Fate's Dark Side Chapter 905

"Did you get hit by a truck? Jo, those dark circles," Charlotte exclaimed, drawing attention to my tired appearance, as I had completely forgotten to use concealer to hide the evidence of my sleepless night. Now, everyone would be aware that I didn't sleep well.

I mustered a smile in response to her comment and greeted everyone before taking a seat beside Liam. He whispered, "Slept late," and I nodded, grateful for his understanding. I noticed that he was helping me serve my food, a sweet gesture that warmed my heart.

Before I could fully collect my thoughts, Noah's question brought me back to the topic of our investigation. It took a moment for me to connect the dots, given my sluggish morning state. Eventually, Justin responded, "We believe the perpetrators were sent to do something at Grandma Stephanie's house, and the person who sent them blew up the van to cover their tracks," I was impressed by Justin's theory and agreed immediately.

"I guess finding your girlfriend will be fun with all the danger looming," Sebastien said to Liam.

Sebastien's comment to Liam about finding his girlfriend made me freeze. The word "girlfriend" suddenly bothered me, even though it hadn't before. The realisation hit me that perhaps my feelings for Liam were deeper than I had initially thought.

My hands trembled slightly as I lifted the fork, but I quickly placed it back on the plate, hoping no one noticed my unease. The conversation about Liam potentially reuniting with Sophia weighed heavily on my heart.

"What will you do if she returns and finds her fated, Li? Will you be able to move on? You've already moved heaven and earth for Sophia's sake. Aren't we all here because of her?" Marvin teased, and I found it hard to bear. The emotions inside me threatened to surface, but I knew I couldn't show weakness. I stayed seated, not wanting to draw attention to my inner turmoil.

A tight knot formed in my chest, the kind that usually preceded tears, but I forced myself to take deep breaths and regain control. I couldn't let my emotions overwhelm me, especially not in front of everyone. I mustered all my strength to remain composed and steady, even though it felt like a struggle to keep my emotions in check.

"Sophia and I are just friends," Liam replied, attempting to downplay any romantic connection between him and Sophia. However, Charlotte didn't let it slide and teased him about the night she went missing, implying that he had planned to ask her out.

Marvin chimed in with another playful comment, asserting that Liam had practically confessed his feelings for Sophia in the past.

This teasing banter was common in Mountain, and it had never bothered me before. Yet, this time, it struck a nerve, and I felt a surge of emotions rising within me.

Unable to bear it any longer, I pushed my plate away and stood up to excuse myself, pretending that I needed to use the restroom. I calmly walked away from the dining room, but the moment I was out of sight, I hastened up the stairs, desperate to reach my room and let my tears flow in private.

Once inside my room, I allowed myself to release the emotions that had been building up. I breathed deeply, trying to regain composure, but tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably. It seemed that this teasing about Sophia and Liam had hit a sensitive nerve, and I needed a moment to collect myself and process these unexpected feelings.

Sitting on my bed in my room, I couldn't help but berate myself for foolishly entertaining the thought that there might be something between Liam and me. It was crystal clear that he cared deeply for Sophia, which was precisely why we were in Grizlo in the first place.

With tears streaming down my cheeks, I allowed myself to cry freely. I needed this release, to let out the emotions that had been building up inside me. Deep down, I knew that once I shed these tears, I would start to feel better, and Sophia's name wouldn't affect me as much.

A part of me recognised that distancing myself from Liam might be necessary to help me move on and forget any feelings I had for him. While it saddened me, I knew it was the right decision to protect my heart from further pain. So, as painful as it was, I made a silent resolution to create some distance between us to heal and find my own path forward.