Chapter 17 A Double Life
Liam's POV
I was not in the mood to socialize, but my father made it clear that I had to be at the marina, on our yacht, for dinner. One of his business partner's families would be there, and saying no was never an option. When my father decided something, I followed. That was how it had always been.
Still, my mind was nowhere near business or polite conversation. All I could think about was Mia.
I wanted nothing more than to spend time with her, even though she clearly wanted nothing to do with me. I kept telling myself to give her space, to respect the distance she had asked for. But my heart refused to listen. I had never known what a broken heart felt like before. I had always thought it was an exaggeration, something people talked about when things did not go their way. Lately, though, I felt it every day, and it all came back to her.
When I arrived at the yacht, I tried to prepare myself for a long, uncomfortable evening. I never imagined the night could get any worse. My brother's best friend, Josh, arrived with Mia in his arms.
I knew him well. He had been close to my older brother, Julian, and every time I saw him, the ache of losing Julian came rushing back. Memories I tried to bury would surface without warning, leaving me tight chested and restless.
In that moment, everything inside me stopped. The noise around me faded, the laughter and conversation turning into a dull blur. Seeing her there, with him, felt like a blow I was not prepared for. I stood frozen, my thoughts tangled, my chest heavy, knowing with sudden clarity that this night was about to become the worst one I had ever lived through.
Josh, ever the showman, called out with infuriating ease the moment he saw my father, "Uncle Rafael! I would like you to meet my girlfriend, Mia Villaruiz."
The word girlfriend rang loudly in my ears, refusing to fade. I never expected Mia to have a boyfriend. Not because she was unattractive. It was the complete opposite. She was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen.
She did not need makeup to stand out. There was something natural about her beauty, something quiet but powerful. People noticed her without realizing why. There was a pull to her, something magnetic that made it hard to look away. Everything about her felt real, from the way she carried herself to the way she tried so hard not to be seen. To me, she was perfect.
I realized then that I was not the only one caught off guard. Mia was clearly shocked to see me too. The way her eyes widened, and her body stiffened, told me she had not expected this. It was obvious that her boyfriend had not told her he would be dining with my family.
And suddenly, everything started to make sense. Maybe she knew I was starting to care more than I should. That could be why she kept pushing me away. Why she built walls and asked me to stay out of her life. Not because she did not feel anything, but because she did not want to hurt me.
But it was already too late. Standing there and watching her, I finally understood the truth I had been trying to ignore. I was falling for her more deeply than I could ever imagine.
Mia was the outcast of Suncrest Academy. The girl everyone overlooked or whispered about. And yet, she was the one who had quietly taken over my thoughts, my heart, and my world without even trying.
And I knew, in that moment, that nothing was ever going to be the same again.
Before she could recover, my father smiled warmly and raised his glass. "Well, well. A beautiful young woman, and you managed to win her over, Joshua? That is impressive."
Mia greeted my father with such ease and calm grace that it caught me off guard. She spoke politely, her posture straight, her smile warm but controlled. For a moment, she looked like she truly belonged in our world, like she had done this kind of thing many times before. Even my father seemed impressed, his attention lingering on her a second longer than usual.
That was when doubt crept in. Had Mia lied to Josh? Or was there more to her than I ever realized?
The way she moved, the way she carried herself, felt different from the girl I thought I knew. She was confident here, composed, nothing like the tired, guarded girl I had seen at school or at the restaurant. It made me wonder if this was the real her, or if she was simply very good at pretending.
A dark thought crossed my mind, one I hated for even considering. Was she using Josh? Was she stepping into his world to gain something she could not get on her own?
But no. That did not feel right. Everything I knew about Mia told me she was not that kind of person. She was proud, careful, and far too honest for games like that. And yet, standing there, watching her blend so effortlessly into my world, I realized something unsettling.
I did not know the real Mia at all. And that uncertainty left me torn between trust and suspicion, wanting to believe in her, but unsure of what to believe anymore.
When she looked back at me, my jaw was tight, my hands shoved into my pockets like I was restraining myself. Not from speaking, but from exploding.
I did not say a word. I did not even blink. I just stared at Josh like I was seeing him for the first time and wanted to drag him across the deck.
"Liam," my father said, gesturing toward the group. "You remember Joshua, do you not? This is his girlfriend, Mia. Join us."
My eyes cut back to her. And for the briefest second, I thought I would call her out. That I would tear through the lie right there, in front of everyone. But I did not.
I gave a stiff, controlled nod. Then stepped forward like a storm about to break.
"Nice to see you again," I said, my voice low, my eyes locked on Mia, but my words aimed at Josh.
Josh, still smiling, clapped me on the back. "Likewise, man. It has been a while."
I forced a smile. It did not reach my eyes.
"It has." And it was not just some awkward introduction. Josh was not a stranger to my world.
He had been my older brother's best friend.
The boy who raided our fridge. The kid who once jumped into the pool fully clothed on a dare.
The guy who had been in countless family photos.
He knew me and my parents. He knew everything about who I was. And yet, he said nothing to Mia.
As we moved toward the dinner table, I followed behind, my entire being buzzing with questions and something dangerously close to betrayal.
Joshua's girlfriend? It did not add up. The last time I heard about Mia, it was Daniel who mentioned she was working nights just to survive. That she was broke. That she was barely making ends meet.
Then I saw her at a restaurant downtown. I had been there with her ex best friends. She was in uniform, hair pulled back, eyes hollow with exhaustion as she moved from table to table. She looked like she had not slept in days.
The girls at my table laughed at her, whispering cruel things under their breath as Mia quietly set down their food, pretending not to hear. And I had just sat there.
That night never left me. So how was this the same girl?
Now she was dressed in silk and wore delicate jewelry, and she carried herself with confidence, like she was protecting herself. She did not just look different. She looked beautiful, distant, and calm without trying.
I could not help but wonder if everything about her had been a lie. Was she using Josh to escape the hard life Daniel had described?
And the question that hurt the most stayed with me. Had she used me too, back when she let me believe she was falling apart?
I clenched my jaw and tightened my fists under the table as I stared at her across the candlelit space between us. I did not want to care. But I did. And she could feel it. Every unspoken accusation in my silence. The pain in my eyes, and the way my gaze stayed on her too long.
And in that moment, surrounded by wealth, beauty, and quiet lies, I realized something that made my stomach drop. I was looking at her like she was living a double life. And I no longer knew who she really was.