After thinking for a while, Sofia decided to tell Liam.
She walked towards his door, her determination growing with each step.
Pausing for a moment, she hesitated, remembering Liam wornnings not to enter his room. Should she do this?
But her resolve won out.
Sofia knocked firmly on the door.
The sound echoed through the silent hallway.
A pause.
Then, Liam's deep voice echoed from the other side of the door. "Enter."
Sofia's heart skipped a beat. She had expected him to be asleep, not awake and waiting.
She hesitated, remembering his warning earlier: "Don't ever enter my room."
But something compelled her to open the door.
As she stepped inside, Liam's gaze met hers, his expression unreadable. He sat on the edge of his bed, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers.
"What is it, little devil?" Liam asked, his tone neutral.
Sofia's eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. The room was sleek and modern, with minimal decor.
"I...I couldn't sleep," Sofia said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam's gaze narrowed. "And you thought coming here would help?"
Sofia took a deep breath. "I needed to talk to you about tomorrow. My stepmother..."
Liam's expression remained cold, but his eyes sparkled with interest.
"Continue," he said.
Sofia's words spilled out, recounting her conversation with her stepmother.
Liam listened intently, his face a mask of calm.
When Sofia finished, Liam stood, his movements fluid.
Sofia stared at his handsome, cold face, her voice laced with hesitation. "Can you please accompany me to my parents' house tomorrow?"
Liam's expression remained unreadable, his eyes piercing as he asked, "Why should I?"
Sofia's heart skipped a beat under his intense gaze. She struggled to find the right words.
"Because..." Sofia paused, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to face them alone."
Liam raised an eyebrow, his expression unyielding. "And why is that my problem?"
Sofia's hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "You're my husband," she reminded him.
Liam's gaze lingered on hers, his eyes cold and calculating. "That doesn't obligate me to attend family gatherings."
Sofia felt a pang of desperation. "Please, Liam. This is important to me, if you don't come with me you may never see me again."
Liam's silence was oppressive, his gaze boring into Sofia's.
She pleaded, giving him her most vulnerable look. "Liam, please. I'm scared of what they might do or say. Your presence would make me feel safer."
Liam's expression remained impassive, but Sofia detected a flicker of emotion in his eyes. For a moment, she thought she saw a glimmer of empathy.
"Say it," Liam commanded, his voice low and husky.
Sofia's brow furrowed in confusion. "Say what?"
Liam's gaze intensified. "Say you need me."
Sofia's heart skipped a beat. She hesitated, unsure of what to do.
But something about Liam's words resonated deep within her.
"I need you," Sofia whispered, her voice trembling.
Liam's eyes locked onto hers, his expression unreadable.
Then, without a word, he nodded.
Sofia's face lit up with joy, and she took a step closer to Liam, her heart overflowing with gratitude.
Without thinking, she rose onto her toes, her lips parting to brush against his.
But Liam's words echoed in her mind: "Rule number 9: No intimacy, keep a social distance."
Sofia's cheeks flushed as she halted mid-motion, her eyes locked onto Liam's.
Liam's gaze narrowed, his expression warning her to retreat.
Sofia's lips curled into a sheepish smile. "Sorry," she whispered.
Liam's voice was low and even. "Remember the rules, Sofia."
Sofia nodded, her heart still racing from the near-kiss.
"I will," she promised, taking a step back.
Liam's gaze lingered on hers before he turned away.
"Get some rest," he said. "Tomorrow will be challenging."
Sofia nodded, feeling a mix of emotions.
As she left Liam's room, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she had almost crossed a forbidden line.
Sofia returned to her room, her mind replaying the conversation with Liam. She couldn't believe she had almost kissed him, forgetting about rule number 9.
As she changed into her nightgown, Sofia felt a mix of emotions. Guilt for hurting Liam in the past, regret for her previous actions, and longing for a connection with him now.
She slipped into bed, her thoughts swirling. Why had she rejected Liam's feelings back then? What would have happened if she had chosen him instead?
Sofia's eyes drifted shut, but sleep eluded her. Her mind refused to quieten.
Memories of their past flooded her thoughts - Liam's gentle smile, his kind words, and her harsh rejection.
Sofia's heart ached, knowing she had caused Liam's emotional scars.
Suddenly, she heard her own sighs and gentle whispers in the darkness.
"No one's there, Sofia," she reminded herself.
Sofia tossed and turned, unable to shake off the feeling that she almost lost something precious.
"I will try," Sofia whispered to herself, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her face, wetting her pillow.
She repeated the phrase, a gentle mantra.
"I will try to win your heart back, Liam. My true love."
Sofia's resolve hardened, despite the doubts creeping in.
Can I really make up for the past?
Will Liam ever forgive me?
Sofia's thoughts swirled, but her determination remained.
She would prove her love, no matter the cost.
The darkness seemed to fade, replaced by a glimmer of hope.
Tomorrow would be a new beginning.
---
Sofia woke up with a start, groggily reaching for her phone. 10:45 AM. She had overslept.
Panic set in as she threw off the covers and rushed to get ready.
Downstairs, Liam stood by the door, his expression cold and unyielding.
"You're late," he stated, his voice devoid of emotion.
Sofia hastened, her heart racing. "I'm sorry. I didn't sleep well."
Liam's gaze lingered on hers, then shifted to his watch. "We need to leave now."
Sofia nodded, grabbing her bag. "I'm ready."
The drive to her parents' house was tense, Liam's silence oppressive.
Sofia's anxiety grew with each passing mile.
---
In Mr. Jacob's residence, Sofia stepped into the opulent living room, her heart racing. The atmosphere was heavy with tension.
Mr. Jacob, her father, sat in his favorite armchair, his face thunderous. Victoria, her stepmother, sat beside him, her eyes blazing with anger.
"You've brought shame to our family, Sofia," Mr. Jacob spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You ended your engagement to Julian without our approval, and now you're consorting with that... Liam."
Mrs Jacob,Victoria, gaze sliced through Sofia. "Julian loves you, and you repaid him by humiliating him publicly. And to think you're now involved with Liam, the man who assaulted Julian!"
Sofia stood tall, despite the guilt and anxiety gnawing at her. "Julian cheated on me with my own stepsister. He tried to force himself on me. Liam saved me."
Mr. Jacob's expression turned uglier. "That's not the point! Julian is your fiancé, and you'll do as you're told and give him what he wants when he needs it, that not a crime."
Julian's parents stormed into the room, their faces red with rage.
"How dare you!" Julian's father thundered. "You think you can just end the engagement and walk away? and on top of that you had that your street Loverboy beat him up! unacceptable!". You'll pay for humiliating my son!"
Sofia's heart sank, her family's anger and Julian's parents' fury suffocating her.
Julian's mother's eyes flashed. "You'll pay for what you did to our son, Sofia. You'll regret ever crossing our family!"
Sofia stood tall, despite the guilt and anxiety gnawing at her. "Julian cheated on me with my own stepsister. He tried to force himself on me. Liam saved me."
Mr. Jacob's, Victoria sofia stepmother expression turned uglier. "That's just an excuse! You'll do as you're told and make amends with Julian."
Sofia shook her head firmly. "I won't go back to Julian. Ever."
Outside, Liam waited, his eyes fixed on the Jacob residence, his expression unreadable.
Sofia's refusal ignited a firestorm.
"How dare you!" Julian's father bellowed. "You'll do as you're told, Sofia! You'll apologize to Julian and resume the engagement!"
Mr. Jacob's face turned purple. "You're ruining our family's reputation, Sofia! Julian's family will never let this slide!"