006

Chapter 6:

Daniella’s POV  

Liam’s text had been brief.  “Urgent. Meet me at the Royal Crescent Hotel, Room 514.”

For almost a week now, I have avoided him, ignored his calls, and buried myself in anything I could lay my hands on, hoping it would drown out the memories of him—and the child I lost. But here he was, summoning me with a single word like I was still tethered to his whims. My thumb hovered over the screen, torn between deleting the message and replying. I’d told myself I was done with him. My resignation letter had been my final declaration of independence.  

But old habits die hard, and before I knew it, I was standing in front of the hotel room door,  I hesitated, my hand poised over the doorknob. This was a mistake. I should leave.

But the door opened before I could knock. Liam stood there, his gray eyes locking onto mine like a predator who had just cornered his prey.

“Daniella,” he said, his voice smooth as silk, yet underpinned with an edge that sent a shiver down my spine.

“Liam.” I folded my arms, hoping to shield myself from the pull of his presence.

“Don’t just stand there. Come in.” He stepped aside, gesturing for me to enter. The room was dimly lit, the scent of his cologne thick in the air, mingling with something faintly floral—lilies. My heart clenched.

“Why am I here?” I asked, turning to face him.

“You know why.” His eyes, dark and unreadable, bored into mine.

“No, I don’t,” I said, folding my arms. “You said it was urgent. So, what is it?”

Liam’s lips curved into a faint smirk, the kind that used to make my pulse quicken. “Why do you always have to fight me?” he murmured, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from my face.

I flinched, my body stiffening. “Don’t touch me.”

Liam’s lips curled into a smirk. “You’re here, aren’t you? That must mean something.”

“It means I thought this was urgent,” I shot back. “Not... whatever this is.”

“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, stepping closer.

I took a step back. “I resigned. There’s nothing left to say.”

He closed the distance between us in two strides, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek. “Don’t lie to me, Daniella. I know you still feel it. The pull. The desire.”

“Don’t—” I started, but the words caught in my throat as his thumb brushed over my skin.

I hated the way my body betrayed me, leaning into his touch even as my mind screamed for me to pull away. Memories of his hands on me, his lips trailing down my neck, came rushing back, unbidden and unwelcome.

“Liam, stop!” I muttered

His lips hovered above mine, his dark eyes searching my face. “You still want me,” he whispered.  

“No,” I said, but the word was weak, unconvincing. My heart pounded, my pulse racing under his touch.  

“Liar,” he murmured, his voice both a challenge and a caress.  

I hated how he could unravel me so easily. Even as my body ached for him, my mind screamed for escape. “Stop,” I said, my voice trembling. “Let me go.”

Liam’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t move. Instead, he slid his hand to the back of my neck, pulling me closer until our faces were inches apart.

“Tell me you don’t want this,” he murmured, his breath warm against my lips. “Tell me, and I’ll let you go.”

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came. My body was a traitor, my heart hammering against my ribs like it still belonged to him.

Liam took my silence as permission. In one swift motion, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the bed. I struggled, but it was half-hearted; the war raging inside me eroded my resistance.

When he laid me down, his hands framing my face, I felt a spark of the old fire that used to burn between us. But then, Images of the past flooded in—his betrayal, his indifference, the blood on my hands, blood on the floor. The child I lost.

“Get off me!” I shoved him with all the strength I could muster.

He froze, his brows furrowing. “Daniella—”

“No!” I shouted, tears welling up in my eyes. “I can’t do this. Not with you.”

His expression darkened. “Why not? What’s changed?”

“What’s changed?” I let out a bitter laugh, my voice trembling. “Everything Liam, everything?”

His face paled, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by his usual mask of arrogance.

“You’re being dramatic,” he said, his tone cold.

Before I could reply, the nausea hit me like a punch to the gut. I barely made it to the bathroom before I started vomiting, my body heaving as if it could expel the pain along with the bile.

“Daniella?” His voice came from the doorway, hesitant.

I rinsed my mouth, avoiding his gaze. “I’m fine,” I said, my voice hoarse. “I just haven’t eaten.”

“You haven’t been taking care of yourself,” he said, his tone accusatory. “This is what happens when you try to defy me.”

I turned to face him, my hands gripping the edge of the sink for support. “You think everything is about you, don’t you?”

“Let me take care of you,” he said, stepping closer.

“I don’t need your pity, ” I snapped, but my legs wobbled, betraying my defiance.  

“Pity?” He caught my arm, steadying me. “For God’s sake, woman, let me help you.”  

His sincerity, however fleeting, caught me off guard. Against my better judgment, I let him guide me to the table.

He pulled out a chair for me, his expression unreadable. I sat down, more out of exhaustion than obedience. 

**************

Moments later, Liam and I sat facing each other at the hotel restaurant because he had insisted we have lunch. Soon afterwards, a tray arrived with steaming plates of food.  

“Eat,” he said simply.  

The smell of the food made my stomach churn and the silence between us uncomfortable.

After a while, Liam leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on me.

“I have something to tell you,” he said, his voice unnervingly calm.

My heart sank. Whatever he was about to say, I knew it wasn’t going to be good. “What is it?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took a sip of his wine, his gaze never leaving mine.