Chapter 16: Liam’s End & Helena’s Desperation
"Huff... Huff..."
Liam stumbled through the alley behind his apartment, sweat streaking down his face, his eyes wide and bloodshot like a cornered rat. He’d run full speed from Rina’s place, the weight of humiliation and rage pressing on his back like a phantom claw.
The world kept tilting sideways. Words seemed to echo in his head seconds after he thought them.
His chest heaved like bellows. His shirt clung to him, soaked through. Each step felt like walking through thick mud, his coordination shot to hell.
"Damn it... HOW CAN THIS SHIT HAPPEN TO ME?!"
He screamed it upward, spittle flying from his cracked lips.
This was supposed to be his second chance—his goddamn victory lap. School beauties throwing themselves at him, weak corporate empires crumbling under his heel. That was how the story was supposed to go.
But instead—
Rina had looked at him like he was some kind of disease.
Vincent—that bastard fossil—had played everyone like they were puppets. And Liam? He’d been the dancing monkey, performing for their sick amusement.
"All because of that bastard," Liam snarled, staggering toward the gate. His hand shot out to steady himself against the brick wall, leaving a streak of sweat and blood from his split knuckles. "He’s poisoning her mind. Poisoning all of them against me."
The gate loomed ahead, red bricks stained with city grime. He reached for the handle—and missed completely. His depth perception was screwed. Everything seemed too close and too far away at the same time.