Liam froze, completely taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to kiss him. When she pulled back, he gently held her face between his palms, forcing her to meet his gaze. Her tears kept falling, warm and silent, sliding down her cheeks like her heart was breaking right in front of him.
“Alina… stop crying,” he murmured, wiping her tears carefully with his thumb. His voice was softer than he intended. Too soft.
“Please… don’t send me back,” she sobbed, her shoulders trembling.
Liam’s chest tightened. He had imagined everything except this. He thought she would smile, maybe jump up, maybe even pack her bags excitedly. He thought she would be relieved to return to her parents' safe home.
But she wasn’t relieved.
She was crying because he wanted to send her back to her parents.
What kind of
