Chapter 62
Chapter 62
LIAM'S POV
The next morning was quiet at the office, but it wasn’t peaceful. The air felt heavier, like everyone was holding their breath, waiting for something to happen. Liam had been at his desk since early, pretending to work, but his mind wasn’t on anything in front of him. His thoughts were on Isabel.
He had been trying not to think too much about her, but it was hard. Every time he looked at her, something inside him twisted. He remembered what he saw in the hospital ,the way she had touched Adele’s hand, rough, careless, like she couldn’t even hide how she felt. It had stayed with him since that day, bothering him more than he wanted to admit.
Then there was what Selene had said — how she didn’t trust Isabel, how she thought Isabel and Katherine had been spending too much time together lately. At first, he brushed it off. But now, with everything happening around Adele, he couldn’t shake the thought that maybe Selene was right. Maybe there was something he didn’t know.
He looked up from his desk and saw Isabel walking toward his office. Her steps were slow, careful, almost uncertain. She smiled when their eyes met, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. She looked tired — not physically, but like she was carrying too much.
“Can we talk?” she asked softly, standing at the door.
Liam nodded once. “Close the door.”
She did, then stood in front of his desk, waiting for him to say something. But he didn’t. He just watched her for a moment, his eyes unreadable.
“Is something wrong?” she finally asked, her voice small.
Liam leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know. You tell me.”
She frowned a little. “What do you mean?”
He paused, as if weighing whether to say what he really wanted to say. Then he leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table. “Do you believe people can pretend for too long?”
Isabel blinked. “Pretend?”
He nodded. “Pretend to care. Pretend to be someone they’re not.”
She hesitated, confused. “Liam, what are you trying to say?”
He didn’t answer right away. His eyes stayed fixed on her. “You know, sometimes you think you know a person,” he said slowly, “but then something happens that makes you realize you don’t know them at all.”
“Are you talking about me?” she asked, her voice trembling a little.
He didn’t deny it. “When Adele was sick and in the hospital,” he said quietly, “you never went to see her. Not once.”
She froze. “Liam…”
“No, let me finish,” he cut in. His voice wasn’t loud, but there was something sharp in it. “You were there the day she was taken to the hospital. You saw how bad it was. And since she got better, you haven’t gone once. But you’ve been smiling in everyone’s face like nothing happened.”
“I’ve been busy,” she said quickly. “There were the charity visits, and—”
He gave a short, humorless laugh. “Charity.”
She swallowed, her eyes glassy now. “You think I didn’t care? That’s not true.”
He looked at her again, quiet for a few seconds. Then he said, “Tell me about your relationship with Katherine.”
Her breath caught. “What?”
“You heard me.”
She opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her mind ran fast — how did he know? Did someone tell him? Was it Selene? Was it Eva?
“Liam,” she started, her voice shaky, “why are you asking me that?”
“Because I see things,” he said simply. “And lately, you’ve been around her a lot. More than usual. I want to know why.”
Isabel’s heart raced. Her palms felt cold. She forced a small laugh that came out all wrong. “You think I’m plotting something with her?”
“I didn’t say that,” he replied calmly. “I just said I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
She stared at him, her throat tight. “So that’s what this is? You don’t trust me anymore.”
He didn’t answer. He just looked away, back at the file on his desk, though he wasn’t reading it.
“I’ve been loyal to you,” she said, her voice breaking now. “I’ve done everything you’ve asked. And this is what I get?”
“Isabel,” he said quietly, “I need peace right now. That’s all. Too much is happening, and I can’t keep wondering who’s being honest with me and who isn’t.”
She stepped back slightly, hurt flashing in her eyes. “You think I’d ever betray you?”
He still didn’t look up. “I think I need space.”
The words hit her harder than a slap. She stood there for a moment, speechless, then turned and walked out quickly, before he could see her tears.
By the time she reached the hallway, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. She leaned against the wall, her chest shaking as tears spilled down her cheeks. She didn’t even care who saw. She didn’t know what to do. The only thought in her head was that everything was falling apart — all because of Katherine.
She left the office early that day. She couldn’t sit there pretending to work. Her eyes were red and swollen when she got to her car. She drove without thinking, her hands trembling on the wheel. Her heart kept replaying Liam’s words — I need peace. I don’t know what to believe anymore.
When she reached Katherine’s apartment, she didn’t even knock twice. Katherine opened the door, surprised.
“What happened to you?” she asked.
Isabel pushed past her, crying harder. “I’m done. I can’t do this anymore.”
Katherine frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“Liam,” Isabel said between sobs. “He doesn’t trust me anymore. He knows something’s off. I can’t keep doing this, Katherine. I’m done.”
Katherine’s face went cold. “What did he say exactly?”
“He asked about you,” Isabel said. “He knows we’ve been spending time together. He thinks we’re plotting something.”
Katherine cursed under her breath. “Damn it.”
“I told you this would happen,” Isabel said, wiping her face. “You said it would be fine. You said no one would ever know. But now they’re all watching. Liam doesn’t even want to talk to me anymore.”
Katherine stared at her, her expression tightening. “You can’t back out now.”
“I already have,” Isabel said, shaking her head. “I don’t care what happens next. I’m done with all of this.”
Katherine stepped closer. “You think it’s that easy? After everything we’ve done? You think you can just walk away?”
“I’m serious, Katherine,” Isabel said, her voice rising. “I’m tired. I don’t even recognize myself anymore.”
Katherine let out a low laugh that didn’t sound amused. “You’re not walking away from me. Not after everything I’ve covered for you. Don’t forget, Isabel — you’re not as innocent as you pretend to be.”
Isabel froze. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying if you try to act like you had nothing to do with this, I’ll make sure everyone knows you did,” Katherine said quietly. “Including Liam.”
Isabel’s tears came harder. “You wouldn’t.”
Katherine smiled faintly. “You don’t know me very well.”
For a long second, Isabel just stood there, shaking her head. Then she grabbed her bag and walked toward the door. “You’re evil.”
Katherine didn’t flinch. “And you’re weak.”
Isabel stopped halfway out, turned back with tears streaking her face. “You think you’re in control. You’re not. You’ve lost it, Katherine. Everyone’s starting to see it.”
Then she was gone.
Katherine closed the door and leaned against it, breathing hard. Her phone sat on the table, vibrating with messages she didn’t want to read. She stared at it for a long time before finally picking it up.
She scrolled through her contacts, paused over one name Julian. Her hand hovered, then she pressed “call.”
The phone rang once, twice.
“Julian?” she said when he answered, her voice low, almost shaky.
He didn’t say much on the other end, just a cold, tired silence.
Katherine swallowed. “We need to talk.”
The line went quiet again, and for a second, she thought he had hung up. But then his voice came through, low and tight.
“About what?”
She closed her eyes. “About everything.”
That was the last thing either of them said.
The call hung heavy between them like the calm before something big finally breaks.