As we finished loading everything into the truck, Greg leaned against the side and asked, "Where are your parents?"Liam rolled his shoulders. "They'll come alone." His face twisted slightly, like he was regretting the thought of what his parents were probably doing right now. I couldn't help but smile."Let's go," Liam said, hopping into the driver's seat.I climbed in, taking the back seat with Greg, while Trevor claimed the passenger side. As soon as I settled in, Greg leaned in slightly and sniffed. "Damn, you smell nice."I pulled back, giving him a look. "Are you a dog?"He grinned. "I'm a dog for you, baby.""Eww. Just wait till I tell Jane," Trevor teased from the front.Greg scoffed. "Bro, there's nothing going on between us."Trevor snorted. "Yeah, like I didn't see you banging her yesterday."Greg shrugged. "So what? We fucked, and that was it. She doesn't want anything serious. She came for the dick, and I gave her what she wanted.""Oh my God, can you guys stop?" I groane
I followed Liam back to the truck without a word, sliding into the passenger seat as he started the engine. He didn't even wait for Trevor and Greg. I knew we were leaving without them, and I also knew why. He Just started the engine and pulled onto the road, his grip on the wheel tight, his jaw locked.I bit back a smirk. He was pissed.Good.The night air rushed in through the open window, cooling my skin as I leaned back, watching him from the corner of my eye. He hadn't said a word since he saw me back there, legs spread, lips parted -not in pleasure, but in control. And the best part? He knew exactly what I was doing.I played him. Just like he accused me of before. Calculating, manipulative, always two steps ahead. He said it like it was a bad thing. But I never denied it.Jack was never going to touch me, not really. He was nothing more than a pawn, an easy piece to move across the board. The real game was Liam.And he walked right into it.He thinks he walked away? That he ign
Days passed. Then weeks. I didn't speak to Liam. He didn't speak to me. We existed in the same space, but we may as well have been on different planets. And I preferred it that way.The moment he walked away that night, leaving me standing in the dark with his words clinging to my skin like a burn, I made a choice.Liam was my enemy now.Not someone to taunt or push for the sake of a reaction. Not someone to play with just because I could. No-this was different. This was war. So, I did what any strategist would do.I adjusted.For the next few days, I ignored Liam completely. No glances. No taunts. No games. If he was in the room, I looked past him. If he spoke, I pretended I didn't hear. He wanted to act like I didn't exist? Fine. Two could play that game. But staying still wasn't an option.I needed a distraction, something to channel the energy buzzing beneath my skin. Something that didn't involve him.So, I threw myself into work. I woke up before sunrise and spent the mornings
It was market day, as usual. We were supposed to sell the fruits today. But there was a problem. Evans wasn't feeling well, and Jack was nowhere to be seen. Good—now he knows his place. Mr. Marlow was around, his truck already filled and ready to go, and so was ours. Like I said, there was a problem. The real problem was that Liam and I had to go together. Just the two of us. I stared at the truck, dreading the thought of hours trapped in that small space with him. No distractions. No escape. Just the tension crackling between us like a live wire, ready to snap at the slightest touch. Liam didn't look thrilled either. His expression was unreadable, but his movements were stiff, controlled—like he was holding something back. Nice. Mr. Marlow glanced between us, clearly sensing the tension. "Market won't wait, you know," he said, adjusting his hat. Without a word, Liam climbed into the driver's seat. I took my time getting in, making a show of adjusting my seatbelt even though I di
I threw myself into work, pitching our fruit like it was the last thing standing between people and starvation. My voice was smooth, confident, drawing in customers with ease. Meanwhile, Liam stood there like a human statue, arms crossed, exuding silent indifference. He wasn't helping, but he wasn't exactly useless either. Because, as much as he tried to ignore them, he was attracting attention.Mostly from girls.Teenagers giggled behind their hands, stealing glances at him. Young women hovered nearby, pretending to browse while sneaking shameless looks in his direction. His presence alone was enough to pull people in, but I made sure none of them left empty-handed.If they wanted to stand there gawking, fine—but they were going to pay for it. Every lingering stare? A sale. Every whispered giggle? Another crate gone. I used their fascination to my advantage, flashing my best smile and making sure they walked away with something in their hands.And then she appeared.A brunette, dress
Without thinking I bolted. I shoved past people, weaving through the crowded market as I chased after him. He must have seen me coming because he turned sharply, slipping between stalls and vanishing behind a cart piled high with sacks of grain.Not this time.I picked up speed, ignoring the shouts of vendors as I pushed past them. The man was fast, but I was faster. I caught a glimpse of him turning down an alley, his hoodie pulled low over his face. My pulse pounded as I rounded the corner, a road stretched ahead, and the man in the hoodie was running fast. I pushed myself to go even faster, my heart pounding in my chest. Just as I was closing in, a sudden gust of wind whooshed past me. No-not wind. A person.Liam.He sped past me with astonishing speed, closing the distance in seconds. Then, with a single swift motion, he lunged at the man, tackling him to the ground. The hooded figure hit the pavement hard with a grunt, but before he could recover, Liam had him pinned against the
"There's nothing else," the man muttered, turning his face away. Liam didn't hesitate. His fist connected with the man's jaw in a brutal punch. The man gasped, doubling over. "Man, I was broke, okay?" he wheezed. "I'm a delivery driver. I was on a job that day. I—I took something from her." My blood turned cold. "What?" "It was a necklace," he admitted. I clenched my jaw. "Where is it?" "I sold it," he mumbled. Rage flooded me. "You couldn't help me, but you could rob me?" "I thought you were dead!" he argued. " I was scared of being accused of something I didn't do!" I took a step closer. "What else did you take from me?" "Nothing! I swear! Just the necklace. You had a bracelet too, but it looked old, so I left it. I only took the chain. It was pure diamond, man, I was tempted, and I needed the money... I glared at him, fists trembling. "You stole from a dying woman. And you think 'I was tempted' is a fucking excuse?" His silence was answer enough. I clenche
The world around me blurred as the weight of his words settled in my chest like a stone. A Pink Star diamond. A gem worth millions. And it had been mine. How? What if I wasn't just some innocent victim left for dead? What if I was something worse? I shook my head, trying to push the thought away, but it latched onto me, refusing to let go. A memory flickered at the edges of my mind-too faint to grasp, too distant to make sense of. My own past felt like a locked door with no key. I pressed my fingers to my temples, inhaling shakily. Searching for answers meant digging into that diamond. But did I want to? No. No, I didn't. Something inside me whispered that I wouldn't like what I found. That the truth lurking beneath the surface wasn't just painful-it was dangerous. I had been left for dead. That wasn't a coincidence. The more I thought about it, the clearer one thing became: whatever life I had before, it was filled with darkness. And if I kept pulling at this thread, I might un
"Truth or dare?" she asked. Trevor stretched his arms lazily. "Let's go with truth." Jane's eyes glinted with mischief. "Alright, tell us the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you during a mission." Trevor groaned. "Oh, come on." "No backing out now," Kim teased. He sighed. "Fine. So, there was this one time during training exercises, I was supposed to sneak into a building undetected. Everything was going smoothly until my belt got caught on a window frame, and instead of landing like a badass, I ended up dangling upside down in front of my entire squad." Greg burst out laughing. "You mean to tell me the great Trevor got stuck like a piñata?" Trevor rolled his eyes. "Yes, Greg. Enjoy it while it lasts." Sophia wiped away tears of laughter. "That was worth it." "Whatever," Trevor muttered, looking thoroughly embarrassed. Greg smirked and spun the bottle. As it slowed, I felt a rush of relief. "Ah, my time is up," I said quickly, moving to stand from Liam's lap
Jane's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned forward, clearly thrilled that I'd chosen dare. "Alright, let's make this interesting." Greg groaned. "Oh, here we go. Last time she said that, I ended up stuck in a tree with a stolen garden gnome." "That was one time," Jane shot back. "And you got down, didn't you?" "Yeah, after three hours and a lot of regretting my life choices." I chuckled, but Jane's attention snapped back to me. "Sara, I dare you to—" She paused for dramatic effect, letting the tension build. "—sit on Liam's lap for the next three rounds." Trevor let out a low whistle, while Greg cackled. Liam, however, looked unimpressed. "No." Jane ignored him, grinning at me. "That's the dare. Take it or forfeit." I tilted my head. "And if I forfeit?" Kim smirked. "Then you have to do a shot of hot sauce mixed with whatever alcohol we find in the kitchen." I wrinkled my nose. That sounded awful. Greg clapped his hands. "Oh, I love this game!" I glanced at Liam, who
The air in the living room had settled into a lazy hum, the TV playing in the background as Greg, Trevor, and I lingered around. Liam, as expected, was sitting back on the couch, uninterested in whatever nonsense Greg and Trevor were scheming. Trevor suddenly sat up, looking at me. "Hey, are Liam's parents home?" I raised a brow. "No, they went for a program and won't be back until tomorrow. Why?" I narrowed my eyes. "Are you planning something bad?" Trevor grinned. "Actually, I am." He leaned forward with a mischievous look. "Let's play a game. One that involves alcohol." I scoffed. "No thanks." Greg groaned. "Come on, Sara. Don't be boring." Trevor nodded. "It's just a game. A little truth or dare never hurt anyone." Liam, without looking up, muttered, "That's a lie. Someone always gets hurt." Greg waved him off. "Liam, please, let the rest of us have fun." Then he turned back to me. "So? Are you in or are you going to sit there and watch your sad little romance movie all ni
The scent of warm bread and stew filled the kitchen as I sat at the small wooden table, spooning food into my mouth. It had been a long day, and nothing beat a good meal. From the living room, the low hum of a movie played-Liam's choice, obviously, since I hadn't even been consulted. Not that I cared. I glanced toward the doorway where he was lounging on the couch, eyes locked on the screen, arms crossed like he was analyzing every frame. I smirked. "Didn't take you for the romance movie type." "I'm not," he said flatly, not even sparing me a glance. "Then why are you watching it?" "Because it keeps you from talking." I rolled my eyes, about to fire back, when the front door suddenly swung open. "Well, well, well," Greg's voice rang out dramatically. "Look who decided to run off into the sunset without us!" Greg's loud voice rang through the house as he and Trevor strolled toward us, Greg throwing his arms up like he'd just survived a war. Trevor, as usual, looked more amused
"Hey, Sara, you're back! Don't just stand there—come in. Your friend is here to see you."My friend? I nearly laughed. You mean Liam? I thought. Emilia turned to me with a broad smile, her eyes sparkling with excitement—like I was someone she actually wanted to see."Hey," she said."Hey," I replied, though I doubted she even knew my name. Then again, did I even know my own name? The thought made me chuckle bitterly.Ella wiped her hands on her apron. "I'll be right back. Let me check what's on the fire." She disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me alone with Emilia.I crossed my arms. "Why are you here?"She stared at me for a moment before answering. "I'm here because of you."I raised a brow. "Because of me?"She nodded."Why? Did I do something wrong?""No, no, nothing like that."I almost scoffed. Even I question myself these days. She fidgeted with her teacup before sighing. "I just... I wanted us to be friends.""Friends?" The word felt strange on my tongue.I narrowed my eyes
Ever since that day at the market, I hadn't been the same. Restless. Uneasy. Trapped in a battle between curiosity and fear. A part of me itched to dig deeper, to uncover who I really was. But the other—the stronger, smarter part—screamed at me to leave it alone. Because what if the truth wasn't something I could live with? What if I wasn't just a victim of circumstance but something far worse? Criminals didn't settle in one place. They didn't live peaceful, quiet lives. They hid, they ran, they disappeared. But I had been here. That should mean something, shouldn't it? I had a home here, a place where I felt safe—or at least, I had before that day. Now, I wasn't so sure. The past wasn't just a shadow lurking behind me. It was catching up. I could feel it. Every time someone came to the farm, my heart pounded, my body tensed, and I had to fight the instinct to run or attack. It wasn't normal. It wasn't me—or at least, not the me I had become. Henry had recognized me. A stranger, s
The world around me blurred as the weight of his words settled in my chest like a stone. A Pink Star diamond. A gem worth millions. And it had been mine. How? What if I wasn't just some innocent victim left for dead? What if I was something worse? I shook my head, trying to push the thought away, but it latched onto me, refusing to let go. A memory flickered at the edges of my mind-too faint to grasp, too distant to make sense of. My own past felt like a locked door with no key. I pressed my fingers to my temples, inhaling shakily. Searching for answers meant digging into that diamond. But did I want to? No. No, I didn't. Something inside me whispered that I wouldn't like what I found. That the truth lurking beneath the surface wasn't just painful-it was dangerous. I had been left for dead. That wasn't a coincidence. The more I thought about it, the clearer one thing became: whatever life I had before, it was filled with darkness. And if I kept pulling at this thread, I might un
"There's nothing else," the man muttered, turning his face away. Liam didn't hesitate. His fist connected with the man's jaw in a brutal punch. The man gasped, doubling over. "Man, I was broke, okay?" he wheezed. "I'm a delivery driver. I was on a job that day. I—I took something from her." My blood turned cold. "What?" "It was a necklace," he admitted. I clenched my jaw. "Where is it?" "I sold it," he mumbled. Rage flooded me. "You couldn't help me, but you could rob me?" "I thought you were dead!" he argued. " I was scared of being accused of something I didn't do!" I took a step closer. "What else did you take from me?" "Nothing! I swear! Just the necklace. You had a bracelet too, but it looked old, so I left it. I only took the chain. It was pure diamond, man, I was tempted, and I needed the money... I glared at him, fists trembling. "You stole from a dying woman. And you think 'I was tempted' is a fucking excuse?" His silence was answer enough. I clenche
Without thinking I bolted. I shoved past people, weaving through the crowded market as I chased after him. He must have seen me coming because he turned sharply, slipping between stalls and vanishing behind a cart piled high with sacks of grain.Not this time.I picked up speed, ignoring the shouts of vendors as I pushed past them. The man was fast, but I was faster. I caught a glimpse of him turning down an alley, his hoodie pulled low over his face. My pulse pounded as I rounded the corner, a road stretched ahead, and the man in the hoodie was running fast. I pushed myself to go even faster, my heart pounding in my chest. Just as I was closing in, a sudden gust of wind whooshed past me. No-not wind. A person.Liam.He sped past me with astonishing speed, closing the distance in seconds. Then, with a single swift motion, he lunged at the man, tackling him to the ground. The hooded figure hit the pavement hard with a grunt, but before he could recover, Liam had him pinned against the