenever she saw me now. She hit me. She cursed me. She spat on my face.
Once, she cried and screamed at me.

Sierra's POV
It was you. Youre the one who killed your father! Youre the one who destroyed this family! Sierra, why did you make that call? Why did you get involved with Liam? I hate you. I hate you!
Yeah, why? Why did fate have to be so cruel to me? I kept asking myself that question, hoping someone could give me an answer.
But no one could.
Overnight, everything changed. I lost my husband. I lost my friends. I lost my parents. I lost the warm, happy home I once had.
And there I was, sitting alone on the street, letting the cold wind cut through me until I felt like nothing but open wounds.
That was when Veronica sent me their maternity check-up photos. The two of them holding hands, looking like a loving married couplesweet, intimate, complete.
A picture-perfect family.
For a moment, I wanted them goneboth of them. But I still had my mother to take care of. My father was gone, so I couldnt stay a child forever. I had to carry what was left of this broken home on my own.
So, I asked Liam for a divorce.
And the ridiculous thing was, he refused.
He said he couldnt bear to lose me, couldnt bear to throw away our ten years together.
Sierra, you dont understand, he told me. Feelings between people are complicated. Choosing Veronica doesnt mean I dont love you. Shes not like you. You grew up in a loving home. You had your parents supporting you. But Veronica, she only has me.
He said that once Veronica gave birth, hed give her some money, send her and the baby away, and then he and I could go back to living a good life together.
Sierra, everything passes eventually. People have survived far worse than this. When the dust settles, lets forget all of this and go back to how we were, alright?
No. No, it was not alright.
Ten years of my life, and the cost of one human life. How was I supposed to forget everything and pretend it never happened? How could I live with myself?
So, I went to court.
The case dragged on for a while, but eventually he signed the papers. Not because he understood what he did wrong, but because he wanted to give the child in Veronicas belly a nameto build a new family with another woman.
After the divorce, we cut all contact.
Liam went on teaching and painting, while I took my mother from hospital to hospital. We sold the cattle at home, one by one. But her condition never stabilized. Sometimes, she would cling to me and cry. Other times, she would hit me or scream at me when her illness flared up.
The house was filled with bottles of psychiatric medication back then.
There were countless moments when I wanted to end my life. But every single time, I forced myself to keep going because Mom still needed me.
And then, eventually, she couldnt fight anymore. Her mind cleared again, just like the mother I remembered.
On her deathbed, she held my hand and said, Sweetheart, youve suffered enough. Mom cant keep dragging you down. I dont blame you. Your father and I never blamed you. When Im gone, let the past go. Live your life well. And dont sacrifice your whole future for someone like him.
Another ten years passed. I walked out of that snowy night of pain. I cried every tear I had left.
I told myself I was going to live differentlybetter.
But at my mothers funeral, I was diagnosed with cancer.
All those years of psychiatric medication harm the body. This isnt unexpected, they told me.
But despite hearing that, I wasnt even that sad, just regretful. Regretful that in the past ten years, I never truly lived.
So, in the final stretch of my life, I decided to take a tripjust drop everything and go. I just didnt expect that after ten years of no contact, Id run into Liam here of all places. But its fine. Everythings in the past. I let it go a long time ago.
By the time I finished, the driver beside me was already crying, tears streaming down his weathered face. He asked me why I didnt tell Liam any of this.
I shook my head. Whats the point?
Was I supposed to hold up my fathers death like some tragic badge? Or admit that I was the one who ruined everything and killed him?
I couldnt say it. I couldnt even face that thought myself.
Life had already thrown every hardship it could at me. All I could do now was face it with whatever calm I had left and let go.
After all, this life of mine was already set on its course.
While we were talking, the car pulled up to my stop.
I got out and stretched, breathing in the thinning evening air.
The sky was dimming, but the wild cornflowers were still blooming.
Then, a gust of wind swept over them, sending petals across my coat and blowing several medical reports out of my bag.
Instinctively, I ran after them.
When I turned back, I saw Liam standing behind me.

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