When the past comes knocking

Lena's POV

"Lena? Lena, can we talk? Please…I wanted to tell you sooner. Can we just talk?"

My blood ran cold.

It was Liam.

He knocked again, a little harder this time.

"Lena, please open the door."

I looked at the door, my heart was pounding so hard I could barely think. If he kept standing out there, someone was going to see him. People walked through these hallways all the time. If someone sees him outside my bedroom door, everything will fall apart. I won't get a single cent of that sixty thousand dollars and I could kiss that job goodbye.

I hurried over, unlocked the door just enough to grab his wrist, and pulled him inside.

"What are…" Before he could finish, I shut the door and locked it.

The room fell silent. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

He looked exactly the same. The same dark hair, the same brown eyes, and the same face I fell in love with. Only now, everything felt different.

He looked at me for a second, then his gaze dropped to the diamond ring on my finger.

“Lena,” he began. “I'm very sorry.”

I folded my arms across my chest.

“Are you out of your mind?” I hissed, keeping my voice as low as possible. “What the hell are you doing knocking on my door? What are you going to say if someone sees you here?”

"I know I'm not supposed to be here," he said. “I didn't mean to hurt you. I know apologizing isn't enough, and I should've told you sooner. I just didn't know how."

"Really?" I scoffed.

"I'm truly sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen.”

"When were you planning on telling me?" I asked. "No, seriously. I'm curious. Were you going to tell me after your engagement party? After your wedding? Maybe on your honeymoon?"

"Lena, please…"

"No." I held up a hand. "Don't bother."

He closed his eyes briefly. "I didn't want you to find out like that."

"So how was I supposed to find out?"

"I was trying to figure everything out."

“We've been together for three years, and you couldn't find the right time to tell me?” I asked, looking away before he could see the tears gathering in my eyes. "I honestly don't know why you're here."

"Because I owe you an explanation."

“There won't be any need for that,” I said coldly. “If you're done, please leave.”

He looked down at the floor before speaking again.

"What are you doing here?"

The question caught me off guard.

"I came here because..." I almost said because I wanted to surprise you.

But I stopped myself immediately. I remembered why I was still here, plus I wasn't about to let him interrogate me after what he had done.

I lifted my left hand deliberately, showing off the diamond ring.

"I came here to attend my fiancé’s sister's engagement celebration."

His eyes followed the movement.

"So it's true?" he asked quietly.

"Why do you look so shocked, William? Did you think you were the only one who moved on?”

His face went pale. “So it's true,” he repeated. “How's that even possible? How are you his fiancée?”

It was strangely satisfying watching him like this. He looked just as lost as I was standing in that hall yesterday.

“I'm engaged, Liam. I actually came here planning to tell you in person,” I said confidently. “After three years together, I thought you deserved to hear it from me.”

He stared at me as if I'd started speaking another language.

"But that shouldn't be a problem,” I continued. “Considering the fact that you're getting married in three months or less.”

"Lena..."

I cut him off before he could say another word.

“Liam, you don't have to feel guilty about anything. We've both already moved on. I'm engaged and you're getting married. Let's just leave it there.”

“You're not mad at me?” He asked.

“Why should I be? We're both getting what we want, and now nobody has to feel guilty.”

"No. Lena, you don't understand "

I actually do, and I'm glad we're on the same page,” I answered. “Our relationship ended long ago, we just didn't want to admit it.”

“Does Marcus know about us?” He asked.

"Firstly, there is no us,” I replied. “Secondly, there's nothing to tell him. We dated in the past, it didn't work out. There’s nothing for him to know.”

I didn't wait for him to say anything else. I just walked over to the door.

“You should leave, before anyone sees you here.”

He stared at me for a while before nodding his head. “Take care of yourself, Lena. See you around.”

That was the part I definitely wasn't looking forward to. But I reminded myself what was at stake. It was only for a month, after that we’d both go our separate ways.

But just as he was about to unlock the door, there was a loud knock on the door.

“Lena, are you in there,” Liz called. “Don't tell me you've gone back to sleep. You know we're supposed to be on vacation right.”

We both froze, looking at the door.

"Lena?" Liz knocked again. "Open up the door.”