Redemption of hearts

The Betrayal Within

Liza's POV

The morning light poured into my apartment, golden and unforgiving. It illuminated the mess in my living room—the glass of wine left half-empty on the table, my shoes kicked off in frustration, and my laptop blinking with unread emails.

And me? I was curled up on the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Samuel Parker. That man had a way of digging into my thoughts and taking root like an invasive weed. No matter how hard I tried to shake him off, the memories and feelings came rushing back, louder and more insistent.

I should have said no. Should have told him to leave. But instead, I'd let him in, allowed his words—and his damn kiss—to linger.

Why?

I buried my face in a cushion, groaning. "What the hell is wrong with me?"

A knock on the door startled me, breaking my internal spiral. My pulse quickened. Was it Samuel again? If it was, I was going to—

"Liza!" Zoya's voice called from the other side of the door.

I exhaled in relief and went to let her in. She pushed past me, holding up a coffee and a bag of pastries like peace offerings.

"You look like you've been hit by a freight train," she observed, eyeing me critically.

"Thanks," I said flatly, shutting the door.

"What happened?" she asked, sitting on the couch and crossing her legs. "Don't tell me it's Samuel. Again."

I sat across from her, taking the coffee she offered. "It's always Samuel."

Zoya's brows shot up. "What did he do this time?"

I hesitated, the weight of last night pressing down on me. "He kissed me."

Her eyes went wide. "He what?"

"And the worst part," I continued, ignoring her reaction, "is that I kissed him back."

Zoya's jaw dropped, and for a moment, she looked too stunned to speak. Then, as always, she rallied.

"You're kidding," she said.

"I wish I was," I muttered. "It was... It was stupid. And impulsive. And—"

"Hot?" Zoya interjected, smirking.

I glared at her. "Don't make this worse."

"Liza," she said, leaning forward, "you can't keep doing this."

"I know," I said, running a hand through my hair. "But every time I think I've got a handle on things, he does something to pull me back in."

"That's his game," she said. "He thrives on control. On keeping you off balance."

"And he's winning," I admitted, my voice small.

Zoya sighed, taking my hand. "You're stronger than this, Liza. You've built a life for yourself without him. Don't let him undo it."

Her words settled over me like a challenge. She was right. I couldn't let Samuel dictate my emotions—or my life.

I straightened my shoulders, determination hardening in my chest. "You're right," I said. "It's time to fight back."

Zoya grinned, mischief lighting up her face. "Now that's the Liza I know."

---

Samuel's POV

The rain had stopped by the time I left Liza's apartment, but the storm inside me still raged.

She'd let me kiss her. That was progress. But the walls she'd built around herself were higher than I'd anticipated. Every time I got close, she pushed me away again.

And I deserved it.

I ran a hand through my damp hair, frustrated. Liza didn't know the whole story. She didn't know why I'd walked away all those years ago, and I didn't know if she'd ever forgive me if she did.

But I couldn't leave things the way they were. Not when there was still a chance to fix it.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, dragging me out of my thoughts.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Parker," Andrew, my assistant, said on the other end. "We've got a problem."

I frowned. "What kind of problem?"

"It's the Everly account," he said. "There's been a complication."

"Explain."

"There's been a leak," he said hesitantly. "Internal documents about the project have made their way to a competitor."

My jaw tightened. "How the hell did that happen?"

"We don't know yet," Andrew said. "But we're investigating."

"Double the security on all our files," I ordered. "And get me a list of everyone who's had access to the project."

"Yes, sir," Andrew said, his voice tense.

I ended the call, a cold knot forming in my stomach. A leak like this could jeopardize everything we'd worked for—not to mention my already fragile partnership with Liza's company.

I needed to get ahead of this.

And I needed to make sure Liza didn't get caught in the crossfire.

---

Liza's POV

By the time I arrived at the office, the atmosphere was charged. Whispers filled the hallways, and everyone seemed on edge.

"What's going on?" I asked Maddy, one of my colleagues.

"You didn't hear?" she said, lowering her voice. "There's been a leak. Someone shared internal project files with a competitor."

My stomach dropped. "What? How?"

"No one knows," Maddy said, shaking her head. "But Samuel's on the warpath. He's demanding answers."

Of course he was.

I headed to my office, determined to keep my head down. But the moment I stepped inside, I found a note on my desk.

Conference room. Now.

It was signed with a familiar flourish. Samuel.

I crumpled the note in my hand, my heart pounding.

Whatever was going on, I had a feeling this was only the beginning.

---

As I entered the conference room, all eyes turned to me. Samuel stood at the head of the table, his expression grim.

"Liza," he said, his voice low. "We need to talk."

I looked around the room, sensing the tension in the air. This wasn't just about the leak.

"What's going on?" I asked, my voice steady despite the anxiety churning inside me.

Samuel's gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes—regret?

"You've been implicated," he said.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

"What?" I whispered, my mind racing.

"We've traced the leak," Samuel said, his voice sharp. "And it came from your account."

My breath caught in my throat, and the room seemed to tilt.

This wasn't just a problem.

It was a betrayal.

And I had no idea how to prove my innocence.

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How's this chapter? Did you like it? Hope you all like it. Sorry for the delay.

NOTE: This is my first book so if there are any grammatical mistakes please ignore them. I will edit it after this book is completed.

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