Sophia spent the rest of the night pacing in Liam's apartment, her mind churning with questions and fears. The encounter with Jason had unsettled her to the core, but what haunted her more was the look on Liam's face—the mixture of anger and confusion as he processed everything she had just revealed.
Liam sat on the couch, watching her in silence. His elbows rested on his knees, his hands clasped tightly as though he were holding himself back from speaking. He had questions, she knew that. Questions she wasn't sure she could answer, at least not fully.
"Are you going to wear a hole in the floor?" Liam's voice finally broke through her thoughts, his tone light but edged with concern.
Sophia stopped mid-step and turned to face him. "I don't know what to do, Liam," she admitted, her voice trembling. "Jason's not someone you can just ignore. He's… dangerous."
Liam leaned back, his expression hardening. "You don't think I can handle him?"
"It's not about that," Sophia said quickly, shaking her head. "This isn't about strength or courage. It's about control. Jason doesn't play fair. He doesn't just fight—he destroys."
Liam stood, his towering presence steady and unshakable. He crossed the room to her, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. "I don't care how dangerous he is, Sophia. He's not going to hurt you. Not while I'm here."
His words were comforting, but they didn't erase the fear curling in her chest. Jason's reappearance wasn't a coincidence—it never was with him. Every move he made was calculated, every word designed to sow doubt and chaos. And the fact that he had shown up at Liam's apartment meant he was already several steps ahead of them.
"What does he want, really?" Liam asked, his voice low. "It can't just be about you."
Sophia hesitated, her mind racing through the possibilities. Jason had always wanted power, control. But his obsession with her had been personal. She had been his greatest possession, the one thing he had thought he could never lose. When she left, it had shattered his illusion of control—and she knew he'd never forgive her for that.
"I don't know," she said finally, though the words felt hollow. "But whatever it is, it's not good."
Liam's jaw tightened, and she could see the fire in his eyes. He wasn't going to back down from this, no matter how dangerous Jason was. And while a part of her was grateful for his unwavering support, another part of her was terrified. Because Jason didn't just destroy people—he turned them against each other.
The sound of Liam's phone buzzing broke the tension. He glanced at the screen, his brows furrowing. "It's an unknown number."
Sophia's heart sank. "Don't answer it."
But Liam was already picking up the call. "Hello?"
For a moment, there was silence, and then Liam's expression darkened. He put the call on speaker, and Jason's smooth, chilling voice filled the room.
"Ah, Liam. I see you've decided to play the hero. How noble of you."
"What do you want?" Liam's voice was cold, cutting.
Jason chuckled, the sound sending shivers down Sophia's spine. "What I've always wanted—Sophia. But you see, this isn't just about her anymore. You've made things… complicated."
Sophia stepped closer, her fists clenched. "Leave him out of this, Jason. Whatever you're planning, it's between you and me."
"Oh, Sophia," Jason said mockingly. "Still trying to protect everyone else, even when you're the one who needs saving. How predictable."
Liam's hand tightened around the phone. "You think you're in control, Jason, but you're not. Stay away from her, or I'll make you regret it."
Jason's laughter was low and sinister. "I admire your confidence, Liam. Truly, I do. But you don't know the full story, do you? You don't know what she's been hiding from you."
Sophia's blood ran cold. "Don't," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Oh, but he deserves to know," Jason continued, his tone dripping with malice. "After all, you've been lying to him from the start, haven't you, Sophia?"
Liam glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "What is he talking about?"
Jason's voice dropped to a near whisper, as though he were savoring the moment. "Ask her about the deal, Liam. The one she made to protect you. Ask her what she gave up to keep you safe."
Sophia's breath hitched, her chest tightening as the walls of her carefully constructed world began to crumble.
Liam's eyes never left hers. "What deal, Sophia?"
She shook her head, backing away as though she could escape the weight of his gaze. "I didn't… I didn't have a choice."
Jason's laughter filled the room once more. "Oh, this is priceless. You see, Liam, Sophia thought she could outsmart me, but she doesn't realize that every move she makes only brings her closer to me. The deal she made—it's binding. She gave herself to me the moment she tried to save you."
Sophia felt the tears welling in her eyes, her heart breaking under the strain of the truth. She had done it to protect Liam, to keep Jason from hurting him. But now, it was all unraveling, and she didn't know how to fix it.
Liam ended the call abruptly, tossing the phone onto the couch. His expression was unreadable, his jaw tight. "Is it true?"
Sophia nodded, unable to speak.
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, his voice soft but filled with hurt.
"Because I couldn't risk it," she said, her voice cracking. "Jason was going to come after you, and I couldn't let that happen. So I made a deal—I told him I'd leave if he left you alone."
Liam stared at her for a long moment, the weight of her confession sinking in. Finally, he stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "You don't have to fight him alone anymore, Sophia. Whatever deal you made, we'll find a way out of it. Together."
Sophia wanted to believe him, but Jason's words still echoed in her mind. "The deal is binding."
As Liam pulled her into his arms, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of the storm. Jason's web was tightening around them, and escaping it would be far more dangerous than either of them realized.