Sofia prepared for the impact, bracing herself for the pain. But it never came.
After a few seconds, she opened her eyes slowly to find Liam standing tall, his expression cold and unyielding.
Liam's hand grasped Mr. Jacob's wrist, holding it mid-air, frozen in time.
The room fell silent, with everyone stunned by the scene.
Julian's parents exchanged worried glances, while Mrs Victoria's eyes widened in shock.
Sofia's heart swelled with gratitude toward Liam, but his face revealed nothing.
"You'll never touch her," Liam stated, his voice firm and detached.
Mr. Jacob's face reddened, but Liam's grip remained unyielding.
Sofia's voice trembled, "L..."
Liam's gaze didn't shift, his focus fixed on Mr. Jacob.
The room fell silent, mesmerized by the imposing figure standing before them. Liam's chiseled features, piercing eyes, and rugged jawline made him the most handsome man they had ever laid eyes on. His commanding presence was undeniable, exuding an aura of strength and authority.
Mr. Jacob stuttered, "W-who are you?"
Liam's voice was icy, "How dare you lay a hand on my wife?"
The room erupted into confusion.
" Wife?" Julian's mother repeated, incredulous. "When did Sofia get married? Why didn't we know?"
Mrs jecob sofia's stepmother eyes widened, "What do you mean by wife? The Sofia we know has never been married!"
All eyes shifted to Sofia, her expression nervous, a bold handprint visible on her left cheek. Her gaze darted to Liam, then back to her family, her silence deafening.
Liam's gaze never wavered, his eyes locked on Sofia's face, his jaw clenched.
Julian's father protested, "This is absurd! Sofia is engaged to our son!"
Liam's cold demeanor remained unyielding, "I'm afraid that's no longer relevant."
The air was thick with tension, the silence heavy with unanswered questions.
Sofia's family and Julian's parents demanded answers.
"Who are you?" Mr. Jacob pressed.
Liam's response was curt, "Someone who won't let you harm her."
Julian's mother's voice rose, "You can't just claim Sofia as your wife! We know nothing about you."
Sofia's eyes narrowed, "This is a ploy to break Sofia and Julian apart."
Sofia's face burned, her gaze fixed on Liam, feeling nervous.
Liam's expression remained unreadable.
Julian's father snarled, "You're just a stranger, interfering in family matters."
Liam's gaze shifted, his eyes locking onto Julian's father, "I'm her husband. And I won't let anyone hurt her."
The room fell silent.
Sofia's eyes locked onto Liam's, and she nodded slightly.
"Yes," she said softly. "Liam is my husband."
The room erupted into chaos.
Julian's mother shrieked, "This can't be! Sofia, you're engaged to My son!"
madam Victoria's face turned red. "You deceived us, Sofia!"
Mr. Jacob thundered, "This is a lie! We would have known!"
Liam's expression remained calm. From his pocket, he pulled out a small folder and handed it to Mr. Jacob.
"Marriage certificate," Liam stated. "Dated and signed."
Mr. Jacob's face paled as he scanned the document.
The room fell silent.
Julian's father's voice trembled, "This...this can't be."
Sofia's gaze never left Liam's. "It's true," she said firmly. "Liam and I are married."
Julian's mother's face twisted in anger. "This marriage is a sham! We won't recognize it."
Mr. Jacob's voice boomed, "Sofia, you're still engaged to Julian. This...this marriage is invalid."
sofia's stepmother sneered, "You're just trying to spite Julian and our family."
Julian's father's eyes narrowed, "We'll contest this marriage. It's a fraud."
Liam's expression remained unyielding, "I assure you, our marriage is legitimate."
Sofia stood beside Liam, her voice firm, "I've made my choice. I'm Liam's wife."
The tension escalated.
Suddenly, Liam's phone rang. He answered, listened briefly, and spoke two words: "I'm coming."
Liam turned to Sofia, "We're leaving. Now."
Liam's gaze swept the room, his eyes lingering on each face.
"I warn you all," Liam's voice dropped to a low, menacing tone. "Do not contact Sofia or attempt to harm her in any way. You will regret it."
His eyes locked onto Mr. Jacob. "You will never raise a hand to her again."
Liam's gaze shifted to Julian's parents. "And you will never manipulate or control her and as for your son,he deserves what he got.
Julian parents face turn black with anger.
Sofia stepmother eyes widened, but Liam continued.
"Sofia is under my protection now. Harm her, and you'll face me."
The room fell silent, Liam's warning hanging in the air like a threat.
Liam turned to Sofia, his expression softening. "Let's go."
Sofia nodded, her eyes locked on Liam's.
Together, they walked out of the room, leaving Sofia's family and Julian's parents stunned and intimidated.
As they stepped into the cool evening air, Sofia felt a sense of relief wash over her.
Liam's hand wrapped around hers, his touch warm and reassuring.
"Where are we going?" Sofia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Liam's response was low and husky. "Somewhere safe."
Liam's gaze shifted, his eyes locking onto Sofia's swollen cheek. His expression remained stoic, but a flicker of anger danced in his eyes.
Sofia's voice was barely audible. "Thanks."
Liam's gaze lingered on her face before returning to the road.
The silence between them was palpable.
Sofia's eyes never left Liam's profile. "You didn't have to do that," she said softly.
Liam's jaw clenched, but he remained silent.
Sofia's gaze dropped to his hands, gripping the steering wheel. Strong, capable hands.
"Liam?" Sofia ventured.
He didn't respond.
Sofia's voice trailed off, uncertainty creeping in.
As they drove through the city, the tension between them grew.
Suddenly, Liam took a sharp turn, pulling into a secluded driveway.
Sofia's heart skipped a beat. "Where are we?"
Liam pulled over to the side of the road and parked.
"Wait here," he said, his voice still detached.
Sofia nodded, watching as Liam stepped out of the car and walked into a nearby pharmacy.
A few minutes passed before Liam returned, carrying a small bag.
He rummaged through it, producing an ice pack and a tube of topical ointment.
Without a word, Liam gently applied the ointment to Sofia's swollen cheek.
Sofia flinched, but Liam's touch was surprisingly gentle.
"Thank you," Sofia whispered.
Liam's expression remained stoic, but his eyes softened ever so slightly.
He applied the ice pack to her cheek, his fingers grazing her skin.
Sofia felt a flutter in her chest.
Liam's gaze lingered on Sofia's face, his eyes tracing the contours of her cheek. For a moment, his mask of detachment slipped, revealing a glimmer of concern.
Sofia's heart skipped a beat. Was that a spark of emotion in his eyes?
Liam quickly looked away, his expression hardening.
"Keep the ice pack on," he instructed, his voice returning to its detached tone.
Sofia nodded, feeling a pang of disappointment.
As they sat there, the silence between them grew thicker.
Sofia studied Liam's profile, searching for answers.
Why did he marry her if he can't forgive her?
Why did he protect her if he really wants to ignore her?
Liam's phone buzzed, breaking the silence.
He answered, listening briefly before responding curtly.
"Yes. I have speak with her."
Sofia's eyes narrowed. Who was on the other end?
Liam started the car, pulling back onto the road.
Sofia gazed out the window, her mind racing with questions. who is he talking about is it Emilia. sofia's heartache.
As they drove, the cityscape gave way to rolling hills and lush forests.
"Where are we going?" Sofia asked, breaking the silence.
Liam's response was curt, "Somewhere calm."
The tension between them remained, but Sofia felt a strange sense of security with Liam.
As night began to fall, Liam turned onto a private drive, lined with tall trees.
A stunning modern mansion emerged from the darkness.
Sofia's eyes widened, " is this your house, do you own this place?"
Liam nodded, his expression unreadable.
The car came to a stop before the entrance.
Liam stepped out, opening Sofia's door.
"Let's get you settled," he said, his voice softening ever so slightly.
Liam guided Sofia to a serene lakefront cottage, nestled among towering trees.
The sound of gentle lapping water and chirping crickets enveloped them.
"We'll spend the night here," Liam said, his voice low and soothing.