Chapter 93 More Confused
Mia’s POV
“You have to talk to him, Mia,” Josh said softly after turning off the engine. “Just like you, Liam is suffering too.”
I nodded, even though my heart felt too heavy to respond with words.
Josh stepped out first and opened the car door for me, a small gesture he had always done without thinking. As we walked toward the house together, Liam’s posture was stiff, like he had been waiting there for far too long. The
Liam nodded politely at Josh, and my best friend gave him a brief look of understanding before heading inside, giving us the space we needed.
I already knew Liam was innocent. He didn’t have to explain why he hadn’t texted me the entire day. Even though his father’s words had hurt me deeply, even though I had felt humiliated and small, I couldn’t bring myself to blame Liam for it. None of it was his doing.
So I did what I always did when things hurt too much.
I smiled.
I gave him my sweetest smile, the kind that pretended I was fine, the kind that hid the ache in my chest.
“Hi,” he said quietly.
I could see it immediately. The fear in his eyes. The guilt he wasn’t even trying to hide.
“Hi,” I replied gently. “It’s late. You could have texted me.”
Before I could finish the sentence, he stepped closer, closing the distance between us like he was afraid I might disappear if he didn’t.
“Mia, a text wouldn’t have been enough,” he said urgently. “I needed to see you. I know there’s nothing I can say to explain today, and I’m… I’m ashamed of what my father did to you.”
My smile didn’t fade, even though it should have.
“Liam, you don’t need to apologize,” I said softly. “Your father was only telling you the truth.”
His brows furrowed, but I continued before he could interrupt.
“He was right,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “I will never be enough for you, Liam.”
The words had barely left my mouth when he closed the distance between us in a heartbeat. His hands found my hips, firm and warm, grounding me even as my heart threatened to break.
And in that moment, standing there under the quiet night sky, I wondered how something that felt so right could hurt this much at the same time.
“Mia, please,” Liam said, his voice breaking slightly. “Don’t ever say that. You are more than enough. They just don’t realize how amazing you are.”
A hollow laugh escaped me before I could stop it. It sounded wrong even to my own ears.
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “I’m so amazing that I lost my job tonight.” My smile trembled. “I didn’t even know it was going to be my last day at the restaurant. And thanks to your dad, he made sure I understood exactly where I stand.”
Liam’s face fell instantly. The color drained from it, and for a moment, he looked stunned. Then anger flickered across his features, sharp and protective.
“Mia… I’m so sorry,” he said, his fists tightening at his sides. “I swear, I’ll talk to my father about this.”
I shook my head slowly. “You don’t need to do that, Liam.” My voice softened, but the pain remained. “Please… just go home.”
He looked at me like I had struck him. I forced myself to continue before I lost my courage.
“I already have too much on my plate,” I said. “And seeing you here just reminds me of how pathetic I am. How small I look standing next to your world.”
Pain flashed openly in his eyes. “Mia, please,” he whispered. “Don’t give up on us.”
Those words nearly shattered me.
I swallowed hard, my chest aching. “Liam, I can’t afford to lose anything else,” I said. “I can’t lose my education. I can’t lose my scholarship. That’s all I have left right now.”
He stepped closer, desperate. “Mia, Stacy can help us,” he said quickly. “She promised she’ll help us stay together.”
My heart sank.
I wanted to tell him the truth. That Stacy was only playing us. That she was using her power to control everything, including him. But I was exhausted. Hurt. Drained in a way that went deeper than tears.
“Liam,” I said softly, my voice barely holding together, “please… just go.”
I placed my hands against his chest and pushed him away, even though every part of me was screaming not to. His body stiffened, his eyes filled with pain he didn’t try to hide.
And as he stepped back, I realized something that hurt more than everything else combined.
Pushing him away felt like tearing my own heart apart. But I needed to do this, to make things right even if it breaks my heart.
“Liam, please,” I begged, my voice barely above a whisper.
He froze, then slowly stepped back, as if giving me the space I had asked for, even though it clearly hurt him to do so.
“I’m sorry, Mia,” he said softly. “I didn’t know I was making you unhappy.” His voice wavered. “I know you’ve already been through so much. All I ever wanted was to make you happy, but it looks like I’ve been doing the exact opposite.”
He ran a hand through his hair, struggling to keep his composure. “If you really don’t want to see me, I’ll go. I won’t force myself on you.” He paused, then added quietly, “But I hope… I hope tomorrow you’ll still talk to me.”
My heart clenched. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea for us to keep talking, Liam,” I said, the words feeling heavier the moment they left my mouth.
His face flushed red, a mix of panic and pain crossing his features. “Are you… are you breaking up with me, Mia?”
I opened my mouth to answer. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to end it, to protect both of us from more hurt.
But no words came out.
“Just tell me the truth,” he said, his voice rising with desperation. “If you want to end this, say it. Because I’m telling you right now, I won’t agree with it so easily.” His eyes searched mine. “I know I’ve made your life harder. I know I’ve brought you pain. But I want you in my life, Mia. I can’t just let you go.”
My chest ached as he continued, his voice low but unwavering.
“Even trusting someone like Stacy… I was willing to take that risk just to be with you,” Liam said. “I know she isn’t someone you trust. I know you don’t believe in her promises. But I was desperate, Mia. Desperate enough to gamble with my pride, my judgment, and even my own peace of mind if it meant I could keep you in my life.”
He stepped closer again, carefully this time, as if afraid I might pull away. “You have no idea how much you matter to me.”
His eyes softened, shining with emotion he didn’t bother hiding. “I don’t care about the pressure from my family. I don’t care about what people say or how difficult things get. I care about your dreams and your fears.”
His voice broke slightly. “I was willing to trust the wrong person if it meant protecting us. If it meant buying us a little more time. Because losing you, that’s the one thing I can’t accept.”
He swallowed hard, his gaze never leaving mine. “I’m not perfect. I make mistakes. But everything I do, I do because I love you. And I will keep choosing you, Mia, even when it hurts.”
That was when my heart truly broke.
“I’ll go for now,” he said after a long silence. “But I’ll come back tomorrow. And if you still won’t talk to me, I’ll wait outside your door until you do.”
He didn’t give me a chance to respond.
Liam turned and walked toward the street, his shoulders heavy, leaving me standing there under the quiet night sky, more confused than I had ever been… and hurting in a way I didn’t know how to fix.