Alice’s POV
I sat on the couch, staring blankly at the wall as the remnants of the previous night replayed in my mind. I could still feel the scent of Liam’s presence in the apartment, the warmth of his hand around mine.
I was lost in thought when Emma’s voice broke through my reverie.
“I have to run to work, Alice. They just called me in for an emergency meeting. Can you manage by yourself?” she asked, her eyes filled with concern.
I forced a smile, trying to reassure her. “Yeah, I’ll be fine. Just… don’t worry about me.”
She hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Okay, call me if you need anything. Seriously, don’t hesitate.”
“Promise,” I said, waving her off as she grabbed her bag and rushed out the door.
Once she was gone, silence enveloped the apartment, and my heart sank. I felt loneliness pressing down on me harder than before. I picked up my phone and started scrolling aimlessly through social media, but every image reminded me of Liam and the chaos we were in.
There was a knock on the door. I looked up, startled. Emma must have forgotten something, I thought. I dragged myself to the door, opening it without checking who it was. The last thing I expected was Liam standing there, his face etched with a mixture of worry and determination.
“Hi, Alice,” he said softly, his voice almost a whisper.
The sight of him brought a fresh wave of anger and confusion. Without thinking, I started to shut the door, but Liam was faster. He pushed it open and stepped inside before I could react.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, my voice trembling with a mix of irritation and hurt.
Liam looked around the room, his eyes darting nervously. “Alice, please, just hear me out.”
I turned away from him, walking toward the living room, trying to ignore his presence. “I don’t think there’s anything you can say that will make this better.”
“Please, just give me a chance,” he said, his voice catching. He followed me, grabbing my arm gently to stop me. “I need to explain what happened.”
I pulled my arm away, turning to face him. ” You’ve got no reason to be here Liam, I’m not interested in talking to you or seeing your face!.” I turned away, trying to shield my heart from the storm of emotions swirling inside me.
“Alice, wait. Please,” he said, his voice low, but I didn’t stop. I walked toward the kitchen, needing distance to clear my head.
“Alice!” He followed me, his footsteps echoing. “I know you’re angry, and you have every right to be. But what happened that night was a coincidence!”
I whirled around to face him, my frustration boiling over. “A coincidence? Really? You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes! I swear! I was just-Elizabeth was helping me pass a towel because I forgot to grab one after the shower, and then she slipped and fell into the tub with me. That’s it! It was completely unintentional!”
Liam’s face flushed with embarrassment..
“So you want me to believe that you and my sister just happened to end up in a bathtub together? Just like that?” I snapped, my arms crossed tightly over my chest.
“Yes! It sounds ridiculous, but it’s true! I swear!” His eyes were pleading, desperation etched on his face. “You have to believe me.”
I searched his gaze, looking for any hint of deception. “Is there something else I should know?” I asked.
He hesitated for a moment. “No. Nothing else happened, Alice. I promise.”
“Liam…” I began, but my voice trailed off.
“I’m sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. I never wanted to put you in this position,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “I hate that you had to see that.”
“I don’t know if I can trust you again,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I understand. I really do. But I want to make things right,” he said softly, stepping closer. “I’m sorry for everything, Alice.”
“I’m sorry too,” I said, thinking the pains my words and actions would have caused him. “I shouldn’t have shut you out without hearing your side.”
“Then let me show you that I can be the man you deserve. I’ll do whatever it takes.” He reached for my hand, his touch warm and reassuring. “Please give me a chance.”
I felt my defenses beginning to crumble as I looked into his earnest eyes. “Okay. I’ll try.”
“Thank you,” he breathed, relief washing over his features. “Can we go somewhere? Just the two of us?”
“Where?” I asked, hesitant but curious.
“Just relax. Trust me. I want to show you something,” he said, his excitement palpable.
Liam’s POV
I could see the anticipation in Alice’s eyes, and I knew I had to tread carefully. This was my chance to prove to her that I meant what I said. I wanted to make her feel safe with me again, to show her that Elizabeth’s actions didn’t define what we had.
“Okay,” she said finally, her voice trembling slightly. “But you have to promise me this isn’t another trap.”
“I promise,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I just want to take you somewhere special.”
She nodded slowly, still unsure, but I could see a grin in her eyes. “Alright, let’s go.”
I grabbed her hand and led her out to my car, the familiar feeling of adrenaline pumping through me. It felt right to have her by my side again, even if the circumstances were still fragile. I opened the door for her, watching as she climbed in carefully.
” I quickly made a u-turn and took my stand at the driver’s seat. I twisted the key in the ignition and brought the car’s engine to life, getting ready to drive out.
” You won’t tell me still?” she asked, glancing out the window.
“Just relax and wait. You’ll see soon enough,” I replied, trying to sound casual.
I drove through the city, taking a few unexpected turns, trying to gauge her reaction. I wanted to ease her worries, but I could tell she was still on edge.
” You aren’t really going to tell me where we’re headed?” she pressed, frustration creeping into her voice.
“Just a little longer, I promise. Trust me,” I said, giving her a reassuring smile.
I could see her mind racing, contemplating my every move, but deep down, I hoped she could feel the sincerity in my intentions. I wanted her to know that I was in this for the long haul, and nothing would deter me from proving that I could be the man she deserved.