Chapter 5 Shadows of the Past

Chapter 5 – Shadows of the Past

Mia stood frozen in Ethan's penthouse, her heart pounding. She didn't know how to move forward from here. Ethan's eyes searched hers, waiting for her to say something-anything-that would break the suffocating silence between them.

"Do you really think I can just forget everything?" Mia asked, her voice trembling. "You kept something from me, Ethan. You slept with Sophie, my best friend, and you didn't think that mattered?"

Ethan sighed heavily, running a hand through his dark hair. His frustration was evident, but Mia could see the guilt in his eyes. "It wasn't like that, Mia. What happened with Sophie was before you and I... It didn't mean anything."

"It doesn't matter when it happened," Mia said, her voice rising. "The fact that you didn't tell me means you were hiding it."

"I didn't want to hurt you," Ethan said softly, stepping closer. "I was trying to protect us. What I feel for you-what we have-it's real."

Mia's chest tightened. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to let this go and just be with him, but the betrayal cut too deep.

"Then why does it feel like I'm just another one of your secrets?" Mia asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her throat tightened as the words left her lips.

Ethan's jaw clenched, and for a moment, she thought she saw something flicker in his eyes-something dark and distant, like he was hiding more than he was letting on. He reached out, his hand resting on her arm.

"Mia, you're not a secret," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "I care about you more than you know."

She wanted to believe him, but her doubts gnawed at her. Was he telling the truth, or was there more he wasn't saying? She had already been blindsided once-she couldn't let it happen again.

"I need some space," Mia said, pulling away from his touch. "I need to figure out what I want."

Ethan's expression hardened, a flash of something unreadable crossing his features. "And what does that mean for us?"

"I don't know," Mia admitted, her voice cracking. "But I can't keep going like this. Not when I don't even know if I can trust you."

Ethan's gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. "You do trust me. You just don't realize it yet."

Mia blinked, taken aback by his words. There was something unsettling in the way he said it, as if he believed he knew her better than she knew herself. And maybe he did-but that didn't change the fact that he had kept things from her.

"I need time," Mia said again, her voice firmer now. "I'll call you when I'm ready to talk."

Without waiting for his response, Mia turned and walked toward the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't look back as she left his penthouse, but she could feel his eyes on her the whole way out.

The cool evening air hit Mia's face as she stepped onto the street. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and hurt. She didn't know what to do anymore-didn't know who to trust. Everything felt like it was crumbling around her, and the more she tried to hold on, the more it slipped through her fingers.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and for a brief moment, she thought it might be Ethan again. But when she pulled it out, it was a text from Liam.

"Dinner tonight? I miss you."

Mia's stomach twisted. She had been avoiding Liam all week, too caught up in the mess with Ethan to deal with her boyfriend. She didn't deserve him-not with all the lies she was keeping. He had been nothing but good to her, and she was falling apart inside.

"I miss you too," she texted back, her fingers trembling as she typed the words. She needed to see him. She needed something normal, something stable in her life-something that didn't make her feel like she was losing her grip.

Later that evening, Mia arrived at Liam's apartment, her nerves on edge. As soon as he opened the door, she felt a wave of guilt wash over her. Liam looked at her with that easy smile of his, his eyes lighting up the way they always did when he saw her. He leaned in and kissed her softly, his lips warm and familiar against hers.

"Hey, babe," Liam said, pulling her inside. "I've got your favorite wine and takeout from that Thai place you love."

Mia forced a smile, trying to push down the guilt that was bubbling up inside her. "That sounds perfect."

They sat down on the couch together, the food spread out in front of them, but Mia barely touched her plate. Liam was talking, telling her about his day, but the words barely registered. All she could think about was Ethan-about the secrets, the lies, and the pull she still felt toward him despite everything.

"Are you okay?" Liam asked, his brow furrowing as he looked at her. "You've been quiet."

Mia blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a long day."

Liam nodded, but he didn't look convinced. "If something's bothering you, you can talk to me, you know."

Mia's chest tightened. She wanted to tell him-wanted to confess everything and finally be free of the weight of her lies. But how could she? How could she look him in the eye and tell him that she had been sneaking around with someone else? That she had been living a double life?

Instead, she just smiled weakly and leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I know. I just need a little time to clear my head."

Liam kissed the top of her head, his arm wrapping around her. "Take all the time you need. I'm here."

The kindness in his voice made her heart ache. He didn't deserve this-didn't deserve to be lied to. But Mia couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

Later that night, after Liam had fallen asleep, Mia lay awake beside him, staring at the ceiling. She felt trapped-caught between two worlds, two men, and two versions of herself. One part of her craved the safety and security of her life with Liam, while the other was drawn to the danger and intensity of her relationship with Ethan.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, and her heart skipped a beat. She reached for it, her fingers trembling as she saw the message.

"We're not finished, Mia. Come back to me."

It was from Ethan.

Mia's breath caught in her throat as she stared at the words. She knew she shouldn't respond-knew she should turn off her phone and go to sleep. But the pull was too strong, the temptation too great.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, and before she knew it, she had typed out a response.

"I'll be there tomorrow."

She hit send, her heart racing.