Irina's chest felt so heaved as she glared at Liam. "You don't get to act like nothing happened. You can't just pretend May's not here, or that she doesn't own this whole damn show."
Liam's eyes flashed with irritation. "And what? You think you're some innocent bystander? You're in this just as deep as I am, Irina. Don't act like you're not playing games, too."
"I'm not playing games!" Irina shot back with trembling voice. "I'm just tired of pretending to be someone I'm not.
And maybe.. just maybe I'm also sick of watching you push everyone away."
He scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "You think it's easy? Having my entire life dictated by people like May and my mother? You think I wanted any of this?"
Irina clenched her fists, hurt slicing through her anger. "Then why keep me around? Why drag me into your mess if you don't trust me?"
Liam's jaw tightened, but before he could answer, Irina spun on her heel and stormed out of the room, the slam of the door echoed like a gunshot.
Later that night, Irina dressed in a black gown that felt more like armor, Irina found herself trapped at the charity gala, forced to be in the glittering crowd alongside Liam and the ever-present May. Every laugh and glance between Liam and May felt like a knife twisting in her ribs.
Irina's eyes burned as May approached, a venomous smile playing on her lips. "Enjoying the party, Samantha? Or are you just pretending to belong?"
The barb stung, but Irina refused to show weakness. Instead, she caught Liam's eye across the room but his expression was emotionless.
When the crowd began to thin, Liam pulled Irina aside, away from prying eyes, toward the balcony overlooking the city lights. The cool night air did nothing to ease the heat between them.
He grabbed her hand, "If you want me, stop pretending. I see you and I know who you really are."
Irina stopped breathing for some seconds. This was the moment, the choice between the mask she'd worn for so long, and the truth she'd been too scared to show.
But before she could answer, the distant sound of footsteps reminded her that in this world, secrets were weapons and vulnerability…. Was a risk she wasn't sure she was ready to take.