Chapter 67: Liam

Back at the hotel room after dinner, the air was thick with tension. I could feel the weight of the evening pressing down on me, the unanswered questions hanging between Emma and me like a dense fog. She paced the room, her movements betraying her unease.

"Liam," she began, turning to face me, "what was all that about tonight? Your parents were hinting at something. You've been dodging it, and I need to know what's going on."

I sat on the edge of the bed, running a hand over my face. Anxiety knotted in my stomach. How could I explain the past that I'd so desperately tried to leave behind in Seattle? "Emma, it's not easy to explain," I started, my voice strained.

"You owe me the truth, Liam. After everything we've been through, don't I deserve that much?" Her voice was firm, a hint of frustration lacing her words.

I nodded, feeling the truth of her statement. "You're right. You do deserve to know." I took a deep breath, gathering the courage to dive into the past I'd locked away.