Chapter 4 What Letter Now?

• Liam's P.O.V.
• The restaurant hummed with a mellow ambiance—the soft murmur of conversations, the clinking of cutlery, and the occasional burst of laughter from nearby tables. I took a slow sip of my drink, the cold liquid doing little to ease the storm raging within me. My gaze flicked to my wristwatch again. Twenty minutes.
• Twenty damn minutes past the agreed time.
• I exhaled through my nose, jaw tightening. Was he making me wait on purpose? Or had he decided not to come at all?
• The thought sent a dull ache through my chest, but I shoved it down, masking it with indifference. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of thinking I cared.
• Just as I lifted my drink again, movement by the entrance caught my attention.
• There he was.
• Noah Reeds.
• The man I once loved—the only person who had ever made my heart race in ways I couldn't control. And yet, he was also the man who had shattered me.
• He hadn’t changed much. Still effortlessly handsome, still carrying that air of quiet confidence. But his expression was unreadable, his gaze cold as it locked onto mine.
• For a brief second, something twisted inside me. Regret? Longing? I wasn’t sure.
• I masked it quickly.
• “Never thought you'd actually show up,” I drawled, a smirk tugging at the corner of my lips as I watched him pull out a chair.
• “I don’t have time for games, Mr. Hayles.” His voice was laced with ice. “The only reason I’m here is out of respect for you being my boss. But let’s not pretend—I have no interest in entertaining whatever this is.”
• His words sliced through me, sharp and deliberate. But I refused to flinch.
• A tense silence settled between us, heavy with unspoken words and memories best left buried.
• I leaned back, watching him, studying every flicker of emotion in his eyes.
• “Don’t you think there are things that need to be said?” I finally broke the silence.
• Noah let out a bitter laugh. “Things that need to be said? You think I owe you an explanation?” His voice rose slightly, earning a few curious glances from the surrounding tables. But he didn’t care.
• His eyes darkened. “If anyone needs to do the explaining, it’s you.” His fingers curled into fists on the table. “You need to explain why the hell you’re screwing my cousin. Why the hell are you engaged to her when you know what we had?”
• The weight of his accusation hung between us like a ticking bomb.
• For a moment, I couldn't breathe.
• Then—
• “Noah.” I met his gaze evenly. “You were the one who pushed me away.”
• His brows furrowed. “Pushed you away?” He scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “I’m not dead, Liam. You were the one who ran. Like a goddamn coward.”
• His words hit harder than they should have.
• Coward.
• The insult dug into my skin like nails, and for a split second, I felt exposed. Vulnerable. But I wouldn't let him see that. Not again.
• The frustration, the anger, the years of unresolved pain boiled over.
• I stood abruptly, grabbed his wrist, and yanked him to his feet.
• A few people turned to stare, murmuring among themselves. I didn’t care.
• Noah struggled against my grip, but I was stronger, my fingers tightening as I dragged him out of the restaurant.
• “Liam, let go,” he hissed, but I ignored him.
• I shoved him into the passenger seat of my car before climbing into the driver’s seat. The engine roared to life as I sped off, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white.
• “Are you trying to get us killed?” Noah snapped, gripping the door handle.
• I didn’t answer. I needed to get us away. Away from prying eyes. Away from the suffocating past that threatened to drown me in this city.
• After what felt like an eternity of reckless driving, I pulled up in front of a small, private apartment—one of my places. A safe house.
• I stepped out of the car and made my way to Noah’s side, yanking the door open.
• "Get out."
• He hesitated, glaring at me like I’d lost my mind.
• “Liam—”
• I didn’t wait for him to finish. I grabbed his arm and pulled.
• My grip was so tight that my nails accidentally dug into his skin, leaving faint red lines behind. I could feel his warmth, feel the way his body tensed beneath my touch. But I didn’t care.
• I was too consumed by the storm inside me. I shoved him against the car bonnet, our bodies dangerously close.
• And then I kissed him.
• Hard.
• Fierce.
• A collision of anger, longing, and years of unsaid words.
• I bit his lip, sucking, tasting the bitterness of resentment and the faint metallic hint of blood.
• Noah shoved me away roughly, his breath ragged as he wiped his mouth.
• His expression was a mix of fury and disbelief.
• “Are you out of your damn mind?” His voice was hoarse.
• I exhaled sharply, running a hand through my hair. "Yeah. Maybe I am."
• Silence stretched between us, thick with tension.
• Noah's chest rose and fell rapidly. "You can’t just—just do that and expect everything to disappear! You don’t get to rewrite history, Liam!"
• I let out a bitter chuckle. “Rewrite history? Is that what you think I’m doing?”
• He scoffed, shaking his head. “Instead of owning up to your mistakes, you’re pulling this stunt? You’re unbelievable.”
• I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Oh, Noah, what mistakes?”
• His lips parted, but I cut him off.
• “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about,” I seethed. "You're standing here, calling me a coward, but you’re the one who ignored my letter.”
• Noah’s brows furrowed, his anger faltering.
• “What letter?” His voice was quieter now.
• I let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Oh, here we go,” I said mockingly. “Now you want to play dumb?”
• Confusion flickered across his face. “Liam, I have no idea what letter you’re talking about.”
• I clenched my fists. Liar.
• “I sent you a fucking letter before I left,” I gritted out. “And I waited, Noah. I waited for weeks for your response. But nothing. Nothing. And now you stand here pretending like you didn’t know?”
• His silence spoke volumes.
• His jaw tightened, but his eyes—God, his eyes—held something else.
• Doubt. Regret. Pain.
• I swallowed the lump in my throat.
• "Let’s say you did send a letter," Noah finally said, voice barely above a whisper. "Does that give you the right to date my cousin? To get engaged to her?" His voice cracked slightly.
• I looked away. He didn’t know. He never got my letter.
• Something inside me twisted painfully, but I forced the words out.
• "I did what needed to be done, Noah." My voice was cold. “And I owe no one an apology for that.”
• His expression darkened. "Liam—"
• But I was already turning away. I climbed into my car, slamming the door shut.
• And then I drove off, leaving him standing there in the darkness.
• Alone.