CHAPTER 66

CHAPTER 66

Liam had been pacing Selene’s living room for almost twenty minutes.

Back and forth. From the window to the couch. From the couch to the kitchen counter. He stopped only to rub his jaw or drag a hand through his hair, then started again. Selene sat on the arm of the couch, legs crossed, watching him with a kind of quiet patience that was starting to wear thin.

“You’re going in circles,” she said finally.

“I’m thinking,” Liam replied.

“No,” Selene said. “You’re stalling.”

He stopped walking and looked at her. “I’m trying to get this right.”

She sighed. “You already know enough.”

“No, I don’t,” he snapped. Then he softened, lowering his voice. “I know pieces. I know instincts. I know something is wrong. But I don’t know how deep it goes.”

Selene tilted her head. “And you think waiting will suddenly make it clearer?”

“I think charging in half informed will make it worse.”

“For who?” she asked. “You or them?”

That hit a nerve.

Liam turned away, staring out the window. The city lights were coming on, one by one. Evening settling in. He felt tired in a way sleep could not fix.

“Katherine is lying,” he said quietly. “That much I know. But she’s smart. She lies by omission. She leaves gaps so you fill them yourself. Isabel…” He paused. “Isabel is worse. She’s all emotion. She tells half truths and then looks at you like she’s waiting for forgiveness.”

“And you’re still hoping one of them will suddenly sit you down and confess,” Selene said.

He did not answer.

Selene stood up and walked closer to him. “Liam. Listen to me. Julian deserves to know. Not tomorrow. Not after you feel comfortable. Now.”

“You think I don’t know that?” Liam turned back to her. “Julian is my friend. That’s exactly why I won’t go to him with assumptions.”

“You’re not dealing with assumptions,” she said. “You’re dealing with patterns. Repeated ones.”

He ran a hand down his face. “What if I’m wrong?”

Selene’s voice softened. “What if you’re not?”

Silence stretched between them.

She continued, slower now. “What if you’re protecting people who are actively hurting others just because you want to be fair?”

Liam clenched his jaw. “That’s not fair.”

“Isn’t it?” she asked. “Because from where I’m standing, Katherine keeps dodging direct answers. Isabel keeps panicking and backtracking. Adele is the only one who hasn’t lied.”

That name settled heavy in the room.

Liam looked down. “She’s been through enough.”

“Exactly,” Selene said. “And Julian doesn’t even know the half of it. He thinks this is workplace tension. He doesn’t know it’s personal. He doesn’t know his name is being dragged into conversations he’s not even present for.”

“I told you,” Liam said. “I want to talk to him. I just need one clear confirmation.”

Selene shook her head. “You’re waiting for permission from people who benefit from your silence.”

That stung.

Before he could respond, his phone buzzed in his hand. He glanced at it.

Isabel.

Selene saw the screen. “Don’t tell me you’re considering answering that.”

“I need to,” Liam said. “This is part of it.”

He stepped away and answered.

“Hello?”

Isabel’s voice came through thin and unsteady. “Liam… I know this is a bad time.”

He closed his eyes. “When is it not?”

“I just… I need to talk to you.”

Selene crossed her arms, watching him closely.

“About what?” Liam asked.

“The truth,” Isabel said. There was a pause. “Or what I should have told you earlier.”

Liam’s heart thudded. “Then say it.”

“I can’t over the phone,” she replied. “Can we meet?”

“When?”

“Tonight.”

He hesitated.

Selene mouthed, no.

“I’ll think about it,” Liam said.

“Please,” Isabel whispered. “I’m running out of courage.”

The line went quiet.

Liam lowered the phone slowly.

Selene let out a breath. “You see?”

“She wants to talk,” Liam said.

“She wants to control the setting,” Selene replied. “There’s a difference.”

He rubbed his temple. “You think everyone is manipulating.”

“I think people act in their own interest,” Selene said. “Especially when they’re cornered.”

Liam opened his mouth to argue when the doorbell rang.

They both froze.

Selene frowned. “Are you expecting someone?”

“No,” Liam said.

She walked to the door cautiously and looked through the peephole. Her shoulders stiffened.

“Who is it?” Liam asked.

She opened the door slowly.

Julian stood there.

He looked tired. His jacket was still on. His eyes were sharp in that quiet way they got when something was wrong.

“I think I just heard my name,” Julian said calmly. “Tell me what?”

The room seemed to shrink.

Liam’s stomach dropped.

Selene stepped aside to let Julian in. “You weren’t supposed to hear it like that.”

Julian’s gaze shifted between them. “That’s usually how people hear the truth.”

He closed the door behind him. “What’s going on?”

Liam swallowed. “Julian…”

“Don’t,” Julian interrupted. “Don’t soften it. Just tell me.”

Selene looked at Liam. “This is what I meant.”

Liam nodded slowly. “Alright. Sit down.”

Julian did not. “No. I’m standing.”

Liam exhaled. “Fine.”

He spoke carefully at first. About Katherine. About the inconsistencies. About Isabel’s behavior. About conversations that did not add up. He talked about Adele without revealing everything, respecting boundaries even now. He talked about manipulation without using the word.

Julian’s expression changed bit by bit.

“So you’re telling me,” Julian said slowly, “that my ex and someone I work with have been running circles around people while pretending nothing is wrong.”

“I’m telling you something is off,” Liam said. “I just don’t know how far it goes.”

Julian laughed once, humorless. “That’s your problem. You’re still being kind.”

Selene stepped in. “Julian, I wanted him to tell you sooner.”

Julian nodded. “I know.”

He looked back at Liam. “Have you talked to Katherine directly?”

“Yes.”

“And?”

“She dodges. Turns things back on me. Acts offended instead of answering.”

Julian nodded again. “Classic.”

Liam frowned. “You sound like this isn’t surprising.”

Julian looked away. “There were signs. I ignored them.”

Silence settled again.

Julian’s phone buzzed. He checked it.

Katherine.

He did not answer.

Liam watched him carefully. “She’s been calling you?”

“All day,” Julian said. “I didn’t want to deal with it.”

Selene crossed her arms. “She’s spiraling.”

Julian looked up sharply. “How do you know that?”

“Because people who lose control start reaching for it everywhere,” Selene replied.

Julian’s jaw tightened.

Before anyone could speak again, Selene’s phone rang.

She looked at the screen and froze.

“It’s Isabel.”

Liam’s head snapped up. “Answer it.”

She did.

“Selene,” Isabel said, her voice shaky. “I need help.”

Selene glanced at Liam and Julian. “Where are you?”

“In my car,” Isabel replied. “I can’t do this alone anymore.”

Julian frowned. “Do what?”

Selene put the call on speaker.

“I’m going to tell the truth,” Isabel said. “About everything. Katherine. The lies. The pressure. All of it.”

Julian’s breath caught.

“Julian is here,” Selene said gently.

A long pause.

“I figured,” Isabel replied. “He deserves to know.”

Julian closed his eyes.

Liam felt the room tilt.

“Where are you?” Selene asked again.

“Near the office,” Isabel said. “I was going to come in, but I got scared.”

“Stay where you are,” Selene said. “We’re coming to you.”

Julian opened his eyes. “We?”

Selene nodded. “All of us.”

The call ended.

No one spoke for a moment.

Julian finally broke the silence. “So this is it.”

Liam nodded. “Looks like it.”

Julian grabbed his jacket. “Then stop trying to protect everyone else and start protecting the truth.”

As they moved toward the door, Liam felt the weight of what was coming settle fully on his chest.

Whatever Isabel said next would change everything.

And none of them were ready.