I wasn't in the house anymore. I was standing at an altar, draped in white. The air smelled of roses and candle wax, thick and heavy, suffocating. A man stood before me, his grip firm as he took my hand. His face blurred, hazy, unreachable, but everything else was vivid. The weight of a ring sliding onto my finger. The murmur of a gathered crowd. And then, "I now pronounce you husband and wife." My breath caught. Husband and wife. Meaning I was married. No. No, that couldn't be right. The memory shattered, and I gasped, my body jerking back to reality. My hands clutched at the closet door, nails digging into the wood. My heart slammed against my ribs, a wild, frantic rhythm. That wasn't a dream. That wasn't my imagination. It was real. I had been married. A cold wave of disbelief crashed over me. I could barely breathe around the weight of it. My fingers tightened against the closet, grounding myself, but the truth had already sunk in. This wasn't some fragmented illusion.
The silence in the truck was suffocating. I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, my mind spiraling as the road stretched endlessly ahead. The revelation gnawed at me—I was married. The words felt foreign, like they belonged to someone else. I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to breathe through the weight of it. Who was he? What kind of life had I left behind? And why hadn't he come for me? I clenched my fingers against my lap, my frustration building. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't summon his face. Just that moment at the altar—the weight of the ring sliding onto my finger, the priest's solemn pronouncement. It was real. It had to be real. But if I had been someone's wife, why did it feel like I was completely alone? The truck rumbled over the uneven road, and Liam remained quiet beside me, focused on driving. He hadn't pushed me about earlier, but I could feel the weight of his curiosity. He knew something was wrong. I turned to the window, desperate for a distraction.
Just then, the roar of engines shattered the moment. Two trucks skidded to a stop a few feet away, their headlights glaring through the day. Doors slammed, and a group of men jumped out, some wielding guns, others gripping wooden sticks. Liam reacted instantly, yanking me behind him as he squared his shoulders. My pulse pounded in my ears. A man stepped forward, the glow of his cigarette casting eerie shadows across his scarred face. He took a long drag, exhaling a plume of smoke before smirking. "Well, well... the almighty Liam." His voice dripped with amusement. "Who would've thought my day would start off this nice?" Liam's grip on my wrist tightened. "Go to the truck." His voice was low, urgent. I froze, shaking my head. "No, I'm not—" "Now." His eyes locked onto mine, firm, leaving no room for argument. My throat went dry. I hesitated, but then— "Ohh," the man drawled, his grin widening. "He's trying to protect his woman. How sweet." His tone darkened. "Too bad I hate it.
The truck jolted beneath my grip as I slammed my foot on the gas, the engine roaring in response. Gravel kicked up behind us, dust clouding the rearview mirror, but the headlights cutting through it told me Rey and his men weren't giving up. "Hold on," I muttered, fingers tightening around the wheel as I yanked it left. The truck veered sharply, tires skidding against the dirt road before gripping just in time to keep us from rolling. The sudden turn sent our pursuers swerving, but they adjusted quickly, accelerating. They were gaining on us. "Where the hell did you learn to drive like this?" Liam's voice was tight, his body bracing against the dashboard. I didn't answer, I couldn't. The way my hands moved, the way my mind calculated every sharp turn, every dip in the road—it felt instinctual. Automatic. Like I'd done it a thousand times before. But I hadn't, had I? At least, not that I could remember. A flicker of something surfaced in my mind. The faintest image of my hand
Silence. Heavy, suffocating, unrelenting. Liam hadn't moved, hadn't spoken since I said it. I'm married. The words still hung in the air between us, thick with something neither of us could name. His eyes were locked on mine, searching for—what? Answers? A lie? The truth? I didn't have it. I tore my gaze away, pressing my hands against my temples. My pulse pounded, my breathing unsteady. The vision from earlier clawed its way back into my mind—the weight of a ring sliding onto my finger, the blurred outline of a man. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force the image into focus. Nothing. A frustrated breath left me as I opened my eyes again. Liam was still watching me, unreadable. "Say something," I muttered. He exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face. "What the hell do you want me to say, Sara?" "I don't know," I admitted. "I don't even know if it's true. I just—" I swallowed hard, wrapping my arms around myself. "I saw something. A memory, maybe. It felt real." Liam
The roar of the black SUV's engine sent a jolt of fear down my spine. Liam clenched the wheel, his knuckles white. "They're following us," he muttered. I twisted in my seat, my pulse hammering. The headlights loomed closer. "We need to lose them." Liam gritted his teeth. "Yeah? And how do you suggest we do that?" I didn't know. But my instincts did. The road ahead curved sharply, disappearing into a cluster of trees. A memory flickered—tires skidding, a sharp turn, slipping out of sight. I had done this before. "There!" I pointed. "Take the turn and kill the lights." Liam didn't question me. He yanked the wheel, the truck veering off the road. The second we were behind the trees, he flicked off the headlights, plunging us into darkness. The engine rumbled softly as we rolled to a stop, hidden behind thick foliage. We held our breath. The SUV sped past. Its headlights sliced through the night, but it didn't slow down. Within seconds, it was gone. Silence. Liam exhaled, running
As the silence stretched between us, I turned to Liam. "Who was that?" His jaw tightened. "What?" "The SUV," I pressed. "Who was driving it? Why did you tell me not to look?" Liam stared straight ahead, gripping a bag of animal feed close to him. "I don't know." Liar. His voice was too clipped, too controlled. His fingers flexed against the bag like he was holding something back. I narrowed my eyes. "You do know." His head snapped toward me, his expression hard. "I said I don't." I folded my arms. "You told me not to look. That wasn't just some random car, was it?" Liam exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair. "Sara, drop it." "No." I leaned closer, my pulse quickening. "Who are they?" His gaze locked onto mine, stormy and unreadable. For a second, I thought he might actually tell me. But then, his expression closed off, his walls slamming back into place. "It doesn't matter," he muttered. "They're gone." "But—" "Just leave it." His voice was sharp, final. My fi
It was fully dark now, and we were getting closer to the farm, though there was still about an hour and a half left to go. Liam and I sat in silence, tension hanging between us. I wondered what was going on inside his head. Then, the truck rolled to a stop. Liam tensed beside me. I frowned, glancing around. There was a road to the left, but we were supposed to be heading straight. Something wasn’t right. I called out to Steve. “Why did we stop?” He hesitated before answering. “This road leads to my house,” he said, confirming my suspicions. Liam stood up at the same time I did. I climbed down from the truck and walked toward Steve. “If… if your place is far, you can stay the night at mine,” he offered, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. “There’s space.” Before I could even process his words, Liam was suddenly behind me. “She’s not spending the night at your place,” he cut in coldly. “Thanks for the ride.” Then, without warning, he grabbed my wrist and started dragging me
The car disappeared down the road, and the silence that followed felt heavier than any words Emilia could've said. I stood there for a moment longer, arms wrapped tightly around myself, the chill creeping in through the thin fabric of my gown. Then I turned. I didn't want to see him. But I had to. My bare feet made soft sounds on the wooden stairs as I climbed, every step louder in my chest than in the hallway. When I reached the top, he was still standing there-leaning against the doorway of my room. Waiting. Watching. His eyes locked on mine, unreadable at first. But as I got closer, I could see it. The storm behind them. Rage, confusion... and something else. Something raw. Something that burned. I stopped a few feet away. "I didn't plan that," I said, voice barely above a whisper. He didn't move. "But you didn't stop it either." I swallowed hard. "It wasn't what it looked like." He let out a bitter laugh. "Really? Because from where I stood, it looked like you were enj
We finally got home. Liam didn’t say a word, he just walked straight to his room. I looked around, but Ella and Evans were nowhere in sight. Maybe they were already at the farm. Judging from the freshly wiped counters and the rearranged groceries in the kitchen, they had definitely returned. I sighed, the weight of the day finally catching up with me. My body felt heavy, like I was dragging shadows behind me. I needed to stop thinking. I needed to breathe. I needed a bath. Upstairs, I headed straight to my room, undressing slowly, every movement reminding me how sore I was, mentally, physically. I stepped into the bathroom and turned the faucet, letting the water cascade down my skin. I tilted my head back, eyes closed, hoping the hot stream could somehow wash away this frustration… this tangled knot of fear and confusion sitting in my chest. I should be happy. My memories were starting to return. But the problem was… they were haunted. Sharp. Bloody. Gripping. I had a terrible fee
I sat down, and the engine growled to life, and the truck rumbled forward down the empty road. But even as the motion soothed my nerves, something inside me twisted. I glanced at my hand. Bare. No wedding ring. I was married. I knew I was married. So where was it? Did I lose it in the chaos, or had I taken it off that day—the day? Maybe I didn’t wear it often. Maybe we fought. Maybe… something worse. The thought clung to me like fog I couldn’t push away.I looked up, needing a distraction, and locked eyes with Liam. His stare was steady, unsettling, as though he could see every thought running wild in my head. His expression wasn’t one I recognized: not pity, not anger, not even curiosity. It was… cautious. Evaluating. Why was he looking at me like that? A lump formed in my throat, and I quickly looked away, resting my head against the side of the truck. The moment I closed my eyes—Everything hit at once.A flash of headlights.Darkness slashed by streaks of color.And then—I was ru
We kept moving through the darkness,Liam leading the way with the same relentless urgency. My mind was spinning, trying to process everything he had just told me.Drugs. Guns. Stolen art. Murder.The mansion I had admired just hours ago was nothing more than a front for a criminal empire. Emilia's family wasn't just strict, they were dangerous. And Liam and I had been right in the middle of it, oblivious to how close we had come to never making it out. A shiver crawled down my spine."How much further?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. My throat felt dry, and my body ached from the constant running.Liam didn't answer. He was focused, scanning the trees around us like something, or someone, could jump out at any second. That wasn't comforting.I swallowed. "Liam-""Shh."My stomach dropped.Liam stopped suddenly, his arm shooting out to stop me in my tracks. His body went rigid, head tilted slightly like he was listening. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up.Then I hear
Liam didn't waste a second. The moment I was up, he grabbed my wrist again and pulled me forward, keeping close to the fence as we moved. I was still trying to wrap my head around what was happening. The guards, the cars, the way Liam was acting, none of this made sense. "Who are these people?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. Liam didn't answer. He was too focused, his sharp eyes scanning every corner before taking another step. We slipped through a narrow gap between the trees, the rough bark scraping against my arm. The farther we moved from the mansion, the darker it got, the thick foliage blocking out the moonlight. Then, voices. I stiffened. Not just one or two. Multiple. Deep, authoritative tones coming from the direction of the house. I couldn't make out the words, but I could hear the weight in them. Orders. Discussions. Something serious. Liam crouched behind a large bush, pulling me down with him. His grip tightened. "Stay quiet," he whispered, his breath warm ag
I woke to a light tap on my arm. "Sara, wake up," Liam's voice was low but urgent. I groaned, blinking groggily as I opened my eyes. Liam was already dressed, his face tense with something I couldn't quite place. Before I could ask why he woke me, he tossed my clothes at me. "Get dressed," he said. I sat up, frowning. The clock on the wall read 5:09 AM. Why was he waking me up this early? "Why do you wa—" "Get dressed. Now." His voice was barely above a whisper, but there was no mistaking the command in his tone. That's when I knew something was wrong. Still half-asleep, I hesitated before grabbing my clothes. "Turn around," I mumbled. To my surprise, he did so without argument. Okay, that's weird. Liam never obeyed so easily, unless something was serious. My heart rate picked up. I hurriedly put on my clothes. "I'm done," I said, staring at him, more confused than ever. Liam turned to face me, his expression unreadable. Then, in a hushed voice, he said, "You're going to do exac
The air between us was thick, charged with something neither of us wanted to name. I shifted under the blanket, but every move made me more aware of him, of his scent, the warmth of his body just inches away. I could hear his breathing, steady but deeper now, like he was trying just as hard as I was to ignore whatever was happening between us. "Stop moving," Liam muttered, his voice husky in the darkness. "I'm not moving," I shot back, but even I could hear how unconvincing I sounded. He let out a low chuckle, and I felt the bed shift as he turned toward me. My pulse jumped. "You're restless," he murmured. "Why?" I swallowed hard. "I'm just... not used to sharing a bed." Silence. Then, a rough whisper, closer this time. "Liar." My breath hitched. Liam moved, and suddenly I felt him, his front brushing against my back , his presence overwhelming. I knew I should turn away, put distance between us, but I didn't. I couldn't. His fingers grazed my wrist, slow, testing. "You're te
The room was dim, the only light coming from the faint glow of the moon filtering through the curtains. My bare feet barely made a sound against the cold floor as I stepped out of the bathroom, clutching the towel in one hand, the thin nightgown clinging to my skin. I froze. Liam had already switched off the lights and was on the bed, his broad frame stretched out, one arm resting behind his head. His eyes were closed, his breathing even, as if he had already fallen asleep, or was at least pretending to. I hesitated, staring at him for a moment longer than I should have. He looked… different like this. Relaxed. Almost peaceful. Shaking off the ridiculous thought, I cleared my throat. “You don’t plan on sleeping on the bed, do you?” His lips twitched slightly, but he didn’t open his eyes. “Where do you want me to sleep?” “I don’t know,” I muttered, tightening my grip on the towel. “But we can’t sleep on the same bed.” That got his attention. Liam finally opened his eyes, pinning
The guest house was impressive, but it lacked the warmth of a lived-in space. The moment we stepped inside, I could tell it was barely used, everything was spotless, perfectly arranged, and carried that faint, unused scent. Emilia lingered by the doorway, shifting uncomfortably. "So... there's only one room available." I frowned. "Huh?" She cleared her throat. "The other rooms are, um, under renovation." I blinked. "Seriously?" Liam, as usual, remained unreadable, but I could tell he was just as unimpressed. "It's a big room," Emilia added quickly. "So you won't feel cramped or anything." She hesitated before giving me a pointed look. "Just don't... wander around, okay? My family isn't exactly fond of unexpected guests." I crossed my arms, arching a brow. "So we're basically being hidden." She winced. "That's... a harsh way to put it, but yeah." Liam exhaled through his nose, his expression giving nothing away. "It's fine." Emilia nodded, clearly relieved. "Okay. I'll have s