Page 63 of Falling for the Wrong Billionaire

Chapter twenty-one

Liam

I watch her rush away.

She doesn’t even look back.

The clinic door swings shut behind her, the faint sound of her footsteps fading into nothing.

And I just… stand there.

For a moment, my feet won’t move. My chest feels tight, my stomach churning as my mind races to catch up.

Everything was going so well.

Or at least I thought it was.

We’d spent weeks growing closer — laughing, talking, even just sitting in silence. I could feel her walls coming down, one brick at a time. I thought she trusted me.

And then — just like that — they’re back.

Higher than ever.

This time, I’m not sure I’ll be able to break them down.

I run a hand over my jaw, letting out a slow breath. My fingers tighten around the keys in my palm, and for a second, I consider going after her.

Pushing just a little harder.

Forcing her to tell me what’s going on.

But then I stop myself.

She made it pretty clear she needed space.

And if there’s one thing I know about Lucy by now, it’s that pushing too hard only makes her retreat even further.

So I let her go.

Even though it feels like my chest is being crushed as I watch her disappear.

I shove my hands in my pockets and head back to my car.

It’s dark now, the streetlights buzzing faintly as I slide into the driver’s seat. I sit there for a long moment, staring at the steering wheel, my thoughts spinning in circles.

What on earth happened?

Everything was fine at the gala. We were fine.

She laughed. She smiled at me like she meant it.

And now…

I shake my head, starting the engine.

I can’t do this alone tonight.

I reach for my phone and send a quick text to the only two people who’ve always known how to steady me.