Page 18

Amara sat on the bench near the rink, her head in her hands as the weight of her insecurities pressed down on her.

It had been a grueling week of training, and despite giving it her all, she couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that had been gnawing at her since the gala. The whispers, the stares, the reminder of how different her world was from Liam's—it had all begun to take a toll.

The quiet sound of footsteps broke her thoughts, and she looked up to see Liam standing nearby, his gaze soft and concerned. He'd texted her earlier, asking if she was free to meet, and she had reluctantly agreed, knowing she needed to see him even if she wasn't sure what to say.

"Hey," he greeted, sitting beside her on the bench, leaving just enough space for her to feel comfortable.

"Hey," she replied, offering a small smile, though she could feel it faltering.

They sat in silence for a moment, the tension thick between them. Finally, Liam turned to her, his voice gentle. "Amara, you've seemed distant since the gala. I can't help but feel something's bothering you. Is everything okay?"

She sighed, looking down at her hands. "Honestly, Liam? No, it's not."

He stayed quiet, waiting for her to continue.

"It's just... I keep feeling like I don't belong in your world. That night, everyone there looked at me like I was an outsider. And maybe I am," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.

"It's hard not to feel out of place when I'm standing next to you, surrounded by people who have known wealth and success their whole lives."

Liam's face softened, and he reached over, covering her hand with his. "Amara, I'm sorry if I ever made you feel that way. But I need you to know—there isn't a single person in that room who has anything over you."

She looked away, a part of her wanting to believe him, but the doubts ran too deep.

"But that's easy for you to say. You fit in perfectly with them, Liam. I... I grew up with nothing, just a rink and a dream. I've spent my whole life fighting to be seen, and when I'm in your world, I feel invisible. Like I'm not enough."

He listened quietly, his hand still warm on hers. "You know," he began, his voice low, "when I first entered the business world, I felt like an outsider too."

She looked up, surprised. "You did?"

He nodded, a faint smile crossing his lips.

"I may seem put together now, but it wasn't always like that. I grew up with very little, and when my parents passed away, I was thrown into a world I barely understood. When I started in business, I was this young guy, rough around the edges, with no connections and barely any money. I was competing against people who'd been groomed for success their entire lives. People who'd inherited wealth and influence, who looked at me like I didn't belong."

Amara's heart softened as she listened, his story striking a chord deep within her. She'd always seen him as someone who exuded confidence and poise, someone who fit into any room he walked into. Hearing about his struggles made him seem more real, more human.

"People looked down on me," Liam continued.

"They questioned my decisions, they doubted my abilities. But over time, I realized that those doubts didn't have to define me. I learned that what mattered most was staying true to who I was. I didn't need to fit in with them. I just needed to prove that I deserved my place there."

She looked at him, her heart beating a little faster. "How did you... how did you get over it? The feeling of not being enough?"

Liam squeezed her hand gently. "By reminding myself that everyone starts somewhere. The people who looked down on me? They were just people, no better or worse than I was. Their opinions didn't define my worth, and neither do the opinions of anyone at that gala define yours."

Amara felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she wiped it away quickly, feeling vulnerable yet oddly safe with him. "I just... I don't want to be seen as 'the skater girl' who doesn't belong."

Liam's eyes softened further, and he turned slightly to face her. "Amara, you are so much more than that. You're resilient, passionate, and talented. You've accomplished things most people wouldn't even dare to dream of. You don't need to prove anything to anyone, least of all to the people who don't see your worth."

She felt a warmth spread through her at his words, the heaviness in her chest lifting ever so slightly. For so long, she had tried to be perfect, to prove herself worthy, but here was Liam, looking at her as if she already was enough.

"Thank you, Liam," she whispered, her voice catching. "It means a lot to hear that from you."

He smiled, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. "You don't need to change for anyone. Just keep being you—the same Amara who gives her heart to her passion, who doesn't back down. You're more than enough."

A quiet moment passed between them, filled with unspoken emotions. She looked up at him, a soft smile breaking through her insecurities. "You know, I never would've guessed you struggled like that. You seem so... confident."

He chuckled, a hint of vulnerability in his gaze. "Confidence is something you build, not something you're born with. Just like you've built yourself into the incredible skater you are today."

They sat in silence for a while, a comfortable understanding settling between them. Amara realized that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as out of place as she thought. She had her own dreams, her own strengths, and maybe it was time she started to believe in them as much as Liam did.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked, offering his hand.

She nodded, taking his hand as they rose from the bench, feeling a newfound sense of confidence. As they strolled through the empty rink, the doubts faded, replaced by a quiet strength. With Liam by her side, she began to believe that maybe, just maybe, she was exactly where she was meant to be.