Chapter 131 In Big Trouble
Mia's POV
"Hey, are you okay? What happened to you this morning?" Liam asked the moment I opened the door of our apartment.
I blinked in surprise, my hand still resting on the doorknob. I had just come back from the salon, my body tired and my mind still a mess, and the last person I expected to see standing there was him.
It was already late. Too late for visitors. Too late for questions I wasn't ready to answer. And yet, there he was.
For a brief second, I wondered how he even knew I was alone. It was as if he had this strange ability to show up at the exact moment Josh wasn't around, like he could sense it without being told.
"Where did you go?" he asked again, his voice softer this time but more serious, his eyes carefully studying my face as if trying to read everything I wasn't saying.
My chest pounded hard under his gaze. I forced myself to move, stepping inside and closing the door behind me, avoiding his eyes as I slipped off my shoes. I could feel his attention following every little movement I made, waiting and watching.
"Yes, I'm fine," I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though my heart was racing. "I just needed to do an important errand for Josh."
The lie left my lips more easily than I expected, but it still felt heavy, like something sitting uncomfortably in my chest.
I finally glanced at him. Liam didn't say anything right away. His brows slightly furrowed, and I could tell he didn't fully believe me. He knew me too well for that.
But instead of pressing further, instead of asking the questions I was afraid to answer, he simply held my gaze for a moment... then slowly nodded.
"Okay," he said quietly. And somehow, that was worse. Because the silence between us carried all the things we weren't saying.
Just like last night, Liam told me he would stay again.
I knew we were both stepping deeper into something dangerous. We were already in trouble. I knew that, we both knew.
But after what happened earlier in his father’s office, after every harsh word that was thrown at me, I chose to push my fear aside. Because if I showed even a little doubt now, then everything his father said about me would become true.
I refused to be that weak. I wanted to prove, not just to his father but to myself, that Liam and I could survive this.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Liam asked softly beside me. We were lying in bed, the room quiet except for the faint sound of the electric fan and our breathing.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I answered, forcing a lightness into my voice that I didn’t feel.
“Mia…” he murmured, turning slightly toward me. His hand found my back, gently tracing small, comforting circles. “You can tell me anything. I’m here now. I want you to trust me and open up to me.” His voice was warm, and I could feel his sincerity. And that only made it harder to lie.
“There’s nothing to tell,” I said, keeping my tone steady. “Everything is fine.” But it wasn’t, not even close.
He went quiet for a moment, and I could feel his eyes on me, studying me like he was trying to read everything I refused to say.
“I know something’s bothering you,” he said gently. “And that’s okay. You don’t have to tell me now… but when you’re ready, I’ll be here. Always.”
I lifted my head and looked at him. There was no doubt in his eyes, just concern. For a second, I almost broke.
I almost told him everything. About his father. About the way his words crushed something inside me. About how scared I really was. But I swallowed it all.
“Of course,” I said with a small smile. “Thank you, I’m just happy you’re here.” That part wasn’t a lie. He pulled me closer, pressing a soft kiss on my forehead, and wrapped his arms around me like he could protect me from everything.
If only it were that easy. It didn’t take long for Liam to fall asleep. His breathing became slow and steady, his hold on me relaxed but still warm. But me? I couldn’t sleep right away.
I stared into the darkness, my eyes wide open as my mind replayed everything his father said. Every insult, warning, and every reminder that I didn’t belong in Liam’s world.
By morning, my body felt heavy and sore from the lack of sleep. And just like before, Liam left without waking me. When I opened my eyes, he was already gone.
Only his scent remained, lingering on the pillow, on the sheets wrapping around me like a memory I couldn’t escape. I lay there for a long moment, staring at the ceiling, my chest tight. No matter how much I tried to ignore it, his father’s words wouldn’t leave me.
I went to school feeling drained, like I hadn’t rested at all. But the moment I saw my friends, I forced myself to act normal. I smiled and laughed because I didn’t want anyone to see how close I was to breaking.
“Hey… are you and Liam okay?” Daniel’s voice caught me off guard after our morning classes. He joined me under the acacia tree, his eyes searching mine like he already knew the answer. I looked at him, surprised.
“Why are you asking me about Liam, Dan?” I said, trying to sound casual, like his name didn’t affect me at all.
Daniel let out a small sigh. “Mia… you can fool everyone else, but not me.”
My chest tightened.
“I know you’re back together,” he continued. “I’ve been waiting for you to tell me, but I figured maybe you wanted to keep it private.” I exhaled slowly, the weight of everything pressing down on me again.
“I’m sorry, Dan,” I said quietly. “I didn’t mean to hide it from you. It’s just, I don’t even understand it myself.” I looked down at my hands.
“My relationship with Liam is complicated. I don’t even know if we can survive everything that’s coming.”
When I looked back at him, I saw his pain.
“If you’re asking me as your friend,” he said carefully, “I don’t want you to be with Liam.” My heart sank.
“Not because I like you or anything like that,” he quickly added, shaking his head. “But because I know how this ends, Mia. I know you’re going to get hurt.”
His voice softened. “And I don’t want that for you.”
Guilt crept into my chest.
“But…” he continued, forcing a small smile, “I also want you to be happy. So if this is what you choose… just be careful, okay?”
“I’m always here for you.” I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Dan…” I whispered. Then I forced a light tone, trying to ease the heaviness between us.
“You should focus on your girlfriend,” I said, nudging him slightly. “You and Dina will be a great couple. I’m really happy for you.” But instead of smiling at me, his expression changed.
And I realized too late, my words didn’t comfort him.
They hurt him.
That afternoon, I was completely caught off guard when I was called to the principal’s office. My heart immediately started racing.
I couldn’t think of any reason why I would be summoned there. I hadn’t done anything wrong. I followed the rules, kept to myself, and focused on my studies. Still, a strange sense of dread settled in my chest as I walked down the hallway, each step feeling heavier than the last.
By the time I reached the office, my palms were already starting to sweat. I knocked softly and waited.
When I stepped inside, I froze for a moment. The principal looked at me with a serious expression and gestured for me to sit down.
“Have a seat, Mia,” she said. Her tone was calm, but there was something in it that made my stomach tighten.
“I need to discuss something important with you.”
The moment I heard that, my heart sank. That word alone was enough to make me feel like I was already in trouble, even if I couldn’t think of anything I had done wrong. My mind tried to figure out what this could be about.
My thoughts raced, jumping from one fear to another. My grades, my record, or worse, my college application. I held my breath, praying it had nothing to do with any of them.