A Goodbye That Was Never Meant to Happen

Jax's smirk was lazy, like he had all the time in the world.

Like he knew I had nowhere left to go.

And maybe?

Maybe he was right.

Because I had spent the last few hours running—from Ethan, from the wreckage of everything we had built, from the truth I wasn't ready to face.

But no matter how far I ran, the past had caught up to me.

And now?

I was staring it right in the face.

"Did you really think you could just walk away, sweetheart?"

Jax's voice was smooth, too calm.

Like this was just another game.

I forced my hands into fists. Steady. Controlled.

"What do you want?" I asked.

His smirk widened.

"You already know."

And I did.

Because everything always led back to one thing.

Ethan.

No matter how much I wanted to believe I could leave, I knew the truth.

I was still trapped in his world.

And Jax?

He was here to make sure I never forgot that.

"I'm not his."

The words left my mouth before I even realized I had said them.

Jax arched a brow.

"Aren't you?"

I swallowed hard.

Because no matter how much I denied it, we both knew the truth.

I was Ethan's.

Not because he owned me.

Not because I owed him.

But because no matter what I did, no matter how far I ran—

I always ended up back in his orbit.

And that?

That was the part that scared me the most.

Jax took a slow step forward.

I didn't move.

Didn't flinch.

Because if there was one thing I knew about Jax, it was that he fed on fear.

And I wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Here's the thing, Liv."

His voice was almost mocking.

"Ethan's gone. Locked up. And you?"

He tilted his head, studying me like I was a problem he had already solved.

"You're alone."

The words shouldn't have hurt.

But they did.

Because he was right.

Ethan was gone.

Tessa had betrayed me.

And I?

I had spent so long trying to save Ethan that I hadn't realized I had no one left to save me.

I exhaled, my voice too steady.

"What do you want from me?"

Jax's grin widened.

"There it is."

The moment he had been waiting for.

The moment I let him win.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper.

He held it out.

I didn't take it.

"What is that?"

Jax's smirk sharpened.

"Your way out."

My pulse spiked.

He nodded toward the paper.

"That's where you need to be before Carter gets out."

I swallowed hard.

Because that meant one thing.

Jax knew.

Knew Ethan wouldn't stay locked up.

Knew Ethan would come looking for me.

And knew that when he did?

It would be too late.

I took the paper with shaking fingers.

Unfolded it.

An address.

Jax's voice was low, satisfied.

"Say your goodbyes, sweetheart."

My breath hitched.

"Because when Carter gets out?"

His smirk widened.

"You're gonna be long gone."

My heart stopped.

Because suddenly?

I wasn't just facing a choice.

I was facing the end.

I stared at the paper, my vision blurring.

I could leave.

I could disappear.

I could finally break free from Ethan.

But then what?

Would I ever really be free?

Or would I spend the rest of my life wondering what would have happened if I stayed?

I clenched the paper so tightly it nearly tore.

And in that moment, I knew—

This wasn't a goodbye.

Because goodbyes were supposed to bring closure.

And this?

This was going to destroy us both.

I lifted my gaze to Jax.

His eyes gleamed.

Like he already knew what I was going to do.

And maybe he did.

Maybe I had already made my choice.

I took a slow breath.

Then—

I let the paper fall to the ground.

Jax's smirk vanished.

I lifted my chin.

"I'm not running."

His jaw tightened.

"Liv."

I shook my head.

"I'm not running."

A long silence stretched between us.

Then—

Jax let out a slow, dark laugh.

"You really think you can save him?"

I swallowed hard.

"No."

I met his gaze, steady and unflinching.

"But I can try."

And just like that—

The choice was made.

Jax exhaled sharply.

He stepped closer, his eyes dark, dangerous.

"You're making a mistake."

I didn't move.

Didn't blink.

"I've made worse."

He studied me for a long moment.

Then—

He stepped back.

"Alright, sweetheart."

His smirk was gone now.

"If you're not gonna run…"

His voice dropped, sharp and edged with warning.

"You better be ready for what comes next."

My breath hitched.

Because I knew—

Ethan was getting out.

And when he did?

Nothing would ever be the same.

Liv refuses to run, knowing Ethan is coming back.

Jax warns her—this choice will have consequences.

A dangerous shift—Ethan's return is inevitable, but what happens when he finds out she stayed?