Chapter 123 I’ll Find A Way
Mia's POV
I stepped inside the bathroom, still feeling the warmth of the morning lingering in my chest, and froze when my eyes landed on something hanging neatly on the cabinet door.
A dress.
It was a simple casual dress with soft floral patterns, the kind that looked effortlessly beautiful. The fabric swayed gently as if it had been waiting for me to notice it. For a moment I simply stared at it, confused, wondering how it got there.
Then I noticed a small folded note pinned carefully to the hanger.
My heart skipped a beat as I reached for it.
My fingers trembled slightly when I unfolded the paper and read the familiar handwriting.
Mia,
This is for you, Mia. Thank you for giving me another chance.
Love,
Liam
For a moment, I could not help the smile that slowly spread across my face. It was soft and quiet, but it warmed something deep inside me that I had been trying so hard to guard.
Liam had bought this for me. And the thought that he was just outside the bathroom, waiting for me, made my heart beat even faster.
I pressed the note gently against my chest before placing it on the counter, then hurried toward the shower. The warm water poured over me, but my mind kept drifting back to the bedroom.
Liam was there waiting for me. A small smile tugged at my lips as I quickly washed my hair and finished bathing. For some reason, I suddenly felt impatient, like I could not wait to go back outside and see him again. The thought that he was lying on the bed, probably waiting for me to come out, made a soft flutter of excitement spread through my chest.
I turned off the water sooner than I usually would and wrapped myself in a towel.
My eyes drifted back to the dress. Carefully, I took it from the hanger and ran my fingers over the soft fabric before slipping it on.
The moment it settled around me, I felt my breath catch. It fit perfectly. Not too tight and not too loose. As if it had been made exactly for me. I turned slowly toward the mirror, studying my reflection.
The floral patterns made the dress look fresh and light. My hair was still slightly damp from the shower, and my cheeks were faintly flushed, but for the first time in a long while, I liked the girl looking back at me.
A small laugh escaped my lips as I smoothed the fabric over my waist. It really did feel like the dress had been created just for me.
And somehow, knowing Liam had chosen it, and that he was just outside waiting for me, made my heart race in the sweetest, most confusing way.
As I opened the door, I did not even manage to take a single step forward when I suddenly saw Liam standing right in front of me.
He was so close that I nearly gasped in surprise.
For a brief second, I simply stared at him, my heart skipping wildly in my chest. I had not expected him to be there waiting for me, and the intensity in his eyes made my breath catch.
Before I could even react or say anything, Liam suddenly reached for me.
In the next instant, he captured my lips and gently but firmly pinned me against the wall behind me.
The kiss was sudden and full of urgency, but it was also warm and familiar, the kind that made my heart race uncontrollably. For a moment I froze in shock, but the feeling of his lips on mine quickly melted away every thought in my mind.
Without thinking, I kissed him back with the same intensity.
My hands instinctively clutched the front of his shirt as I returned the kiss, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it. The warmth of his body pressed close to mine, and the scent of him surrounded me, making my head spin in the most wonderful way.
For a few seconds the world seemed to disappear.
There was nothing but him.
When Liam finally pulled away, we were both breathing heavily.
His forehead rested lightly against mine for a moment as if he was trying to steady himself. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my lips, and it only made my heart beat faster.
“I didn’t want to let you go,” he murmured softly, his voice low and slightly breathless.
I swallowed, still trying to recover from the kiss.
“But we need to leave early,” he continued, brushing his thumb lightly against my cheek. “I want us to enjoy the whole day together.”
The words made my heart flutter again. Before I could say anything, Liam gave me one last lingering look that made my cheeks burn.
Then he suddenly stepped away and walked past me toward the bathroom.
“I’ll take a quick shower,” he said casually, as if he had not just completely stolen my breath a moment ago.
The bathroom door closed behind him, leaving me standing there frozen in the middle of the room.
I touched my lips slowly, still feeling the warmth of his kiss. My heart was still racing. And I realized that Liam had completely left me breathless in the best possible way.
“Where are we going again?” I asked curiously after we both settled inside his car.
Liam started the engine and glanced at me with a mysterious smile on his face.
“We’re going to have fun today,” he said simply.
I tilted my head slightly and smiled at him. “I’m already having fun just being with you.”
The moment the words left my mouth, the smile on his face widened, and the deep dimples on his cheeks appeared. Seeing them made me giggle softly.
“Me too,” he said, his voice warm. “But I’m talking about something else.”
That only made me more curious.
I turned slightly in my seat, studying his expression, hoping he would give me a hint about where we were going. But Liam only kept that secretive smile on his face as he focused on the road.
“Don’t worry,” he added after a moment. “I’m sure you’ll love it.”
I nodded slowly, a small smile still on my lips.
Then, as he drove, he reached for my hand. Our fingers intertwined naturally, as if they belonged together, and the simple gesture made my heart swell with happiness.
For a while we fell silent.
But it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence.
It was peaceful.
The kind of quiet that only happens when two people feel completely at ease with each other.
I watched the road ahead while feeling the warmth of Liam’s hand holding mine, and in that moment I felt content with where I was. I tried not to think about the future or the complications that might come later.
Right now, I only wanted to enjoy being with him.
After a few minutes, Liam suddenly spoke again, his tone more serious.
“Mia,” he said softly. “I just want to clarify something.”
I turned my head to look at him.
“I don’t want to put you in a situation where there’s a big chance you’ll get hurt in the end,” he continued carefully. “But I will try my best to protect you this time.”
My heart tightened slightly as I listened to him.
He took a slow breath before continuing.
“So I’m going to ask you one more time,” he said. “Are you really sure you want to be my girlfriend again… even if it has to be a secret?”
His words hung in the air between us.
I gently squeezed his hand.
“Liam,” I said softly, “I already told you. I’m ready.”
He glanced at me briefly before looking back at the road.
“I don’t care if our relationship has to be secret,” I continued. “You don’t need to worry about me. As long as you’re still my boyfriend, I’ll be fine.”
I tightened my hold on his hand to reassure him.
For a moment he didn’t say anything.
Then he sighed quietly. “I hate it,” he admitted. “But this is the only way I can keep you in my life.”
His voice was filled with regret.
“I’m sorry if I have to do this to us,” he added. “But I can’t stand being away from you. I can’t stand seeing you every day and not being able to talk to you… kiss you… or hold you.”
My heart fluttered wildly in my chest when he said that.
“I always miss you, Mia,” he confessed. Butterflies filled my stomach.
“I feel the same way too, Liam,” I replied softly.
He lifted our joined hands and gently brought my hand to his lips.
“I’ll find a way to see you every day,” he murmured before pressing a soft kiss against my knuckles.
The small gesture made my heart feel so full that I could hardly contain the happiness spreading through my chest.
And in that moment, sitting beside him while the car continued down the road, I felt like nothing else in the world mattered except the two of us.