Chapter 136
—
Then, finally, he exhales — and pulls me closer, burying his face în my hair.
But the man doesn’t stop.
Not even as the cops try to wrestle him into the back of the cruiser. He kicks. Spits. Fights. His face is blotchy with rage, red and wild and unhinged.
“I knew it,” I whisper to myself. “He baited me into the bathroom. He was after me.”
My skin prickles. My mind is spinning, grasping at fragments – why the wig? Why the knife? Why now?
He hadn’t been wearing the wig when I first noticed him trailing after us in the arcade. I’d only gone into bathroom, thinking he was just a fan of Liam’s, I never expected…
“You fucking whore!” the man howls. “You ruined everything! Just die! Die! DIE!”
The words hit like glass shattering at my feet. I flinch.
Liam goes still.
Too still.
His grip loosens.
“I’ll fucking kill him,” Liam growls, voice low and trembling with
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fury.
And then he lets me go.
“Liam- no!” I lunge for his hand, but he’s already moving – shoulders squared, sleeves shoved up, his whole body coiled and deadly.
“Liam!” I shout, breath catching, feet stumbling after him. He doesn’t turn. Doesn’t pause. He’s locked in.
A police officer steps in front of him. “Sir, I need you to calm-”
Liam sidesteps him like he’s barely there.
I reach him just in time – fingers latching onto his arm, yanking him back with everything I have. “Liam, stop–please!”
—
–
He spins toward me, chest heaving, his face storm–dark. But when he sees me – really sees me – his whole expression fractures. The rage doesn’t disappear, but it shifts. Grounds itself.
His hands go to my face, cradling it like I’m something breakable. His thumbs brush my cheeks. “He could’ve hurt you.”
“I know.” My voice is thin, but steady. “But you losing it won’t fix it.”
He closes his eyes like the very thought of that truth burns. Then he presses his forehead against mine, holding me there, breathing like he’s just run a marathon.
“I saw your face,” I whisper. “When he screamed those things. I know you think this is your fault. But it’s not. None of it is.”
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His jaw tightens. “You don’t understand-
“Then help me. Make me understand.”
He pulls back, just enough to look into my eyes. And for a second, I swear I see something deeper flicker there. shame, maybe. Or guilt. Something heavy that’s been weighing him. down for far longer than just this night.
But before either of us can speak again, one of the officers steps forward. “Sir, ma’am – we’re going to need a statement.”
–
Liam exhales, dragging his eyes from mine to the squad car where the man’s now slamming his head against the glass, still screaming obscenities.
He nods, jaw hard. “You’ll get it. Everything.”
Then he looks back at me.
And his voice is quiet, but certain.
“No more secrets. I promise.”
LIAM
The cops take our statements, asking just enough questions to piece together what happened. By the time they’re satisfied, they let us know we might be called down to the station later for a full report.
Then they’re gone.
Oldie shuts the place down early- not that he had much choice. Most people cleared out the moment the screaming started. Honestly, I’ll be surprised if this doesn’t make headlines
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by morning.
I hang back and watch Emilia with Oldie for a while, the phone. pressed to my ear. She catches my eye once or twice, offering me small, shaky smiles. Oldie’s leaning on her more than he probably means to, one hand pressed to his back, clearly in
–
pain, but she says nothing – just lets him lean. Quiet strength. That’s what comes to my mind every time I think of her.
I look away. The rage simmers again.
The line finally picks up.
“Li?” Jessica’s voice is soft. Cautious. A little hoarse. “Is it really you?”
I glance back at Emilia, who’s helping Oldie settle into one of the chairs by the prize counter, pretending not to notice the wince he tries to hide. My chest pulls tight. I force the words out.
“Jess,” I say. “The guy- the stalker you told me about months ago. The one who used to follow you, cross–dressing to get close. You said he just… disappeared. You never figured out what happened to him?”
She’s quiet for a beat too long. Then laughs – dry and brittle. “Is it bad I thought maybe you were calling to say you missed me? That you woke up realising I was the love of your life?”
“Jessica-”
