Elena stood in front of Liam's desk, her heart pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. She had rehearsed this conversation a thousand times, yet every word she had planned to say vanished the moment she saw him.
Liam leaned back in his chair, watching her with that unreadable expression—the same one that had made him impossible to read when they were together.
"So, what exactly do you want, Elena?" His voice was calm, controlled. But there was an edge beneath it, a quiet anger he wasn't bothering to hide.
Elena clenched her fingers around the strap of her purse. She had expected this. Of course, he was angry. She had left him without a word, disappearing as if their years together had meant nothing.
"I just..." she started, but her voice faltered. How was she supposed to explain something she still barely understood herself?
Liam let out a dry chuckle. "You don't even know, do you?" He shook his head, standing up from his chair. His towering frame made her feel small, just like it always had. "You walk in here, after five years, and expect me to just—what? Forgive you?"
"No," she said quickly, shaking her head. "I don't expect that."
His jaw clenched. "Then what do you expect?"
She exhaled, forcing herself to meet his eyes. "I came back because I owe you the truth."
Silence stretched between them.
Liam crossed his arms, waiting.
Elena's throat tightened. How was she supposed to say this? How was she supposed to explain that she hadn't just left because of fear, or doubt, or some selfish reason?
"Liam, I didn't leave because I wanted to," she finally said. "I had no choice."
His brows furrowed. "What the hell does that mean?"
She took a deep breath. "The night I left... something happened."
---
Five Years Ago – The Night She Left
The storm had rolled in fast, lightning splitting the sky above Los Angeles as Elena sat in her tiny apartment, staring at the engagement ring Liam had given her. She had never seen something so beautiful, so full of promise.
But she also knew that promises could be broken.
Her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
She hesitated before answering. "Hello?"
A low, unfamiliar voice responded. "If you love Liam Hayes, leave him tonight. Disappear. Don't contact him again."
A chill ran down her spine. "Who is this?"
The voice didn't answer. "This is your only warning. If you stay, he will lose everything."
Her blood ran cold. "What are you talking about?"
Click.
The line went dead.
Elena stared at the phone in disbelief, her hands trembling. Was this some kind of sick joke? Or was it something more?
Panic surged in her chest. She knew Liam. He had enemies—business rivals, people who envied his success. But was someone really willing to destroy his life just to get rid of her?
She tried calling Liam, but the call went straight to voicemail.
She had to make a choice.
And she made the only one that made sense.
---
Present Day
Liam's eyes narrowed as he listened to her. He hadn't moved, hadn't spoken. He was just staring at her as if trying to decide whether or not to believe her.
"You left because of a phone call?" His voice was dangerously low.
"I left because someone threatened you," she corrected.
"And you didn't think to tell me?"
Elena's hands curled into fists. "What was I supposed to do, Liam? I had no idea who it was. I didn't know if they were bluffing or if they were serious. All I knew was that if I stayed, you could lose everything. I couldn't risk that."
He let out a bitter laugh. "You didn't even give me a choice. You just disappeared."
"I thought I was protecting you."
"You weren't," he snapped. "You were running."
She flinched. Maybe he was right. Maybe she had been running. But at the time, it had felt like the only option.
Liam sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. He looked exhausted—like this conversation was draining him. "So why now? Why come back after all this time?"
Elena hesitated. "Because I finally found out who was behind it."
That got his attention. His eyes darkened. "Who?"
She took a shaky breath. "Elliot Grayson."
Liam froze.
Elliot Grayson was one of his biggest rivals—a man who had spent years trying to destroy his company.
"You're telling me that bastard is the reason you left?"
She nodded.
Something flashed in Liam's eyes—something dark.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Because I didn't know it was him until recently. And by the time I found out, I didn't know if I even had the right to come back."
Liam exhaled sharply, turning away from her. She could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands curled into fists.
Finally, he turned back to face her. "So what do you want from me now, Elena?"
Her throat tightened.
"I want to fix this."
His jaw clenched. "And if I don't want to be fixed?"
She swallowed. "Then I'll leave. But I had to try."
Silence.
Then, after what felt like an eternity, Liam spoke.
"You want to fix this? Fine. But don't expect me to make it easy for you."
Her heart stuttered. "Liam—"
"You left me, Elena," he said coldly. "And now you want to come back? You're going to have to prove that you deserve to be here."
Tears burned behind her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had known this wouldn't be easy.
But she wasn't giving up.
Not this time.
---