When I Left, He Found His Way Back-Chapter 41: Startled cat

Jessica’s POV

’How did I not see these?’ I wondered. Had my anger blinded me to the changes in him?

’Of course,’ my inner voice said to me.

"Liam, are you unwell?" I blurted out, my voice etched with concern.

His eyes flickered, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of fragility. "I’m fine," he said, his tone soft but reassuring.

Although I couldn’t win his heart in the past, I studied his reactions well enough to know he was hiding something. I saw the faint shadows under his eyes, the tension in his jaw. Something was amiss.

"Really?" I pressed, my hand reaching out to brush his cheek. "You look... different, paler."

Liam’s gaze held mine. He parted and closed his mouth like he wanted to say something but decided against it.

What was he hiding?

"I’m fine, really," he whispered, his eyes locking onto mine. He held my hand against his chest, and I felt his erratic heartbeat.

"I was a shadow of myself for those two years when I couldn’t find you anywhere," he confessed, his voice laced with emotion. His other hand rested at the back of my head, pulling me in for another kiss.

Pulling away, he planted a featherlight kiss on my lips. "You don’t like me like this?" he teased, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes. "Then I’ll return to the body you knew."

A fluttering feeling danced in my stomach. I loved how he said it. But it was more than physical appearance that had changed.

"Liam," I whispered, searching his face. "It’s not just your body. You’ve been through something. Tell me."

His gaze faltered, and for an instant, I saw the cracks in his facade. The shadows in his eyes deepened, and I knew he was truly hiding something.

He sighed, his eyes clouding with concern. "Do you really want to know what’s wrong with me?"

I nodded.

"It’s your relationship with Kristen," he said, catching me off guard and I moved my gaze away. Was he going to brainwash me to hate Kristen now? Give them an inch and they want to take a mile.

"I don’t like it," Liam continued, his voice laced with emotion. "It gives me anxiety, and I can’t help but think that your life is hanging on a thread."

My head snapped back to him, lips parted to protest, but his finger brushed my lips, silencing my protest. He trailed down my jaw, lifting it gently, he made me hold his gaze.

"Seeing you with him scares me, Jessica," he whispered helplessly.

"Why are you so against him, Liam?" I asked, searching for answers in the depths of his eyes.

"Because he’s a bad person," Liam replied, his jaw tightening.

"How bad?" I pressed, my voice barely above a whisper.

Liam’s gaze intensified, his eyes burning with urgency. "Bad enough that I’d do anything to keep you away from him."

His words sent a shiver down my spine. What did Liam know about Kristen that I didn’t?

"Shouldn’t you convince me with good reasons?" I asked, searching for substance behind his warnings.

Liam’s expression turned grave. "His parents died a tragic death, and he was raised by his uncle, a yakuza boss," he began.

"At just ten years old, Kristen led a vendetta against those who killed his parents. But his quest for revenge didn’t stop there." Liam’s voice dropped to a whisper. "He targeted their allies, dismantling their lives from the inside out."

"Five years ago, Kristen faked his own death and came to this country, building an empire from scratch to infiltrate and destroy his enemies from within." Liam’s eyes locked onto mine.

"His goal is to suck them dry – emotionally, financially, and literally. He’ll stop at nothing. He was raised a monster from birth and he lived up to his reputation." Liam paused, his chest rising with a deep breath.

Then, he took my hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "I’m not telling you this to make myself look better. I’m not a good person either. I’m only telling you this because I want you to take a step back from him."

"Kristen has too many enemies, Jessica. Once his identity is revealed, they’ll come for him – and those around him." Liam’s gaze held mine, filled with genuine concern.

My mind reeled with the weight of Liam’s words. Could it be true? Was Kristen hiding such a dark past?

’Doesn’t he look like one with a bottomless hole of secrets?’ that persistent inner voice whispered. ’Aside from your brother, does he have any other friends? Why’s he so secretive, and why does he like his privacy a little too much, like he’s obsessed with it?’

I pushed the doubts aside and focused on Liam. "You said you’re not a good person," I reminded him. "Why did you say that?"

Liam’s smile was faint, tinged with regret. "A good person wouldn’t hurt his wife."

’He’s not telling you the truth either,’ my inner voice warned, its caution intensifying. ’It only takes a devil to know a devil. Beware of them both.’

Should I turn him away now? I asked the voice in my head, annoyed. The same voice that had urged me to forgive him now whispered warnings.

’That’s not it,’ the voice replied. ’I can feel he’s repented.’

Then, what do you want? I mentally pressed.

’I’m not sure,’ the voice admitted. ’But to be safe, the contract will be a good start.’

The voice vanished, leaving me lost in thought.

"Why are you spacing out," Liam said, his voice breaking the silence.

I blinked, focusing on Liam’s concerned expression. "Sorry, I was..." I trailed off when his face came into my view, then our lips touched again.

As Liam’s lips touched mine, the world around us melted away. The soft pressure of his mouth sent shivers down my spine. His warm breath danced across my face, sending my heart racing.

His hands cradled my face, thumbs tracing gentle circles on my cheeks. The subtle scent of his cologne, a familiar blend of leather and spice, enveloped me.

Our lips moved in perfect sync, the gentle tug of his mouth sparking a flutter in my chest. His tongue grazed mine, and I felt a jolt of electricity through my veins.

Time stood still as we savored the moment, the only sound was our soft gasps and the pounding of our hearts. The world narrowed to the space between us, every sensation heightened.

My fingers tangled in his short hair, deepening the kiss. My chest pressed against his, the warmth of his body seeping into mine.

It had been over two years since I’d last felt this way, since I’d last surrendered to passion. My body shivered under his electrifying touch, as his fingers trailed down my backbone. He’d always known just how to drive me crazy with his touch.

Suddenly, he cupped my breast and I jerked at the familiar, yet unfamiliar sensation that coursed through me. Like a startled cat, I pulled away, my heart racing.

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