Liana's POV:
I was confused about everything. I honestly thought Alena was that guy's daughter, but she wasn't. And suddenly, there was this cousin? My stupid creative mind kept forming all kinds of theories, but I pushed them down. I didn't want to dig into anything until Ethilia was completely calm.
I've noticed it many times… whenever she tries talking about her past, she either gets anxiety attacks or gets dangerously close to a panic attack. I wanted to make the moment soft for her before asking anything. So, I asked it now, when the time seems fine for her.
"I really don't understand… what did his cousin have to do with anything?" I asked quietly, combing my fingers through her hair.
She let out a long breath and buried her face into my chest, her voice muffled. "As much as I hated his guts… he still found the perfect way to break me. He made me fall in love, or at least feel like I did."
I raised a brow and rubbed slow circles on her back, keeping my touch steady so she didn't panic. I didn't comment; I just let her talk.
"After a few months, a new student transferred to our college. He was… surprisingly good. And somehow I felt a tiny crush on him." Her voice was soft, but something inside me twisted.
A pout tugged at my lips, and my arms tightened around her automatically. I wasn't jealous… I just didn't like the idea, okay?
She let out a soft chuckle and pressed a kiss to my collarbone. "Don't worry… nowhere close to how I feel for you."
My pout vanished instantly, and I knew a proud smile was forming on my face. "Good," I murmured, kissing her forehead. "Then?"
Ethilia sighed and leaned back enough to see my face. "We were together for a few months, but I couldn't get close to him." Her voice dropped.
She looked at me, "Every time I tried to love him for real… I felt like I was betraying you. And I hated myself for it."
I cupped her cheeks gently, and she placed her hands over mine, her eyes fluttering shut.
I could feel her fingers were getting cold again, so I leaned in and kissed her forehead, rubbing her hands between mine. "If you aren't ready, you don't have to talk about it," I whispered.
She shook her head and opened her eyes, "No… let me." She swallowed, "That night… it was stormy, and I couldn't go home. He took the chance and offered his place because it was close."
My eyes widened, and I felt a sudden burn spread through my chest, but I forced a slow inhale, forcing every possessive or angry feeling back down.
I needed to be understanding... for her, and being possessive or angry won't work here. "And then?" I asked, trying to keep my voice soft.
Biting her lip, she looked at me and swallowed, "When I was at his house… after I freshened up, we had dinner. Like a normal couple. And for a moment, it felt normal. Like maybe I was finally healing…"
She paused, her eyes scanning mine as if checking if I was still listening. I squeezed her hand and nodded gently. "Go on…"
With a nod, she continued, "Before going to bed… he gave me a chocolate. I didn't know what kind it was."
My eyes widened and I instinctively squeezed her arm. Her hands turned even colder, and her breathing grew uneven as she looked down.
"That chocolate somehow made me… high. And naturally, I asked for his help." Her cheeks flushed in shame or something else, I don't know. But the way her grip on my hand tightened, like she was terrified I'd snap, made me soften more.
I won't lie, my mind was going wild, and I was angry. But not at her. Did this fool realize that it wasn't her fault? Gosh...
I rubbed my forehead, trying to breathe through the storm inside me.
She looked up immediately with a frown and those innocent puppy eyes. Those eyes always do something to me… but right now, all I wanted was to knock some sense into her, not in a bad way... Just enough to make her see she wasn't to blame.
But I shoved all my anger and heaviness aside and pulled her into my arms again, hugging her close.
"And then?" I murmured against her hair.
Ethilia wrapped her arms tightly around me and murmured, "When we found out I was pregnant, he was the happiest one.... I started getting this tiny bit of hope… but I was terrified because I knew my parents wouldn't accept it."
She paused for a bit before starting again, "He kept assuring me, and when I finally got convinced to keep the baby…"
Her voice wavered, and her fingers twisted into my shirt like she was holding on for her life. I didn't know the full extent of what she felt, but God… it hurt.
Seeing or even imagining her in pain... It hurt so sharply that it felt like someone had stabbed me and twisted the knife.
I rubbed her back gently, keeping her grounded. "He left you?" I whispered.
Ethilia broke into sobs and nodded. "Yes… he invited that fucking Ryan, and they revealed everything. It was all revenge. When I tried to fight back or even speak....."
Her hands started trembling slightly. "They said I should be thankful they didn't take any videos and post them."
A cold sweat ran through my body, and I felt my hands shaking too. It was terrible and cruel. My mind wasn't working... What was I hearing? A revenge? For a slap? No wait... I need time to digest.
I swallowed hard and took a deep breath. "Revenge for what? A slap?"
Ethilia nodded and slowly pulled back. Her teary eyes made my jaw tense and my hands curl into fists, but I kept my arms around her. I forced my face to soften, to stay gentle for her.
She took a couple of deep breaths before whispering, "Yes… they ruined my life. They manipulated my mom and everyone else, saying.... saying I was..."
Her voice cracked, and she covered her face with both hands. "They said Alena didn't have a specific father. They destroyed my character and spread rumors that weren't even true. And because I was already pregnant, everyone believed them. They blamed me."
I froze. It was too much to digest at once, and it felt like someone had dropped a ton of weight onto my chest. I couldn't breathe normally, but I forced myself not to show it.
She sniffed and whispered brokenly, "I… I became an outcast. Whom everyone started mocking. Started giving me…"
Her face twisted in disgust, and I instinctively turned away. She didn't have to utter the words; I could clearly understand what she meant.
She continued, "All kinds of proposals I was never open for… They…
I swallowed hard and took a breath through my mouth, rubbing my chest. I needed fresh air. I couldn't hear any more, nor could I just watch her like this anymore.
I was about to get out of the car when Ethilia grabbed my hand. "Liana..."