Chapter 46: Liam's Dilemma (Liam's POV)

The click of the disconnect button echoed in the silence of my office, leaving a void that mirrored the hollowness in my chest. I leaned back in my chair, the weight of the unspoken words pressing down on me like an invisible force. Ava's confusion, her hurt, it was palpable even through the phone, a tangible ache that resonated with my own turmoil. I knew I should have addressed her confession, acknowledged the raw emotion she had poured out, but the fear, the crippling fear of rejection, had choked the words in my throat.It wasn't that I didn't reciprocate her feelings. The memory of her kiss, the feel of her soft lips against mine, the whispered confession of love – it had ignited a fire within me, a yearning I had suppressed for far too long, buried beneath layers of self-doubt and ingrained insecurities.The warmth of her touch lingered on my skin, a phantom sensation that sent shivers down my spine. I could still hear the tremor in her voice as she spoke those three words, "I love you," a declaration that had cracked open my carefully constructed defenses, exposing the vulnerability I had kept hidden for so long.But the old insecurities, the deeply rooted belief that someone like Ava, with her brilliance, her ambition, her fiery spirit, could never truly be with someone like me, a simple game developer from a modest background, resurfaced with a vengeance.I had always felt a sense of inadequacy beside Ava, a nagging feeling that I was somehow not enough. She was the sun, radiant and captivating, while I was a mere planet, orbiting her brilliance, drawn to her light but forever in her shadow.I had already experienced rejection from Ava once, years ago, when we were young and naive, our youthful infatuation crushed by the weight of societal expectations and the perceived chasm between our social circles. The pain of that rejection had lingered, a dull ache in the recesses of my heart, a constant reminder of the seemingly insurmountable gap between our worlds.And now, after all these years, after building a successful company and achieving a level of financial stability, the same fear gripped me, tighter than ever. What if, despite her confession, Ava ultimately chose her ambition, her career, over a relationship with me? Could I bear the pain of another rejection, this time with even higher stakes, with the knowledge that we had both grown and changed, that the potential for something real and lasting was within reach, only to be snatched away once again?The thought was unbearable. It was easier to avoid the conversation, to pretend that her confession was nothing more than a drunken slip of the tongue, a fleeting moment of vulnerability fueled by the pink fizz. But deep down, I knew I was only delaying the inevitable.Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered Sarah's entrance. "Liam," her voice was soft, laced with concern, cutting through the fog of my internal struggle, "are you alright?"I managed a weak nod, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. "Just a bit preoccupied with this Henderson deal," I lied, grasping for a plausible excuse.Sarah, however, saw right through me, her perceptive gaze piercing my facade. "It's more than that, isn't it?" she pressed gently, her voice a soothing balm to my frayed nerves. "It's about Ava."I let out a sigh, the weight of my emotions finally spilling over, the carefully constructed dam of my composure cracking under the pressure. "You're right, Sarah," I admitted, my voice heavy with regret. "I know I should have said something, acknowledged her confession. But I just... I couldn't."Sarah sat down opposite me, her expression a mix of understanding and gentle reproach. "I know it's hard, Liam," she said, her voice soft but firm. "But you can't keep avoiding it. Ava's struggling. She's confused and hurt.""I know," I echoed, my voice heavy with remorse. "And believe me, I'm hurting too. But I can't risk another rejection, Sarah. Not now, not when I finally have something to offer her, something that might bridge the gap between our worlds."The words tasted bitter on my tongue, a stark reminder of the insecurities that still plagued me. I had achieved success in the business world, but in matters of the heart, I felt like a failure, a coward hiding behind his fears.Sarah leaned forward, her eyes filled with empathy. "Liam, you're underestimating Ava," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "She's not the same girl she was years ago. She's strong, independent, and she sees you for who you are, not for your social status or your background.""But what if she doesn't?" I countered, the fear creeping back in, its icy fingers tightening around my heart. "What if, in the end, she chooses her ambition, her career, over me? What if she realizes that we're just too different, that we come from different worlds, and that those worlds can never truly merge?"Sarah smiled softly, a reassuring warmth radiating from her gaze. "Then you'll deal with it, Liam," she said, her voice calm and steady. "You're strong too. You've overcome challenges before. But you can't let fear dictate your actions. You owe it to yourself, and to Ava, to be honest about your feelings, to take a chance on love, even if it means facing the possibility of getting hurt."Her words struck a chord within me, resonating with a truth I had been trying to ignore. Sarah was right. I couldn't let fear paralyze me, couldn't let the ghosts of the past dictate my future. I had to take a chance, to be vulnerable, to open my heart to Ava, even if it meant risking another heartbreak.With a newfound resolve, I stood up, the weight of my indecision lifting slightly. It was time to stop hiding, to stop making excuses. It was time to fight for the woman I loved, to face my fears head-on, even if it meant facing the possibility of rejection.I owed it to Ava, and to myself, to finally be honest about my feelings, to let her know that her confession had not fallen on deaf ears, that the fire she had ignited within me burned just as brightly.