Chapter 31 Losing My Mind
Liam's POV
I was filled with happiness the moment Mia said yes.
I kept my face calm, almost casual, as if it did not matter. But inside, everything was chaos. My heart raced, my thoughts tangled, and the relief hit me all at once.
I never thought she would say yes. I hoped she might, maybe even prayed for it, but hope felt risky when it came to Mia. The truth was, I had already planned it all before I asked her.
Earlier, while we were on our way home and stuck at a long stoplight, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to the chef. I tried to sound relaxed, but my hands were shaking as I typed.
"Prepare something lavish. I have a special guest."
After a moment, I added another line.
"Make it perfect."
I would never tell Mia that. I wanted to look effortless and calm, like this was just another normal evening for me. But it was not.
I had never brought a girl home before. Not because I could not, but because none of them mattered enough. I never cared what they thought about my house, my family, or my last name.
Mia was different. With her, I cared about whether she felt comfortable. About whether she felt small in my world. About whether she could see past the money and the walls and understand the lonely boy behind them.
So I acted relaxed. I smiled, shrugged things off, and pretended it was no big deal. All while my heart was quietly falling apart, just because I had convinced her to stay.
I rarely asked the household staff for anything personal, but tonight I did. I wanted to impress her. Not with money or luxury, but with effort. I wanted her to eat something good, to feel spoiled for once, to feel like someone truly wanted to give her the best.
Seeing her eyes light up with excitement made me feel lighter than I had in months.
As we ate dinner, I could not stop staring at her. Having her in our house felt surreal, yet natural at the same time. I liked the feeling of her being there. She really made me happy.
Dessert arrived next, a chocolate mousse topped with berries. Mia took a spoonful and closed her eyes because it tasted heavenly. When she opened them, I was smiling softly at her.
"That is the reaction I was waiting for," I said.
Her cheeks warmed. "Liam, please stop staring."
"I cannot help it. You enjoying something makes me enjoy it too."
We held each other's gaze, and in that extra second, something changed. The air grew softer, deeper, and full of unspoken tension.
When we finished eating, I leaned back and took a slow breath as if gathering courage.
"Mia," I said, almost quietly, "I will drive you home."
She blinked. "Liam, you really do not have to. I always take the bus. It is fine."
"I can take you to the bus stop," I said quietly. "It is too far from here, and you should not walk there alone. But I would rather drive you home."
She tried to protest, but I leaned forward, elbows resting on the table, my eyes steady and sincere.
"You were here with me," I said in a low voice. "You made this house feel less empty. Let me take you home."
I opened the door for Mia and even helped her fasten her seatbelt, making her blush.
"I feel guilty," I said quietly as we drove through the dimly lit streets, and her brows drew together in confusion.
"Why?" she asked, turning slightly to face me.
I gripped the steering wheel a little tighter, my eyes fixed on the road. "Because of Josh," I admitted. "He is my friend, and I know I should respect that. But tonight..." I paused for a moment, my voice dropping as if I was afraid of the truth slipping out too easily. "Tonight I enjoyed every second with you. And right now, I am wishing I were your boyfriend instead of him."
Her face flushed a soft shade of pink, and she did not say a word. She only lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening on her seat, and that silence, her unspoken reaction, felt louder to me than any answer.
For me, it was a good sign. Selfish or not, I could not help it. I wanted her to notice me. To realize, in her own time, that I could give her more than Josh ever could. That I could love her more deeply and more patiently in ways Josh might never even think to try.
The thought both thrilled and unsettled me. I knew I should not be thinking this way. She had a boyfriend. There were lines I was not supposed to cross and rules I was meant to respect. And yet, every time Mia blushed, every time she fell quiet around me, those rules felt thinner and easier to forget.
I stayed quiet and acted calm, even though my mind was a mess. Inside, my feelings were changing into something I was starting to lose control over.
I had never compared myself to another man before. I was not just interested in Mia anymore. I was losing my mind over her.
I glanced at her once, just long enough to see her still blushing, and then I focused back on the road.
"Thank you for the ride, Liam," she said softly as she stepped out. "And for the dinner. It was really delicious. I still cannot believe it was all for us."
"My pleasure," I replied softly. "I hope you liked everything."
"I did. More than I expected." She replied.
"I am glad, I will see you at school tomorrow," I said quietly.
"Good night, Mia," I added.
"Good night," she responded with a sweet smile, making my heart leap.
My car rolled away slowly, and I glanced at the mirror just in time to see her still standing on the pavement, watching me leave. A soft smile touched my lips at the sight. Part of me wanted to stop the car right then and there, get out, and go back to her. I wanted to spend more time with her, even if it was just a few extra minutes.
But I did not.
I cared too much about Mia to be selfish. I knew she barely had time for herself. Her days were packed with back to back part time jobs, endless responsibilities, and quiet exhaustion she tried so hard to hide. The thought of it made my chest ache. While I lived in a house too big and too empty, she was out there fighting every single day just to survive.
And that realization erased every doubt I once had.
Whatever relationship she had with Josh no longer mattered to me. Whatever the world believed, I did not care anymore. All I wanted was to win her heart. To be the one she chose in the end.
I knew it sounded reckless. Maybe even foolish. But I had never wanted anything this badly before.
I knew Josh was also an heir to his father's empire. I knew the world we came from valued power and status as much as love. And if that was the price I had to pay to prove I could protect her, provide for her, and choose her every single day, then so be it.
For the first time, the weight of my last name did not feel like a burden. It felt like a responsibility I was willing to accept. If taking over my father's company was the only way I could give Mia the security and comfort she deserved, then I would do it. If building an empire was what it took to stand beside her without feeling unworthy, then I would embrace it fully.
My hands tightened on the steering wheel as determination took hold. If this was my ticket to having her, I was ready to take it.