The Betrayed Oath

Chapter 7

"Sophia, put that down. Now."

Liam's voice sliced through the air, sharp as a whip. My hand froze, just inches away from the open folder on the desk. The dim light of his apartment flickered, casting long shadows over his face. For a brief moment, his usually calm exterior cracked, revealing the faintest edge of panic.

"Why?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, but the tightness in my chest betrayed me. "Afraid of what I'll find?"

His jaw tightened, and for a moment, he didn't answer. Then, with deliberate steps, he moved closer, like a predator circling its prey. I snatched the folder before he could reach it, my heart hammering as I flipped through the contents, names, transactions, photos. And there she was, Elise. Her sharp features unmistakable, leaning in with a man whose face practically screamed money and power. But it wasn't just any man.

"Thomas Kerrington," I whispered, the recognition sinking in like a stone.

My hands shook as I traced the connections laid out before me, secret meetings, massive money transfers, and a single shared goal: Alex's downfall.

Liam's voice dropped, cold and dangerous. "This isn't a game, Sophia."

"Neither is betrayal," I shot back, holding up a document. "Elise is working with Kerrington? To destroy Alex?"

His silence was answer enough.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I demanded, stepping forward. "You knew, didn't you? From the start!"

Liam's eyes darkened, stormy and intense, locking onto mine with a look that could pierce steel. "Because knowing doesn't mean surviving."

The words hit harder than I expected, like a punch to the gut.

"So what now?" I challenged, my voice rising. "I just walk away? Pretend I didn't see all of this?"

Liam's hand shot out, grabbing my wrist. His touch burned through the thin fabric of my sleeve, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "You'll do exactly that if you want to live."

I wrenched my arm free, glaring at him with as much defiance as I could muster. But deep down, fear clawed at the edges of my resolve.

My phone buzzed, breaking the tense silence. I glanced at the screen, my stomach sinking as I saw the message:

"Sophia, stay out of this. Final warning."

Anonymous. No name. But the chill creeping down my spine told me it wasn't just an empty threat.

Liam saw the message over my shoulder. His face turned grim, and he muttered, "They're already watching. You don't get it, do you?"

I squared my shoulders, pushing down the quiver in my voice. "Then make me understand, Liam. Or get out of my way."

For a second, he hesitated, his expression torn, frustration flickering in his eyes before something softer flashed behind them. "You don't trust me. Fine," he said, his voice quieter but still intense. "But at least trust yourself enough to know when to walk away."

I turned back to the folder, my pulse pounding in my ears as I pieced together the evidence, names, figures, shady deals. Each one a dagger aimed at Alex's heart, one he hadn't even seen coming.

Liam's shadow loomed over me, his presence both a shield and a warning. "You're not walking away, are you?"

I met his gaze without hesitation. "You already knew the answer to that."

A flicker of something, admiration, maybe?, flashed in his eyes before it vanished behind his usual guarded exterior. "Then you'd better be ready for what's coming."

My phone buzzed again. This time, it wasn't a warning. It was a video. Shaky footage of me entering Liam's apartment. The timestamp was fresh, less than ten minutes ago.

"They're here," I whispered, holding up the screen.

Liam cursed under his breath, his hand automatically reaching for the gun tucked under his jacket. "You've got two choices," he said, his voice steady, all business now. "Run. Or fight."

I looked at him, my heart pounding like a drum in my chest, and made my choice.

"Let them come."

The crash of glass shattering upstairs was our only warning.

Adrenaline surged through me as Liam grabbed me, pulling me behind him, his gun drawn. "Stay close," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

As the door slammed open and the heavy footsteps echoed in the hall, one thought consumed me: If this was the price of the truth, was I ready to pay it?