Amelia sat in the dimly lit room of her apartment, staring blankly at the papers scattered across the coffee table. Her mind was in turmoil. The truth about her father, the business dealings that had bound their lives together with deceit and manipulation, was still swirling in her head. Every word Nick had spoken to her echoed through her thoughts like an unrelenting storm, pushing her to confront the reality she had spent so long avoiding. The shocking revelation about her father's involvement with Liam, the darker side of their world, had shattered everything she had once known.
She didn't know what to think anymore. Her relationship with Liam had started as a business arrangement, then turned into something deeper, more personal, and now, it felt like a tangled mess of power, lies, and betrayal. Her feelings for him were undeniable, but how could she trust him now? How could she trust herself?
The sound of her phone buzzing on the coffee table broke her from her reverie. She glanced at the screen—Liam. Her heart skipped a beat. She had been avoiding his calls for the past few days, unable to process everything that had been happening. But now, it seemed like she had no choice. She couldn't keep running from him forever.
With a deep breath, she picked up the phone and answered.
"Amelia," Liam's voice came through, low and steady. "We need to talk."
There was an edge to his voice, one that she couldn't ignore. She had never heard him sound like this before—vulnerable, almost desperate. It was as if he knew the walls between them were crumbling, and he was trying to salvage what was left.
"I don't know if I'm ready for this conversation, Liam," she replied, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound firm. "I don't know if I can trust you anymore."
There was a long pause on the other end, and when Liam spoke again, his tone was softer, more sincere.
"Amelia, I understand that you're hurt. I understand that everything feels like a lie right now, but I swear to you, what we have—it's real. It's always been real."
She felt a knot tighten in her chest. His words were comforting, but they couldn't erase the truth she had just learned. How could he be real with her when everything about their past was built on lies and manipulation? How could she allow herself to believe in him when her father's dark legacy hung over them like a shadow?
"I need to see you," Liam continued, his voice insistent. "I need to explain everything—about my past, about what happened between our families. I can't let you walk away from me without at least telling you the truth."
Amelia hesitated, uncertainty clouding her thoughts. She didn't want to face him. She didn't want to hear any more excuses or explanations. She wanted to escape from the web of lies she had been trapped in, but deep down, she knew that this conversation was inevitable. She had to know the truth, even if it destroyed everything she had hoped for.
"Fine," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But only if we're honest with each other. No more games, Liam. No more lies."
"Agreed," he replied immediately. "I'll be at your place in an hour."
An hour later, there was a knock at the door. Amelia's heart raced as she stood up, her palms sweaty. She had been pacing the apartment, trying to prepare herself for what was about to happen, but nothing could have prepared her for this moment. She opened the door to find Liam standing there, his face a mix of determination and apprehension. His usual confident demeanor was gone, replaced by something more raw, more vulnerable.
He didn't say anything at first. Instead, he stepped inside, his gaze locking with hers. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, a thousand words swirling in the space between them, neither of them knowing where to begin.
Amelia closed the door behind him, her hands trembling as she turned to face him. "So, tell me," she said, her voice steadier now, but still laced with emotion. "Tell me the truth, Liam. About everything."
He exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair as if trying to gather his thoughts. "I don't know where to start," he admitted, his voice low. "But I'll start with this: I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to drag you into this mess. When I first met you, it wasn't about revenge. It wasn't about using you. It was about... us. About something real."
Amelia took a step back, her eyes narrowing. "But everything about us, everything we've been through—was that real? Or was I just another pawn in your game? A way to hurt my father?"
Liam's face darkened, and he took a step toward her, his eyes filled with regret. "No," he said firmly, his voice raw. "You were never a pawn, Amelia. I never saw you that way. The things I did to your father… I regret them. But they were never about you. They were about business, about the way our families have been at odds for years. I wanted to destroy your father, not you."
Amelia felt a pang of pain at his words, the sharp edge of betrayal cutting through her. "So you used me. All this time, I thought we were building something—something real. But now, I realize that it was just a way for you to get back at him. How can I trust you after everything?"
Liam's eyes softened, and he reached out to touch her arm, but she pulled back before he could make contact. "I understand why you're angry. I do," he said quietly. "But please, understand this—my feelings for you have never been about revenge. I know it sounds impossible, but I swear to you, Amelia, I care about you. I've always cared about you."
The sincerity in his voice made her chest tighten. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to trust him again, to go back to the way things had been before everything got so complicated. But how could she? How could she erase the doubt, the hurt, the confusion that had taken root in her heart?
"I don't know if I can do this anymore, Liam," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I don't know if I can be with someone who has so many secrets, so much darkness in his past."
Liam took another step closer to her, his eyes pleading. "I know I've made mistakes. I know I've kept things from you, but I want to be better, for you. I want to prove to you that I'm not the man you think I am. I want to build something real with you, Amelia. I want a future with you."
She looked up at him, her heart torn in two. She wanted to believe in him, wanted to believe that the man standing in front of her was someone worth trusting. But the truth was, the past they shared was tainted by lies and manipulation, and it was hard to see through the fog of deceit.
"I need time," she said softly, her voice barely audible. "I need time to think, to figure out what I really want."
Liam nodded, his expression filled with regret but also understanding. "I'll give you as much time as you need. I won't rush you, I won't force you to make any decisions. Just know that I'm here. And I always will be."
Amelia felt her heart break as she looked at him, the weight of the decision she had to make pressing down on her shoulders. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that she couldn't keep living in the shadows of the past. It was time to face the truth, no matter how painful it might be.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling.
Liam gave her one last, lingering look before he turned and walked out of the apartment, leaving Amelia alone with her thoughts. As the door closed behind him, she felt a sense of finality settle over her. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: she had to make a choice. And it wasn't going to be easy.