Kayla's POV
My heart slammed against my ribcage as Liam's voice thundered through Damien's door. Each pound of his fist felt like it was hammering against my chest.
Damien turned, his eyes locking with mine. His face was composed, but the storm brewing in his gaze was unmistakable. "Kayla, listen to me," he said, his voice low but firm. "Stay hidden. Do not say a word, no matter what happens."
"I-Damien, he'll-"
"Trust me."
His tone silenced the panic rising in my throat. I nodded, clutching a throw pillow like it could shield me from Liam's wrath. My palm pressed instinctively to my stomach, protecting the tiny secret within me.
Damien strode to the door and yanked it open.
Liam stood there, his jaw clenched, his eyes bloodshot like he hadn't blinked since I left his office. His presence alone filled the apartment like a suffocating shadow.
"Where is she?" Liam's voice was sharp, clipped, every word vibrating with fury.
Damien didn't flinch. He leaned casually against the doorframe, his body a barrier between Liam and me. "You should leave, Liam. You've done enough damage."
Liam's lips curled into a humorless smirk. "Don't play games with me, Damien. She's here. I can smell her perfume from where I stand." His eyes darted past Damien, scanning the room like a predator searching for prey.
My lungs locked. I pressed myself deeper into the couch, praying the shadows would swallow me whole.
Damien's voice hardened. "Even if she is, she doesn't want to see you."
Liam's smirk vanished, replaced by something darker. His voice dropped, dangerous and cold. "You think you can hide my wife from me?"
My body trembled. Wife. The word stung, not because of the title itself but because of the hypocrisy dripping from his tongue. He had treated me like anything but.
"I'm not hiding her," Damien said, his tone sharp. "I'm protecting her. From you."
The air between them crackled. Two men-one who had only hurt me, and one who had silently guarded me for years-were staring each other down, both unwilling to back away.
"Step aside, Damien," Liam growled, his fist tightening at his side. "Or I'll make you regret it."
Damien's jaw clenched, but his stance didn't waver. "No. Not tonight. Not ever again."
The silence that followed was unbearable. I could hear every beat of my heart, every rush of blood in my veins. Then, Liam's gaze flicked over Damien's shoulder and landed on me.
Our eyes locked.
Time froze.
The fury in his gaze dimmed for a fraction of a second, replaced by something raw-something I had never seen in him before. Was it fear? Was it... desperation?
"Kayla," he rasped, his voice suddenly unsteady. "Don't do this. Come home."
Tears pricked my eyes, but I held his gaze. For once, I didn't look away. "Home? That place was never my home, Liam. It was my prison."
The words hit him like a slap. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his fists trembling at his sides. "You don't mean that," he muttered, as if saying it aloud would make it untrue.
But I did. Every word.
Before I could say more, Damien stepped slightly forward, his tone cutting like a blade. "You should go now, Liam."
Liam's eyes flicked to Damien, then back to me. He opened his mouth to speak again, but stopped. Instead, he reached into his coat pocket and tossed the crumpled divorce papers onto the floor.
"They mean nothing," he spat. "I won't sign them."
My breath caught. "What?"
His eyes burned into mine. "You're still my wife. And you're not walking away from me."
I shook my head in disbelief, anger surging through my veins. "You've spent five years proving you didn't want me, Liam! Now, suddenly, you refuse to let me go?"
"Because..." His voice cracked, the word hanging in the air unfinished. He caught himself, his jaw tightening again. "Because this isn't how it ends."
The cryptic weight of his words sent shivers down my spine.
Damien stepped in again, his voice low but firm. "She deserves better, Liam. You know it. Leave."
Liam's glare lingered on me, his lips parting like he wanted to say more-confess something. But instead, he turned abruptly and stormed out, the door slamming behind him so hard the walls rattled.
Silence filled the apartment.
My chest heaved as tears streamed freely down my face. Damien crouched in front of me, his warm hands cradling mine.
"You're safe," he whispered again, but this time, even he sounded unsure.
Because we both knew Liam wasn't done. Not by a long shot.
Liam's POV
The night air outside Damien's building was sharp, biting against my skin, but I didn't feel it. My blood boiled too hot, my mind spiraling out of control.
Kayla.
The image of her trembling, her hand resting against her stomach, replayed in my head like a haunting melody.
She was hiding something from me.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms until blood welled. No. She wasn't leaving me. Not now. Not when everything was finally on the line.
If my suspicions were right...
I couldn't lose her.
I wouldn't.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, my heart nearly stopped when I saw the name flashing on the screen.
Lyra.
I almost ignored it. Almost. But when I answered, her voice was frantic.
"Liam-you need to come home. Now."
"What is it?" I snapped.
There was a pause, then her voice cracked. "Someone broke into the penthouse."
My heart stilled.
This night had just taken a darker turn.