Ella’s POV
He knelt again, this ti almost collapsing in front of , his hands cupping mine with more urgency.
"Ella... please. Believe . I don’t want to ruin this. Don’t you trust ?"
His voice cracked on that last sentence.
And sohow, that made my entire world feel even shakier.
I looked away as quietly as I could, wiping my tears with the back of my hand. My voice still trembled when I finally spoke.
"Trust is gained, Liam. It’s sothing earned, not sothing you automatically get just because you want it. And right now... I’m not sure if I trust you at all."
For a mont, everything froze: his expression, the air between us, even my own breathing.
Then Liam clicked his tongue and pushed himself to his feet, frustration radiating off him like heat.
"Dammit," he muttered under his breath before yanking his phone out of his pocket. "You know what? Fine. Let’s put an end to this."
My heart jumped painfully. Suddenly, I felt fear.
"Liam—" I barely got out before he pressed the phone to his ear.
Everyone in the room went still.
His jaw clenched, his nostrils flared, and then—
"Hello, Darla?... Yeah."
His voice echoed through the stunned silence.
I felt my stomach drop.
"I’m sorry I had to end the call like that," he continued, eyes flicking briefly, almost accusingly, toward his family, especially Vicky, then toward . "Can you do a favor and co to my brother’s house right now?"
A heavy blanket of dread wrapped around my chest.
"I’ll text you the address," he said, each word sounding carved out of stone. "I want to introduce you to everyone."
A sharp inhale traveled around the room. Benjamin, Prudence, Nick, Georgia, Vicky, everyone sucked in their breath at once.
My fingers trembled on my lap.
He wasn’t defending himself anymore.
He wasn’t trying to comfort .
He wasn’t trying to keep the peace.
He was calling her here.
Calling the mystery woman here.
To prove what?
That he was innocent?
Or that we were all overreacting?
Or maybe... that I was the fool?
My lungs burned, but I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t dare breathe.
And Liam...
Liam stood there, waiting for Darla to answer, like this was the only way to pull the truth out of whatever ss he had created.
When Liam’s call finally ended, the room felt like it was holding its breath. He lowered his phone slowly, almost chanically, before turning toward all of us.
But this ti... His eyes were red—glassy, strained, like he was one blink away from breaking, but refusing to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing it.
"Happy now?" he said, voice dipped in sarcasm as his gaze landed on Benjamin... then Vicky... then the rest of us. The bitterness in his tone stung sharper than any shout.
"Good for all of you." He let out a hollow laugh that didn’t reach his eyes. "Darla was already driving near here. She’s on her way now, so everyone can finally et her and satisfy your curiosity."
My heart twisted painfully.
He wasn’t triumphant.
He wasn’t defensive.
He sounded... defeated.
Cornered.
"My day is already ruined," he went on, his voice cracking just enough for to hear the strain beneath it. "So please—no one talk to until she gets here. I’m tired. I’m tired of all your doubts, and I’m tired of explaining myself."
And then he moved.
Not angrily.
Not aggressively.
Just... exhausted.
He dropped onto the sofa, almost collapsing, before grabbing the throw pillow and covering his entire face with it while he leaned his head back on the back of the sofa, as if he could hide from the world, from us, from the woman he was about to introduce.
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Everyone stared at him.
Benjamin’s expression hardened.
Prudence pressed a hand to her chest.
Nick frowned.
Vicky clenched her fists, her jaw shaking.
Georgia bit her lip, worried.
And ...
I just stood there—my heart shredded and numb at the sa ti.
Because even if he looked hurt...
So was I. My heart was breaking in thousand pieces but i still tried my best to stay calm.
After a few minutes, the doorbell sliced through the tension like a blade.
Liam shot up from the couch so fast that the pillow he’d used to hide his face dropped to the floor. His eyes were still red, really red now—as if the slightest push would make them spill over.
"I’ll get it," he said quickly, voice rough but steady enough to pass. He didn’t look at anyone as he started toward the hallway until he slowed beside Nick.
He leaned in, whispered sothing only Nick could hear. Nick’s jaw tightened subtly, but he gave one slow nod.
Liam straightened, turned to face everyone again, and for once, there was no sarcasm, no bravado, just a young man trying desperately to hold everything together.
"Stay here," he said. "Please. Don’t move until I text Nick. Just—just give a few minutes. I only need a few minutes to explain things to Darla before I introduce her to all of you."
Then he lifted his eyes and looked straight at .
"Just a few minutes," he repeated softly. "Please?"
My heart squeezed, but I nodded.
That small nod of mine seed to give him the strength he needed. He inhaled sharply, turned, and hurried out of the living room.
The mont he disappeared around the corner, Vicky imdiately stood up, already creeping toward the doorway.
Nick didn’t even look up from his phone.
"Sit down, Vicky."
Vicky froze. "But—"
"No one leaves this room," Nick said, finally lifting his gaze. His tone was firm, final. "We wait. That was Liam’s only request."
Vicky huffed but sank back onto the couch.
Silence settled, thick and restless, as we all stayed exactly where we were—waiting for Liam, waiting for his ssage, waiting for whatever storm was about to blow through the front door with Darla.
********
Thank you for the Golden Tickets!
Noni_Byz
Kristen2025
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