Chapter 58 The Villain’s Truth

Chapter 58 The Villain’s Truth
LIORA'S POV 

The silence stretched between us like a living thing, thick and heavy, pressing down on my chest until it was hard to breathe. I stood there, my arms wrapped around myself like I could hold all my doubts and fears inside. He didn’t say anything at first. He just took a slow step back, ran a hand through his messy hair, and let out a long breath.

“Liora…” His voice came out softer than I’d ever heard it. Almost careful, like he was walking on broken glass. His throat moved as he swallowed hard. I could hear the pounding of my own heart and the blood rushing in my ears.

“How do you know that name?” he asked finally. His words were measured, each one chosen with effort.

I fumbled for my phone with shaking hands. The screen lit up, and I opened the messages without a word. 

He stared at the screen. I watched his face shift in confusion first.

“Mila is not what you think,” he started, his voice low and steady, but I could hear the strain underneath. “She’s not someone I’m seeing.”

“Then who is she?” My voice came out sharper than I meant it to.

He took a deep breath, the kind that filled his whole chest. 

“She was partly part of the reasons why I got exiled. Ronan took advantage of her and obviously I took the blame and my father exiled me 3 years ago.”

I couldn’t speak. The room suddenly felt smaller.

Leonard turned to face me fully, his eyes burning with old anger. “There was nothing I could do to defend myself my own father refused to believe me and since there was no evidence I didn't have a choice “

Leonard looked down at my phone again, thumb tracing the edge like it was fragile. “Mila was the only one who knew the truth. But she couldn't even defend me because she was scared for her life too. “

“So when I came back this year,” he went on, “I found her. I was willing to do anything to clear my name so I kinda forced her into helping me.”

“Help you with what?” I whispered.

He paused. 

“My mom,” he said, and his voice broke. It was the most painful sound I’d ever heard. “I didn’t believe she just… died. From some sudden illness. Everything about it seemed sketchy, they never kept records of her sickness in the pack hospital, it was like they were trying to erase her existence or something.”

His eyes were glassy now. “Mila is the only person I had something I could threaten with to help me find out what happened to my mom.”

“The texts,” I said slowly. “You were apologizing because…”

“Because she went silent for two weeks,” he finished.

“She brought medical reports that showed that Ronan's mom was allergic to fur but there was nothing I wanted to use that for. I thought she decided not to reach out because of my tone and I can't exactly be found lurking around the pack..”

I suddenly felt awful. 

“Then what about blackmailing the principal and your coach?” I murmured.

Leonard looked ashamed but resolute. “I had to play dirty, Liora. The good guy lost last time. Ronan took everything, my spot, my reputation, my future. I found dirt on the principal. Used it to get back on the team. To become captain. To stand right in Ronan’s face so he couldn’t treat me like trash anymore.” His voice dropped. “I know it makes me a bad person. But I couldn’t let him win again.”

The weight of everything he’d carried alone settled over me like a blanket of stones. I couldn’t imagine holding all that inside.

“Why didn’t you tell me any of this?” I asked, my voice small.

He met my eyes, and the pain there nearly undid me. “Because I was terrified. Every person I’ve ever trusted looked at me like I was broken. Or dangerous. Like I was the villain in my own story.” He reached out, his fingers barely brushing my cheek “I didn’t want you to look at me the way you’re looking at me right now.”

I didn’t even know how I was looking at him. Everything felt numb except the cracking ache in my chest.

“Leonard, the dating thing…” He shook his head, smiling sadly. “It started as a way to piss Ronan off. Distract him. Hurt him. But then it stopped being fake for me.”

My breath caught.

“I know you probably don’t feel the same,” he said quickly, holding up a hand. “I’m not saying this to pressure you or make things weird. I just… needed you to know. When I touch you, it’s real, it wasn’t for show. It was because I wanted to. Because I couldn’t stop myself.”

He pulled his hand back, like he didn’t trust it anymore.

I stood there, letting everything sink in. 

“I’m sorry,” I said, feeling extremely terrible.

I clenched my fists, my acrylic nails digging into my palm as I tried to steady my breathing. “I’m so sorry. I saw those messages and I just… assumed the worst. I didn’t even give you a chance to explain.”

“You had every right…”

“No,” I cut him off, scooting closer. “You’ve been fighting this war alone. Your mom, Ronan, Mila, all of it. And instead of asking you what was happening, I let some stranger’s messages poison my mind. I’m sorry.”

His jaw worked, eyes shining. I didn’t wait for him to respond. I reached out and pulled him into a hug.

He stiffened at first, surprised. Then his arms came around me almost desperate. He buried his face in my shoulder, and I felt the long, shaky exhale against my neck, like he’d been holding his breath for months. I held him harder, rubbing his back, whispering sorry again and again.

We stayed like that for what felt like forever.

Eventually he pulled back just enough to look at me. His face was softer now, the hard edges cracked open. “Do you believe me?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation. “I believe you.”

He let out a shaky laugh that sounded half like a sob. “This is my fault. I should’ve told you everything from the start.”