Chapter 10 The Breaking Point

Maya sat in the dimly lit corner of the café, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her coffee cup. Her mind was a mess-jumbled thoughts of Ethan, Liam, the lies, the truths, the heartache. She had spent the last few days trying to put things into perspective, hoping the answers would come naturally, but nothing was clear. The more she thought about it, the less she knew what to do.

She had tried calling Ethan. Twice. But each time, the call went straight to voicemail. He wasn't answering, and part of her wondered if he was intentionally shutting her out. If so, she couldn't blame him. He had every right to be angry.

Her phone buzzed again, and her breath caught in her throat when she saw who it was-Liam.

"I know you're still avoiding me. We need to talk."

The message was brief, direct. Just like him. Maya bit her lip, glancing around the café to make sure no one was watching. She felt the weight of his words-the pressure to choose, to confront the truth. But she wasn't sure she was ready to face it yet.

Her phone buzzed again, this time a call from Ethan.

Her pulse quickened, and for a moment, she froze. This was it. The moment she had been dreading-the moment when the man she had built her life around was on the other side of the line, demanding an explanation. She glanced down at the phone. The name Ethan flashed on the screen.

She answered.

"Maya," his voice came through, strained, but still recognizable. "We need to talk. You can't keep avoiding me."

Her chest tightened as she tried to steady her breath. I can't keep doing this.

"Ethan, I-" She stopped herself, unsure of what to say. There was so much she needed to explain, but where would she even begin? How could she tell him she was torn between him and Liam? How could she admit that her heart had started pulling her in two different directions?

"I know you've been through a lot," Ethan continued, his voice softer now. "But avoiding me isn't going to fix anything. I'm not asking for you to have it all figured out. I'm asking for honesty, Maya. Are we going to try and work this out, or are we done?"

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. His words were so simple, so final, yet they carried so much weight. Are we done?

She closed her eyes, trying to collect her thoughts, but nothing made sense anymore.

"I don't know if I can do this, Ethan," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I'm not sure what I feel anymore. I'm not sure who I am when I'm with you... or with Liam. Everything's falling apart, and I don't know how to fix it."

There was a long pause, and for a moment, Maya thought the call had disconnected. But then Ethan spoke, his voice colder now. "I can't wait forever, Maya. Neither of us can. So, make up your mind."

The harshness in his tone sent a shiver down her spine. She wasn't sure if he was angry or hurt, but she knew one thing for sure: if she didn't make a choice soon, she would lose him forever.

The next evening, Maya stood at the threshold of Liam's apartment, her heart pounding in her chest. She had made up her mind. She had to make this right, for herself if not for anyone else. She had to stop running, stop hiding from the truth.

Liam opened the door before she could even knock, as if he had been waiting for her. His face softened when he saw her, but there was still a wariness in his eyes. He stepped aside to let her in, and the moment she crossed the threshold, the tension between them was palpable.

"I need to talk to you," Maya said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.

Liam nodded, his eyes flickering over her. "I'm listening."

Maya hesitated, her chest tightening. This was it. The moment that would change everything. She had prepared herself for this, but now that she was here, she wasn't sure if she was ready for what would come next.

"I'm sorry," she began, her voice thick with emotion. "I've been selfish. I've been so wrapped up in my own confusion that I haven't been fair to you... or to Ethan."

Liam's expression softened, but his gaze remained intense. "You don't have to apologize for feeling what you feel, Maya. You can't control that. But you have to stop letting this drag on. You're hurting both of us."

She nodded, wiping away the stray tear that had escaped. She felt the weight of his words, the pressure building inside her. She wasn't sure if she was ready to give up on Ethan, but she couldn't keep living this lie. She couldn't keep being torn between two people she cared about so deeply.

"I've been running from the truth," she said, her voice shaky. "I can't keep doing it, Liam. I've been trying to figure it out in my head, but my heart..." She trailed off, unsure of how to finish the thought.

Liam moved toward her, his expression softening as he reached for her hand. "You don't need to say it, Maya. I can feel it. But you need to decide."

Maya felt the warmth of his touch, the magnetic pull that had always been there, tugging at her. His lips brushed against her forehead in a gentle, intimate gesture. She closed her eyes, leaning into the moment, her heart pounding. She had spent so long resisting this, but now, she couldn't help herself. She needed him.

Before she could pull back, Liam captured her lips with his, the kiss fierce and desperate. It was a kiss that burned with the intensity of all their unresolved emotions-passion, guilt, desire-everything they had been keeping inside. Maya felt herself giving in, her body responding to his, the heat between them consuming her.

When they finally broke apart, breathless and shaken, Maya knew she had made her choice.