Twenty-Four
TWENTY-FOUR
SOPHIE
I t’s warm, cozy, and feels like the safest place in the world. I haven’t felt this kind of comfort in ages—it’s like a dream I don’t want to wake up from.
My body is wrapped in a satisfying ache that reminds me of something good, something real. For a moment, I can’t quite remember where I am, but the warmth surrounding me makes me feel like it doesn’t even matter. Everything just feels right.
Slowly, I blink my eyes open, the dim light filtering through the curtains casting soft shadows across the room. And then it hits me—I’m lying on Liam’s chest.
We had sex.
Oh God. We had sex.
His steady heartbeat thuds beneath my ear, rhythmic and calming, like it’s pulling me into a moment I shouldn’t want to stay in. His skin is warm against mine, the kind of heat that sinks into your bones, making it impossible to move. His arm is draped around me, heavy but gentle, holding me close in a way that feels protective. Like he’s afraid to let me go, even in sleep.
Memories from last night crash over me in waves, each one more vivid than the last. His touch, his lips, the way he looked at me—it’s all burned into my mind. I can feel the heat rising to my cheeks, my face practically on fire with the weight of it all.
What did we do?
We shouldn’t have done that. I know we shouldn’t have. This wasn’t supposed to happen. But no matter how much I tell myself that, the truth is harder to ignore. The way his body felt against mine, how natural it all seemed. It’s impossible to regret it.
I close my eyes, trying to silence the thoughts, but they won’t stop. I let my fingers twitch slightly against his chest, feeling the rise and fall of his steady breaths. He’s still asleep, his jaw relaxed, lashes dark against his cheekbones. Peaceful. Unaware.
His arm shifts slightly, his grip tightening in his sleep, and I freeze. My heart pounds in my chest, the chaos of my mind threatening to spill over. This wasn’t part of the plan. None of this was supposed to happen.
But for a moment—just a moment—I let myself stay. I let myself feel how right it all seems, how his body fits against mine like it’s always been this way.
And then reality crashes into me like a wave, cold and relentless. I can’t let him wake up.
I untangle myself from him slowly, every movement deliberate, trying not to wake him. My breath catches as I roll away, the cool sheets brushing against my skin like a reminder of what I’m leaving behind.
When I reach the edge of the bed, I freeze—the cover clings stubbornly to him, refusing to follow me.
Okay, Sophie, just be quick and quiet.
One. Two. Three. I plant my feet on the floor, my body gloriously naked under the dim light of the early morning. The cool air sends a shiver racing down my spine as I scan the room for my dress. It’s here somewhere, right?
My eyes dart around, frantic but quiet. No sign of it. Not my dress, not my underwear—nothing.
Seriously?
I finally spot my dress crumpled near a chair and quickly grab it. My fingers shake slightly as I zip it up, the weight of reality settling in with each pull of the zipper. Am I really going to run away? I have to. There's no way I can stay here and face him when the morning light makes everything feel too real, too exposed.
Once I’m dressed, I can’t help but turn and look back at him. Liam, still asleep, sprawled on the bed. His face looks so peaceful, so unguarded in sleep. My eyes trace over the inked lines of his body, the tattoos that cover his arms and chest, so unmistakable yet...distant. He's so beautiful it almost hurts to look at him.
For a moment, I let myself admire him. His strong jawline, his body, and his lips—those lips that kissed every inch of me last night—are slightly parted, breathing in the quiet rhythm of sleep. He looks peaceful, content, and utterly breathtaking. I shouldn’t be standing here, lingering like this, but I can’t help it. The memory of his hands on my skin, the way he made me feel, keeps pulling me back. He looks so different like this—vulnerable, almost innocent.
But then, the thoughts start swirling again. I can feel the lump in my throat returning, that sense of guilt and fear. My father’s voice echoes louder in my head— ”Promise me, Petal... ”
I swallow hard, the weight of what I promised him pressing down on me. This can’t be real. But what if Liam has changed? What if he’s not the same person he was all those years ago? He seems more focused, more morally grounded than before. It's like he’s matured in ways I never expected, as if the years apart shaped him into someone different.
I shake my head, trying to push the thought away. It can’t continue. Not right now. I have too much at stake, too many responsibilities, too many promises to keep.
With one last glance at Liam, I turn, forcing myself to leave before I lose the strength to walk away. I sneak out to the living room, where my jacket, purse and heels are lying haphazardly on the floor. I just need to grab those and get out of here.
I open the door to my apartment as carefully as I can, making sure not to wake Adeline as I slip inside. Overwhelmed and utterly confused by what just happened, I head straight for the bathroom. I need a shower.
The yelp that escapes me when I see my reflection is involuntary and too loud. My hair is an absolute mess, my lips are swollen, and my makeup—what’s left of it—is smeared. My eyes are red, with faint traces of tears clinging to them.
I shouldn't have gone back to his apartment. He's stubborn, and so am I. I needed to see the table, sure, but the wine helped nudge me toward the wrong decision. At least that’s what I’m telling myself—the table was the reason.
Pfft, who am I kidding? I knew exactly what was going to happen. I made the first move. I kissed him.
I stare at myself, and tears fall before I can stop them. Tears for the situation I’ve put myself in. Let's be real—these feelings I’ve been pushing down are rising back up, and there’s no way I can stop them.
I never got real closure. We just ended it, and when I got back home, I waited. I kept waiting for him to fight for me, to prove that what we had mattered and what he did was a mistake. But instead, all I saw on social media was him out at clubs with his friends, business partners, and other women.
I know it’s foolish to hold on to memories for ten years. In another world, we might’ve worked out. But I can’t do this. I keep promises, especially to the important people in my life.
As amazing as Liam was—and probably still is—the industry he’s in requires long nights and sometimes compromising situations to get the right investors on board. I can’t live that life. He knew about my father, he knew everything I’d been through, and still…
I shake my head as more tears fall, feeling the weight of it all crash down.
“Soph?” Adeline’s sleepy voice makes me jump. I turn around, and the moment she sees my face, all traces of sleep vanish from hers.
“What's wrong? What happened? Did Jared do anything?”
I shake my head, feeling utterly drained and tired of it all. Tired of keeping this secret, of carrying the weight of it on my own. “I fucked up.”
“What do you mean?” she asks gently.
I break, more tears falling. “Liam. I–” The words barely make it out before she pulls me into her arms. No questions. No pushing for details. She just holds me tight, allowing me to cry into her shoulder. Relief washes over me, but it’s tinged with guilt. I don’t deserve this comfort, not after everything. Not after keeping this secret for so long. What kind of friends am I?
We sit down on the floor, leaning against the bathroom wall. The cool tiles against my back contrast with the warmth of Adeline’s embrace. Her hand rubs soothing circles on my back as the tears keep flowing.
After what feels like forever, Adeline grabs my face gently, looking at me with fierce love in her eyes. “Habibi, do you want me to do something? To someone?”
A small laugh escapes my lips despite myself. I shake my head. “No, it’s me. I’m the one who messed up. I need to tell you something.” I wipe my hand over my face, feeling the mess of tears and snot. “I’m not a good friend.”
“What are you talking about? You're my best friend,” she says, her voice firm and steady, as if willing me to believe it.
“No, I’ve kept a secret. I haven’t told anyone.” My voice breaks, the shame hitting me like a tidal wave.
“It’s okay to have secrets.”
“No, not like this one.”
Our eyes meet, “You’re scaring me, Soph.”
“It’s not anything scary.”
“Okay, my love. If you’re ready to tell me, I’m all ears.”
My phone buzzes, interrupting me, and when I look down, Liam’s name flashes on the screen. My stomach tightens as I swipe to read the message.
Mr.Boss
So that’s your game now? Slip out before I even wake up? Real classy.
Was it that easy for you? To share my bed, let me touch you like that, and then walk away like it didn’t matter? That’s what you do best, isn’t it? Run. I should have known.
This isn’t over, Sunshine.
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My throat tightens, a wave of shame and upset washing over me. Adeline must have seen the look on my face because her brow furrows in concern, but I can’t bring myself to show her the text—not yet. Not while his words are still stinging, making me feel smaller with each passing second. Not before she knows the whole story. I take a breath, preparing myself to start from the top. To tell her everything.
But first, I text him back.
Me
I’m sorry. It should never have happened.
I look at Adeline, taking a deep breath, preparing to start from the top. “I slept with Liam.” Well. That went smoothly.
Adeline’s eyes widen in shock, her brows shooting up as her mouth parts slightly. Then, as the realization sinks in, a slow, mischievous smile tugs at the corners of her lips. “And that's bad because...?”
“Well, firstly, he’s my boss, and secondly, it’s not the first time.”
Her smile fades as curiosity takes over. “What do you mean?” she asks, her head tilting slightly to the side.
I take a deep breath, the weight of the confession pressing down on me. “I knew Liam a long time ago. We met in Barcelona.”
“Wait. What?” Her eyes grow even bigger, and I can see the gears turning in her head. She doesn’t need me to say it—she’s already starting to piece it together.
“Nooooo,” she drags out the word, “is Liam the guy?”
I nod, letting the truth hang in the air.
“Tell me everything,” she demands.
I look at her, unsure where to begin but knowing that I owe her the full story now.
So, I tell her everything. I tell her how we met when I was twenty, how he took me under his wing and showed me the beauty of Barcelona. How he cared for me, made me feel seen, especially after everyone else seemed to disappear. I tell her about our first kiss and how he always stood up for me to his friends, never pressuring me into anything. How well he understood my past, my father, and the weight I carried. It felt like he shared the same values, like he got it in a way no one else did. Like he got me.
I tell her how I fell so deeply in love that it scared me—and how I'm afraid those feelings never truly went away. Because that’s the truth. From the moment I saw him again after all this time, when his eyes landed on me for just a few seconds too long, my world shifted off its axis. And I’ve been fighting that feeling ever since. Fighting so hard, I lost the battle just now, allowing myself to be sucked in again.
Adeline grabs my hand, squeezing it gently. “And then what happened?” she asks softly.
I shift on the floor, the memory still sharp and painful in my mind—the moment my entire perception of him shattered, the moment everything changed.