Chapter 90 Back in the lion den
Chapter 90: Back in the Lions' Den (Elena’s POV)
The clinic room was quiet after the surgeon left. He hadn't found any poison—he just told us my mom needed to rest for a few days to build up her strength before the big operation because her blood pressure was too low. The money was safe, the doctors were amazing, and for the first time, I could actually breathe.
Two days later, Liam insisted on driving me back to Northview High. My knee was still wrapped in a brace, but I was walking without a cane. I was wearing one of Liam’s oversized gray hoodies over a simple pair of jeans. It was the most comfortable I had felt in a long time.
As Liam parked his car in the school lot, I gripped the seatbelt. "Are you sure you’re ready for this? Your dad is probably going to make sure everyone knows you’re cut off."
Liam turned off the engine and looked at me. He reached over, taking my hand and rubbing his thumb against my skin. He gave me a soft, reassuring smile that made my stomach do a little flip.
"Elena, I don't care about my dad, and I don't care about this school," he said, his voice dropping to a low whisper. He leaned across the console, his lips brushing against my cheek before he found my mouth. The kiss was slow and warm, completely different from the chaotic energy of the last few days. It felt like he was anchoring me to the spot.
When he pulled back, his eyes were steady. "I only care about you. Let them talk."
I smiled, feeling a blush creep up my neck. "Okay. Let's get this over with."
We walked through the front doors of the school together, our fingers tightly locked. The moment we stepped into the main hallway, the chatter stopped. It was like someone hit a giant mute button. Everyone was staring. The gossip pages had already done their work; people knew Liam wasn't the hockey captain anymore, and they knew I was the reason why.
"Look at them," a sharp voice sneered from the lockers.
I looked up and saw Chloe standing there, holding a designer bag and leaning against Jax’s shoulder. Maya was standing right next to them, her arms crossed and a bitter look on her face. The "holy trinity" of Northview was waiting for us.
"Well, if it isn't the charity case and her fallen king," Chloe laughed, stepping into the middle of the hallway to block our path. "I’m surprised you showed your face here, Elena. I thought you’d be busy packing your bags for the state ward."
"The ward is closed, Chloe," I said, keeping my voice calm as I stood my ground. "My mom is in a private clinic. The surgery is happening."
Jax let out a loud snort, tossing his car keys in the air. "Yeah, right. With whose money? We all know Vance’s dad cut him off. Liam, you don't even have a spot on the varsity team anymore. You’re literally a nobody now."
Liam didn't even flinch. He didn't drop his grip on my hand either. He just stared at Jax like he was a minor annoyance. "I still have my fists, Jax. Do you want to test if I forgot how to use them just because I lost a patch on my jersey?"
Jax’s smile dropped instantly, and he took a half-step back behind Chloe. He knew Liam could still level him if he wanted to.
Maya finally stepped forward, her eyes scanning the way Liam was holding my hand. She looked like she wanted to scream, but she kept her voice low and toxic. "You think you won something, don't you, Elena? You think because you manipulated Liam into throwing away his entire life for you, you’re suddenly one of us?"
"I never wanted to be one of you, Maya," I said, looking her straight in the eyes. I felt Liam squeeze my hand, giving me the courage to say what I needed to say. "You spent weeks pretending to be my best friend just because you were obsessed with a guy who didn't even notice you. That’s not power. That’s just pathetic."
"You little—" Maya started, her face turning bright red.
"Move out of the way, Maya," Liam cut her off, his voice cold as ice. "We have class."
"You won't last a week, Liam!" Maya shouted after us as we started walking past them. "The scouts are gone! Your dad is going to sell your apartment! You’re going to be just as poor and miserable as she is!"
We didn't turn around. We kept walking down the hall, our shoulders touching.
When we finally reached my locker, I leaned against it, letting out a long breath. "That was intense."
Liam smiled, stepping close into my space. He put his hands on the locker on either side of my head, completely trapping me in his warmth. The hallway was still buzzing around us, but with him this close, it felt like we were the only two people in the building.
"You did great," he whispered, leaning down so his forehead rested against mine. "You called her pathetic. I loved that."
"She deserved it," I laughed softly, my hands coming up to rest on his chest. I could feel his heart beating steadily underneath his hoodie. "But she’s right about one thing. Your dad is going to take the apartment, isn't he?"
"Let him," Liam said, kissing the tip of my nose. "My uncle already set up a place for me near the city office. And he said there’s a small guest house on the property that’s completely furnished. It has a ramp for your knee, and it’s only ten minutes away from your mom’s new clinic."
I stared at him, my eyes widening. "Liam... you didn't tell me that."
"I wanted it to be a surprise," he murmured, his lips traveling down to my jawline, making me shiver. "No more basements. No more hidden rooms. A real place. For both of us."
"Are we... living together?" I asked, my heart pounding for a completely different reason now.
"If you want to," he said, pulling back just enough to look into my eyes. "I know everything is moving fast, and I know we started out hating each other's guts. But I don't want to spend a single night wondering if you're safe under some rich psycho's roof. I want you with me."
I looked at him—really looked at him. This was the guy who used to mock my old sweaters and complain about his history essays. Now, he was giving up his dream just to give me a safe place to sleep.
"I want that too," I whispered.
He smiled, a genuine, happy smile that reached his eyes, and leaned in to kiss me again. This time, it wasn't just a quick reassurance. It was deep, possessive, and full of the promise of our new life. Right there in the middle of the Northview hallway, with everyone watching, we didn't care anymore.