Chapter 8

• Aurora sat in the passenger seat, staring out of the window as Liam drove in silence.
• Her arm still stung, but that wasn’t what had her mind spinning.
• It was him.
• The way he had looked at her after the fight. The way he had touched her wrist, checked her wound like he actually cared.
• She hated it.
• Hated that for even a second, she had felt something in that moment.
• She glanced at him, trying to read his expression, but Liam’s face was set in stone, his jaw tight, eyes fixed on the road.
• That wasn’t normal.
• Liam was never quiet.
• He always had something cocky or sarcastic to say, always had that annoying smirk ready to throw at her.
• But now?
• He looked… pissed.
• Aurora sighed, shifting slightly in her seat. “Are you going to say something, or are we just going to sit in this awkward silence until we get home?”
• Liam didn’t look at her. “You’re an idiot.”
• Aurora blinked. “Excuse me?”
• Liam gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white. “You heard me.”
• Aurora’s irritation spiked. “And what exactly makes me an idiot?”
• Liam let out a humorless laugh. “Maybe the part where you threw yourself in front of a knife like a complete reckless moron?”
• Aurora scoffed. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize letting you get stabbed was the better option.”
• Liam’s eyes snapped to her, dark and burning.
• “I don’t need you to save me, Aurora.”
• His voice was low, controlled, but she could hear the anger underneath it.
• Aurora crossed her arms, glaring back. “And I don’t need you to tell me what to do.”
• Liam exhaled sharply, turning his attention back to the road. His grip on the wheel didn’t loosen.
• Aurora hated this.
• Hated that she could still feel the heat of his hand on her wrist.
• Hated that he had looked at her like that.
• Hated that her pulse had spiked when he did.
• She looked out the window again, trying to focus on something else. Anything else.
• But the silence stretched between them, thick, heavy, unbearable.
• After a few minutes, she sighed, shaking her head.
• “You’re so dramatic,” she muttered.
• Liam shot her a flat look. “Dramatic?”
• Aurora nodded. “Yeah. You’re acting like I died or something. It’s just a cut.”
• Liam’s jaw ticked.
• “Just a cut?” he repeated, his voice quieter now.
• Aurora frowned, sensing something beneath his tone.
• Something… off.
• Before she could say anything, Liam pulled into the mansion’s driveway.
• The second the car stopped, he got out, slamming the door behind him.
• Aurora sighed, resting her head against the seat for a moment before finally getting out too.
• By the time she stepped inside, Liam was already in the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of whiskey from the counter.
• She watched as he poured himself a drink, downing it in one go.
• Something about that unsettled her.
• Liam wasn’t just angry.
• He was shaken.
• And Liam Blackwood never got shaken.
• Aurora walked over, leaning against the counter. “You going to share, or are you just planning to drink your emotions away in peace?”
• Liam poured another glass, sliding it toward her.
• Aurora raised an eyebrow but took it.
• She wasn’t much of a drinker, but after tonight?
• She deserved it.
• She took a slow sip, letting the burn of the whiskey distract her from everything else.
• They stood there for a moment, just drinking in silence.
• Then Liam spoke.
• “You remind me of her.”
• Aurora blinked, caught off guard. “What?”
• Liam kept his eyes on his glass, his expression unreadable. “My mother.”
• Aurora’s breath caught.
• She had heard whispers about Liam’s mother.
• The woman Edward had married before her own mother.
• The woman who had… died.
• She swallowed. “How?”
• Liam let out a slow exhale.
• “She was reckless too,” he muttered. “Always throwing herself into fights she had no business being in. Always thinking she could fix things. Always thinking she could stop him.”
• Aurora’s stomach tightened.
• Him.
• Edward.
• She didn’t know what to say.
• She had never seen Liam like this.
• Not cocky. Not amused. Not playing games.
• Just… raw.
• Liam took another drink, then turned to her.
• “And you know what happened to her?”
• Aurora already knew.
• But she still felt the weight of his words before he even said them.
• “He killed her.”
• The room suddenly felt too small.
• Aurora put her glass down, her fingers shaking slightly.
• She didn’t know why her chest felt tight.
• She didn’t know why her throat burned.
• But she knew one thing.
• Liam wasn’t just angry about tonight.
• He was terrified.
• Not for himself.
• For her.
• She took a slow step forward, her heart pounding.
• “Liam…”
• His eyes snapped to hers.
• For a moment, neither of them spoke.
• Then, before she could think—before she could stop herself—she reached out.
• Her hand brushed against his arm, light, hesitant.
• Liam stilled.
• His gaze dropped to where her fingers rested against his skin.
• A warning.
• A test.
• Aurora’s breath caught.
• She should move.
• She should pull away.
• But then Liam lifted his hand, slowly, deliberately, and covered hers.
• Her pulse spiked.
• She hated him.
• She hated how he got under her skin.
• But right now?
• She couldn’t breathe.
• Liam’s fingers curled slightly, his grip warm, strong.
• Aurora’s stomach twisted.
• Then, just as suddenly, he let go.
• The moment shattered.
• Aurora stepped back, clearing her throat. “You’re still an ass.”
• Liam chuckled, the tension finally breaking. “And you’re still annoying.”
• Aurora grabbed her glass again, taking another drink.
• But her hand was still warm from his touch.
• And for the first time, she didn’t know if she wanted it to fade.