Chapter 50
Aria’s POV
A knock on the door startled me to my feet. It was late– past Joe’s bedtime. I couldn’t imagine who would think to come at this hour.
Pulling the front door open, I was startled to find Liam on the otherside. I could see the exhaustion in his eyes, but there was something else too—a determination I hadn’t seen in a while.
He didn’t even let me get a word in before he spoke.
“We need to talk,” he said, his voice low but firm.
I hesitated, the weight of his presence making the decision hard. I knew this conversation was inevitable, but part of me wasn’t sure I was ready for it.
With a sigh, I stepped back and opened the door wider, silently inviting him in.
He crossed the threshold without a word, and I felt the air shift as soon as the door clicked shut behind him.
“So, what is it?” I asked, crossing my arms as I leaned against the back of the couch. I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries or long-winded explanations.
Whatever he had to say, I wanted it out in the open.
“I’ve been thinking,” he began, running a hand through his hair. He looked worn out, like he’d been wrestling with this for days. “About us. About Joe. About everything.”
I let out a bitter laugh before I could stop myself. “Everything? Liam, everything between us is a mess, and you want to talk now? What’s this really about?”
He winced at my words but didn’t back down. “I know I’ve messed up. I’ve hurt you, and I know it’s not as simple as apologizing and expecting things to go back to how they were.”
“You’ve said that before.” My voice was sharp, harsher than I meant it to be, but I didn’t regret it. “You’ve made promises before, Liam. I’m not interested in empty words.”
“I’m not asking for things to go back to how they were.” His voice softened, and he took a step toward me. “I’m asking for a chance to make things better.”
I stared at him, trying to gauge if this was just another attempt at reconciliation. The sincerity in his voice threw me off balance, but I wasn’t about to let my guard down.
Not after everything we’d been through.
“And why should I believe you this time?” I demanded. “You’ve shown up before, Liam. You’ve said you’re willing to fight, and then when things get tough, you disappear. Why should this time be any different?”
He let out a breath, running his hands through his hair again like he was trying to find the right words.
“Because I’m still here, Aria. I’m not giving up, no matter how long it takes.”
I wanted to believe him. Part of me, deep down, wanted to give him that chance. But I couldn’t ignore the years of doubt, the broken promises.
“You think showing up at my door and saying you’re willing to fight is enough?” I asked, my tone challenging. “You think that’s going to fix everything? This isn’t about what you want, Liam. This is about trust. And right now, I don’t know if I can trust you.”
He moved closer, his eyes locked on mine. “I know you don’t trust me. And I don’t blame you. But I’m not here to make more empty promises. I’m here because I care about you and Joe. And I’m willing to prove it, however long it takes.”
I watched him closely, searching for cracks in his resolve, waiting for him to slip up, to show me that this was all just talk.
But the longer I looked, the more I saw that he was serious. Still, I wasn’t going to let him off that easily.
“This doesn’t mean I’m ready to let everything go,” I said finally, my voice firm. “This doesn’t mean we’re suddenly okay. So, if you want a chance, you better bring your A-game. And even then, I’m not promising anything.”
It wasn’t much, but already I felt the atmosphere change. It was the first time I’d admitted to being willing to entertain his efforts.
Liam nodded, his expression serious. “I will. I promise you, I will.”
A few nights later, we were both at a charity event for work. I could feel the tension in the room the moment Sophia spotted me from across the ballroom.
I had been hoping to avoid her, but she made her way over with that same smug look she always wore around me.
“Well, well, well,” Sophia said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she came to stand beside me. “So, he’s running back to you now, huh? Out of guilt, I suppose?”
I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Normally, I’d ignore her, brush off her comments like I had a hundred times before.
But tonight, something snapped.
Maybe it was the exhaustion from juggling too much at once, or maybe I was just done playing nice. Whatever it was, I turned to her, my eyes locked on hers.
“Whatever Liam and I have is between us,” I said, my voice steady but sharp. “You were just a detour, Sophia. And trust me, he’s made that clear.”
The look on her face was priceless. Her smirk faltered, her cheeks flushing red with anger. I didn’t stick around to hear what she had to say.
I walked away, feeling a rush of adrenaline course through me. I spotted Liam across the room, and for a brief moment, our eyes met.
There was something there—a flicker of understanding, maybe even pride. But I wasn’t ready to dissect that just yet.
Later that week, I got an unexpected call from the executive office. They wanted to meet with me privately, which wasn’t unusual, but the tone of the request made my stomach flutter with anticipation.
When I walked into the office, I was greeted by one of the top executives. He smiled warmly, gesturing for me to sit.
“Aria, I’ll get straight to the point. We’ve been incredibly impressed with your work, especially your adaptability. You’ve handled every challenge thrown your way with grace and professionalism.”
“Thank you,” I said, though I could feel the tension in my body tightening as I waited for the other shoe to drop.
“We’d like to offer you a promotion,” he said, sliding a folder across the desk toward me.
“You’d be overseeing team strategy for international races. It’s a huge opportunity, one that comes with a lot of responsibility—and travel.”
I opened the folder, glancing over the details, but my mind was already spinning. Moving again?
Joe was just starting to settle in, finally adjusting after everything. Another move would mean uprooting him all over again, forcing him to transition to a new school, a new environment.
And then there was Liam. Logan. The thought of leaving behind whatever fragile connection was starting to form between us made my chest tighten.
Was I ready to run off again, or was this just another way to avoid dealing with the mess I’d left behind?
I looked up at the executive, offering a small smile. “This is... an incredible offer. I’m honored.”
He nodded, his expression kind but businesslike. “Take some time to think about it. We’ll need an answer soon.”
I knew that whatever decision I made would change our futures permanently– for better, or for worse.
