Liana

I was standing before my worst nightmare, somehow my past had caught up with me. My heart was pounding so hard in my chest. Everything about him had changed.

The Liam I remembered was small, skinny, with slouched shoulders and eyes that were always downcast, hiding behind thick glasses. He had the kind of presence people stepped on without realizing it. those kind of boys you forgot existed unless he was in your way.

This man… couldn’t be the same person, they had to be two different persons. My legs trembled so violently I could hardly stand. My palms were slick with sweat, my chest rising and falling too quickly. Not in my wildest dreams… had I imagined I would see Liam again.

I rushed toward the door again in panic. My only thought was to get out, to escape. I grabbed the knob and twisted it so hard hoping it would budge this time but it didn't.

I shook it again and again. “Come on!” I hissed

But it didn’t open. Slowly, I turned back, my heart was in my throat.

And there he stood, unmoved watching me.

The AC hummed softly above us, but my body felt both hot and cold at the same time. I could barely keep my breath normal. My hands shook so much I pressed them against the wall, behind me just to keep myself upright.

Liam’s lips curved slightly, but it wasn’t a smile. Just…a cold stare. He looked at me the way a predator looks at prey. I wanted to scream. But no sound came out.

This was how I would die. There was no way he would spare me all these years. He wants his revenge And I walked straight into his trap.

My body wouldn’t stop trembling, as my mind betrayed me, dragging me back to years back

FLASHBACK TO SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL

Back in high school, the name Liana Raynold rang like a bell in every hallway. I was exactly who I thought I was. My mother was so rich, her donations kept the school shining like a palace. Teachers literally worshiped me and other students knew better than to cross me.

And yes, I was cruel. I didn’t think of it that way then. Back then, it felt like survival. If you were above everyone else, you get to control them. I had crushes, sure, but only on the untouchables. Football stars. College-level athletes. Men who already had status. I wanted tall, built, bold men, the kind of guy who could make a room stop with just his walk.

And then there was Liam Gerret. a timid, skinny and invisible nerd. His voice was so soft you had to lean in to hear him. He was the kind of boy people laughed at when they were bored. So imagine my disgust when I found a note in my locker, a love letter. I remember my laugh of disbelief as I opened it, reading line after line of his pitiful confession. And then the signature at the bottom.

I thought it was a prank. But it wasn’t. Anger boiled in me. How dare someone so low, even imagine the thought of me in that way? I threw the letter away, but as the day went on, I got angrier. By lunch, I couldn’t take it anymore.

I walked into the cafeteria with a steaming cup of coffee in hand. I wasn’t a coffee drinker, I bought it just for this.

“Hey, Liam,” I called sweetly.

He looked up, shock written all over his face that I even knew his name. And then without hesitation I poured the hot coffee all over him.

Everyone in the cafeteria gasped. He jumped as the coffee soaked into his clothes, his skin probably burning. He looked more shocked than hurt.

“You don’t write girls like me love letters,” I said with disgust, loud enough for everyone to hear. “You’ll never be anywhere close to my league, fool.”

I walked away, proud and fulfilled. He needed to know his place. But he didn’t stop. Every day, more letters showed up. Heartfelt words about not giving up on me, about how much I meant to him. It drove me insane. I read some aloud in class just to humiliate him. Posted some on the bulletin board so everyone could laugh. But he didn’t stop.

Then one day he walked up to me in public, in front of everyone at lunch, and said:

“You don’t have to love me back. I just want you to know how much you mean to me.”

That was the final straw. I hated him so much. His guts were annoying. I couldn't stand it. I hired some thugs to deal with him after school. They cornered him behind the gym. They beat him bloody. I got the video. I watched it. He was curled on the ground, covered in his own blood, whimpering. I remembered how excited I was watching the video.

That was the last day I ever saw him. He stopped coming to school and no one cared. I was even happy because at least one of my problems was solved.

And now here he was. The same boy I had tried to get rid of, standing before me as a man transformed. My body trembled so hard I thought I’d collapse. My hands shook, my breaths came ragged. Tears blurred my vision.

“Liam…” The name slipped from my lips like a broken plea. “What do you want? I will do anything.”

He said nothing, he just watched me with amusement in his eyes “Are you sure you will do anything?”

“Yes! So far it's something I am capable of I will” I replied nodding my head I will do anything to make him release me I just want to go back to New York, Aria would be dead worried already.

He leaned back in the chair, His voice was steady, like he had all the time in the world.

“Nice negotiation tactics, barrister Liana, very typical,” he murmured with a chuckle which turned to a serious tone in no seconds. “I want you to remain by my side in Italy, will you do that for me?”