Bound By Love

Silent Distance

The grand celebration had finally arrived, the house buzzing with the energy of important guests, family, and friends. The new project was a monumental success, and tonight was meant to honour...that victory. But for Liam, the night was anything but a celebration. The weight of his mistake with Sophia hung heavy in the air, suffocating him with every breath. He had spent the past few days sending her endless apologies—cute texts, flowers, chocolates—anything to get her attention, but she had ignored him completely. Tonight, they would be in the same room for the first time since that night, and Liam's heart clenched at the thought of facing her.

When she finally appeared at the top of the staircase, Liam felt his entire world tilt.

Sophia looked like a vision as she descended the stairs, dressed in a deep emerald green gown that shimmered under the chandeliers. The fabric clung to her curves in all the right places, flowing elegantly as she moved. But it was the back of the dress that made every head turn—completely backless, it exposed her smooth skin down to her lower spine, stopping just above her hipline. The subtle allure of her bare back left Liam breathless, but what hit him hardest was the absence of the love bite he had left on her neck. She had concealed it, hiding the only mark that tied her to him.

Liam's eyes followed her every step, and he wasn't alone. James, standing nearby, couldn't take his eyes off her either. His gaze was intense, admiration clear on his face as he watched her move gracefully through the crowd. The two brothers were both captivated, but for Liam, it was a different kind of torment. He knew she was avoiding him, knew she was trying to erase him from her life, and it made his insides twist with regret.

Sophia's aunt, Evelyn, was practically glowing with pride. "Look at her!" she gushed to anyone who would listen. "Isn't she just radiant? She's the perfect match for James. Absolutely perfect."

Liam couldn't tear his eyes away from Sophia. She was enchanting, yes, but there was a coldness in her demeanour, a deliberate effort not to acknowledge him. As she reached the bottom of the stairs, Evelyn wasted no time introducing her to the important guests, all while beaming like a proud mother.

"Sophia, darling, come here!" Evelyn called, waving her over. "Everyone, this is Sophia. Isn't she stunning?"

Sophia smiled politely, exchanging pleasantries with the guests, her grace effortless. Liam stood off to the side, nursing his drink as he watched, every second feeling like a blade twisting deeper into his chest. He wanted to approach her, to apologize again, but something in her body language warned him to stay away.

That was when James made his move. With his usual confident charm, he walked over to Sophia, bowing slightly before extending his hand.

"Sophia," he said, his voice soft and filled with admiration, "would you do me the honour of a dance?"

The way James asked, so sincere and gentlemanly, sent a fresh wave of anger through Liam. James was playing the perfect son, the perfect gentleman, and Sophia responded with a smile that only fuelled Liam's frustration. She placed her hand delicately in James' and allowed him to lead her to the dance floor. Liam's heart sank as the room seemed to shift its focus onto the pair.

As the music shifted into a romantic melody, James pulled Sophia close, his hand resting gently on the small of her exposed back. The intimate gesture made Liam's blood boil. He could feel the jealousy clawing at his insides, threatening to spill over. His hands clenched into fists as he watched James hold her, their bodies swaying together to the rhythm of the music.

"She's mine," Liam thought angrily, though he knew, deep down, that he had no right to feel this way. Not after what he had done. He had no one to blame but himself.

James, ever the picture of control, looked down at Sophia with a smile, his voice just loud enough for her to hear. "You look breathtaking tonight, Sophia. I don't think I've ever seen you quite like this."

Sophia blushed slightly; her smile genuine. "Thank you, James. You're too kind."

Liam, standing on the sidelines, took a long drink, trying to drown out the scene in front of him. But it wasn't working. Each laugh she shared with James, every smile she gave him, felt like a knife twisting deeper into his gut. His heart pounded as he watched James twirl her gracefully, the hem of her dress swirling around her legs. And then James did something that nearly broke Liam—he leaned down and whispered something into Sophia's ear that made her laugh. A soft, genuine laugh that she hadn't shared with Liam in what felt like forever.

Unable to bear it anymore, Liam turned away, retreating to a corner of the room, his drink now forgotten. His appetite was non-existent, and the tight knot in his chest was suffocating. His mother, noticing his absence from the celebrations, approached him with concern etched into her face.

"Liam, sweetheart," she said softly, "what's wrong? You've barely touched your food. You don't seem yourself tonight."

"I'm fine, Mom," he replied, forcing a tight smile. "Just not hungry, that's all."

She looked at him closely, as though she knew there was more to the story, but he gave her no opening to press further. His eyes drifted back to the dance floor, where James was still twirling Sophia, their laughter drifting through the air, and Liam felt his heart sink further.

As the night wore on, Liam's frustration and guilt became unbearable. He couldn't stand to be in the same room as them anymore. He grabbed his coat and left the house in a storm of emotions, barely acknowledging anyone on his way out. Max, his best friend, who had been observing the tension all evening, followed him out into the cool night air.

They ended up at Max's place, where Liam's torment continued. He poured himself more drinks, trying to numb the pain, but no matter how much he drank, it wasn't enough to drown out the sight of James and Sophia dancing together. Max, sitting across from him, finally broke the silence.

"Liam, man, what's going on with you? You've been off all night. And don't try to lie. I saw the way you were looking at Sophia."

Liam let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through his hair as the alcohol buzzed through him. "I screwed up, Max. I messed up with Sophia, and now she won't even look at me. She's with James tonight. I can't even blame her."

Max raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the story. "What happened?"

Liam sighed, the weight of his mistake crushing him. "I kissed her. No—more than that. I lost control, and now...she's gone. I've tried everything to make it right, but she's done with me. And I can't stand watching her with James."

Max frowned, taking it all in. "She'll come around. Just give her time, man."

Liam shook his head, staring down at his phone, the unanswered messages to Sophia piling up. "I've given her space, and it feels like it's killing me."

Later, after Max had gone to bed, Liam sat outside under the stars, his phone in hand. He tried calling Sophia again, his heart pounding as the phone rang, but once again, there was no answer. The silence felt like the final nail in the coffin.

As the alcohol finally overtook him, Liam broke down, tears streaming down his face as he realized just how much he had lost. He had pushed Sophia away, and now he was left with nothing but regret. All he wanted was to fix things, to go back to how they were before. But now, as he sat alone under the stars, the weight of his mistake felt too heavy to bear.

And somewhere across town, Sophia lay in her bed, staring at her phone, the missed calls from Liam piling up, her heart still torn between the memory of his touch and the pain of his actions.