Amelia sat silently in the passenger seat as Liam drove.
Rain had started falling again, tapping softly against the windshield.
She stared outside, watching buildings pass by.
She still couldn't believe she had agreed to go with him.
Seven years ago, she had dreamed about sitting beside Liam again.
She had imagined what it would feel like to hear his voice, hold his hand, and tell him how much she had missed him.
She had never imagined it would happen like this.
With someone watching them.
With a threat hanging over her head.
And with Liam keeping secrets.
She turned toward him.
"How long have you known someone was watching me?"
Liam kept his eyes on the road.
"About three months."
Her eyes widened.
"Three months?"
"Yes."
"And you watched me for three months without telling me?"
"I needed to know if the person was actually after you or if it was connected to something else."
"You could have told me."
"I know."
"That's becoming your favorite sentence."
He glanced at her.
"I'm sorry."
She looked away.
"I'm not interested in apologies."
"I know."
She sighed.
"You really don't know how to talk to me anymore, do you?"
"I don't know how to talk to the woman you've become."
That made her look at him.
"What does that mean?"
"You used to tell me everything."
"I was nineteen."
"And now you're different."
"People change."
"I know."
He looked at her briefly.
"Especially after they've been hurt."
Amelia looked out the window again.
She didn't want him to see the tears gathering in her eyes.
She had spent years becoming strong.
She wasn't going to fall apart in front of him.
The car eventually entered a quiet neighborhood.
Liam drove through a large iron gate.
Amelia frowned.
"Where are we?"
"My house."
She turned toward him.
"I thought you meant a temporary place."
"This is temporary."
She looked through the windshield.
The house was enormous.
Modern.
Elegant.
Surrounded by tall trees and a high wall.
Security cameras were positioned around the property.
Two security guards stood near the entrance.
"This looks like a prison."
"It's secure."
"It's intimidating."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
She rolled her eyes.
"You're still annoying."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"You still remember."
"I remember everything."
His smile disappeared.
They entered the house.
A woman in her fifties walked toward them.
"Liam."
"Mrs. Miller."
The woman looked at Amelia.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Then her eyes widened.
"Amelia?"
Amelia nodded.
"Hello."
The woman's expression immediately softened.
"Oh, sweetheart."
Before Amelia could react, Mrs. Miller pulled her into a hug.
Amelia froze.
She hadn't expected that.
"You've grown so much."
Amelia smiled awkwardly.
"You remember me?"
"Of course I remember you. You used to come here every weekend."
Her eyes moved toward Liam.
"You two were inseparable."
Liam cleared his throat.
"Mrs. Miller."
She smiled.
"Right. I'll leave you both alone."
She walked away.
Amelia looked at Liam.
"She knows?"
"She knows enough."
"That's not an answer."
"I'll explain everything."
"You've said that already."
"And I will."
He led her upstairs.
Amelia stopped when she saw the guest room.
"This is yours."
She entered slowly.
Everything was already prepared.
Clothes.
Toiletries.
Even a small vase of white roses.
She turned around.
"You arranged all this?"
"I had someone prepare the room."
"You knew I'd come?"
"I hoped you would."
She looked at him.
There was something in his expression that made her uncomfortable.
Something familiar.
"You shouldn't hope for things involving me."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know me anymore."
Liam stepped closer.
"Maybe I want to."
Her heart skipped.
She immediately stepped back.
"Don't."
He stopped.
"Don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like we're still who we used to be."
He looked down.
"I'm trying."
The words were quiet.
Amelia turned away.
"I need to be alone."
Liam nodded.
He walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he said, "Lock your door tonight."
She frowned.
"Why?"
"Because until I know who is behind this, I don't want to take any chances."
Then he left.
Amelia closed the door.
She leaned against it.
Her heart was racing.
She hated that being near Liam still affected her.
She hated that his presence made her remember things she had buried.
She walked toward the bed.
A framed photograph sat on the bedside table.
She picked it up.
It was an old photograph.
Her and Liam.
They were teenagers.
Liam had his arm around her shoulder, and Amelia was laughing.
She stared at the picture.
He had kept it.
After seven years.
Why?
She placed it back.
Then something caught her attention.
A drawer beside the bed was slightly open.
She pulled it out.
Inside was a small wooden box.
Amelia hesitated.
She opened it.
Her breath caught.
Inside were dozens of things from their past.
A movie ticket.
A bracelet.
A handwritten note.
A dried flower.
And beneath them all was a photograph.
The same photograph that had destroyed their relationship seven years ago.
Liam with Claire.
Amelia's heart pounded.
Why was he keeping it?
She picked it up.
There was something written on the back.
She wasn't the woman you thought she was.
Amelia's fingers trembled.
Suddenly, the bedroom door opened.
She turned.
Liam stood there.
His face went pale when he saw what she was holding.
"Where did you get that?"
Amelia held up the photograph.
"You said you were going to tell me the truth."
He stared at the picture.
"I was."
"Then start now."
Liam slowly closed the door behind him.
"Claire wasn't my girlfriend."
Amelia's heart stopped.
"Then who was she?"
He looked at her.
"She was my brother's fiancée."
Amelia froze.
"Your brother?"
Liam nodded.
"Damian."
She stared at him in disbelief.
"But the photograph—"
"Was taken deliberately."
"Why?"
Liam took a breath.
"Because someone wanted you to believe I was cheating."
"Who?"
His eyes darkened.
"That's what I've spent seven years trying to find out."
Before Amelia could respond, a loud crash came from downstairs.
They both turned.
Liam immediately moved toward the door.
"Stay here."
"What happened?"
"I don't know."
He pulled out his phone.
Then the lights went off.
Amelia gasped.
The entire house went dark.
Liam grabbed her hand.
"Don't move."
A second later, the sound of breaking glass came from downstairs.
Someone had entered the house.
And they weren't there to steal anything.
They were looking for Amelia.