The room smelled of alcohol and fear.
Maria pressed herself against the cold wall, her heart pounding like it wanted to escape.
Her father's voice echoed through the tiny house, slurred and full of rage.
"You ruined my life!" he screamed at her mother, bottle in hand.
And then… the sound of shattering glass, a scream, and silence.
That night, Maria's life shattered forever.
Weeks passed in a blur of bruises and tears.
Her father drank more, gambled more, and shouted louder than ever.
Until the night the loan sharks came.
A heavy knock shook the door.
Three men entered, their eyes cold, their hands rough.
"Your father owes us," one of them said. "And you, little girl, are the payment."
Maria struggled, screamed, but no one came.
Dragged into the dark street, she felt the world closing in…
And then, a pair of green eyes met hers under the streetlight.
Liam.
He stood there, tall and calm, his presence cutting through the chaos.
The moment their eyes locked, Maria felt, for the first time in years… a spark of hope.
Maria's breath caught when Liam's eyes met hers.
For a moment, the world around her—the men, the cold, the fear—faded away.
He tilted his head slightly, a faint, almost dangerous smile on his lips.
"I like her," he said, his voice low but firm.
Before Maria could react, Liam's hand wrapped around her wrist.
With one strong pull, he yanked her toward him, shielding her with his body.
"She's coming with me."
The loan sharks exchanged looks, but something in Liam's presence made them hesitate.
No one dared to follow as he led Maria away into the night.
Her heart pounded, not just from fear—
But from the strange, thrilling warmth of the stranger holding her hand.