Chapter 19

After our little moment in the kitchen, we went to Sophie's room to sleep. I made a makeshift bed for Liam on the floor, but Sophie woke up and asked for him, so he climbed up the bed and squeezed in beside her.

Sophie curled her little body close to Liam, so he hugged her to him and tapped her back to help her go back to sleep. I was facing them and stared painfully. Liam saw my emotions and reached out to touch my face. I lifted my eyes on him and smiled weakly. We stared at each other for a long time until he broke the silence.

" Tell me about him." He said softly so that he won't wake Sophie up.

" What's there to tell? It was so long ago, and things didn't work out." I told him, shrugging my shoulders and averting my eyes again. Suddenly, I felt nervous and conscious.

" Bella, it is obvious that you're not over him. I see it in your eyes, the hurt, the pain. Do you still love him?" He asked again, but his eyes looked sad.

I closed my eyes before I answered him. " I've never loved anyone else," I whispered. When I opened my eyes, I saw the hurt in his. Then he blinked and put on a smile.

" I've loved him for so long. I don't know how to unlove him. I fell in love with him when I was in 2nd grade. The first time I saw him, I told myself, he is going to be my future husband." I smiled when I remembered the first time we met.

" But he never looked at me the way I want him to look at me. He's older than me, and he's the popular guy in school." I told him, and he crinkled his brows.

" Wait, older? Do I know this guy? Is he one of my guys or somebody I knew?" He asked curiously.

" Oh, no, no, no. He's from another school. Yeah, from the other school." I answered him in panic.

" So, how did you two hook up? I mean, how did this happen?" He pointed at Sophie.

" Oh, ahm, right after graduation. We met at a party and got drunk, and one thing led to another. But I know he's got a girlfriend. It was a one-night thing." I told him, not looking at his eyes, so scared he might see the lie in there.

" Which party? Babe, you have to be specific. I might know this idiot." He asked, and anger is evident in his voice and eyes.

" Liam, drop it, okay? I don't want to talk about him. He doesn't even know, and I don't think he needs to know." I told him and looked up at the ceiling. It's so hard to talk to him about him, actually.

" Why not? I think he has the right to know, Bell. I'm sure he will fall in love with his daughter once he saw her. Does he know you're in love with him?" He asked.

" No, and he doesn't have to know. As much as I know, he's happy now with his girlfriend. I don't want to complicate his life with my mistake. I am happy, Liam. Sophie put back the pieces of my heart that were broken. In time, I will heal and maybe find someone who will love me, broken and all." I said, still staring at the ceiling. I can feel his eyes on me.

Without knowing it, my tears flowed down my cheeks to my pillow. I realized only when I felt his fingers brushed the side of my eyes. I closed my eyes and inhaled slowly.

" Everyone makes mistakes, babe, that is life. But it is never a mistake to have loved. And this right here is not a mistake." He pointed at my sleeping daughter.

"Don't ever say it's your fault. Loving someone is a gift, and to be loved by you is a miracle. He never knew what he lost, Bella. If I were that guy, I would never leave you." He said so passionately it broke my heart all over again.

" Would you, Liam? Stay with me, I mean. If you knew you got me pregnant, would you stay with me? Metaphorically speaking, that is." I asked him with a heart full of hope.

" Of course, babe. I would never abandon you or our child. I will never do that to you. You know that, right?" He answered quickly, and so seriously.

" Even if you have a girlfriend? Even if you have Taylor?" I asked again, holding my breath for his answer.

" In a heartbeat, Bella." He softly said and smiled weakly without taking his eyes away from me. My heart leaped, and I teared up again. Feeling my heart shattered into a million pieces all over again. If only I can believe his words, if only it were true.

Liam saw the tears flowing from my face, and I turned my back quickly to hide the pain I felt. Liam was confused by my reaction. He slowly moved Sophie away from his body and stood up. He knelt beside Bella and hugged her.

" Baby, what's wrong? Did I say something wrong? Please, Bella, tell me. I can't bear seeing you like this." He cupped my face and wiped my tears with his thumb. He kissed my forehead, my eyes, and my nose. He stared at me with torment in his eyes and placed his forehead on mine.

" Baby, stop. Please stop crying and tell me what's wrong." He asked again, kissing my wet cheeks.

" Nothing, Liam. You didn't do anything. Your words just moved me. I hope he will also feel the same when I tell him about Sophie."  I smiled with tears in my eyes.

" Baby, he would be so stupid if he won't accept her and won't love you. You are the sweetest, most loving person I know. Any man would be so lucky to have you both, remember that. But, if he's already married, then it's his loss, not yours, okay?" He said, rubbing my arms and wiping the remaining tears on my face.

" Do you want me to get you water?" He asked me, smiling. I nodded and smiled back at him. He kissed my forehead again before standing up to get me a glass of water. After drinking, Liam went to his makeshift bed below me and lay down.

" You go to sleep, babe. I'll take care of Sophie if she wakes up and checks on her, okay?" He ordered me, and I nodded gratefully at him. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, my hand on my side. Suddenly, I felt Liam's hand take mine, kissed it, and held it. I didn't open my eyes, but a small smile lingered on my lips. I wished this night will never end.