Chapter 5: RX Bar, Chatting with Friends

Sofia's eyes flashed with anger. How dare Rachel feign concern?

"Rach, you're the last person I'd confide in," Sofia spat, her sugary tone dissolving. "Don't pretend to care." she screamed in her heart.

you know me sis, Sophia said calmly.

"Fine, be that way," Rachel huffed. "But know this: Liam's moved on. He's seeing someone else."

Sophia's heart stuttered, a pang of pain slicing through her.

"Is that so?" Sofia asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil within.

"Yes," Rachel said, her tone dripping with malice. "And you'll never have him back."

The line went dead.

Sofia's phone slipped from her fingers, her mind reeling.

Was Rachel telling the truth?

Had Liam truly moved on?

The thought sent a shiver down Sofia's spine.

Sofia's hand trembled as she held her phone, the screen now dark and silent.

"Is it true or another lie, Rachel?" Sofia whispered, her voice barely audible.

But there was no one to respond.

The line was dead.

Sofia's eyes welled up with tears as she processed Rachel's words.

Liam, moved on?

Seeing someone else?

The thought sent a searing pain through her chest.

Sofia's mind raced with memories of Liam's rejection.

Had he truly moved on, or was Rachel manipulating her again?

She couldn't shake off the feeling of uncertainty.

With a shaking hand, Sofia tossed her phone onto the bed.

She collapsed backward, her eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Tears streamed down her face as she allowed herself to feel the pain.

Why did it still hurt so much?

Why did Liam's potential happiness feel like a knife to her heart?

Sofia's thoughts swirled in a vortex of self-doubt and heartache.

Sofia lay back down on her bed, her thoughts still consumed by Rachel's words.

Liam, moved on?

Seeing someone else?

She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease.

A gentle knock on her door broke the silence.

"Sofia, dinner is ready," Mrs. Jenkins, the butler, announced.

Sofia sighed, reluctantly getting out of bed.

She hadn't eaten all day, but her appetite remained elusive.

As she made her way downstairs, Sofia's mind wandered.

What would Liam's new relationship be like?

Would he ever forgive her?

Sofia walked into the dining room, scanning the space for a familiar face.

But Liam was nowhere to be found.

"Where is Liam?" Sofia asked Mrs. Jenkins, her voice tinged with concern.

"He went out, Young Miss," Mrs. Jenkins replied, her expression neutral.

Sofia's heart sank.

"Went out?" Sofia repeated, trying to hide her disappointment.

"Yes, Miss. He didn't leave word on when he'd return," Mrs. Jenkins added.

Sofia's thoughts whirled.

Was Liam avoiding her?

Or had Rachel's words been true?

Was Liam truly meating someone else?

Sofia's eyes dropped, her gaze tracing the patterns on the tablecloth.

"Did he really go out to see his lover?" Sofia wondered, her heart aching in pain.

The possibility stabbed at her like a knife.

She couldn't bear the thought of Liam with someone else.

Mrs. Jenkins's voice broke the silence.

"Shall I serve your dinner, Miss Sofia?"

Sofia nodded mechanically.

Her appetite had vanished.

She pushed the food around her plate.

Her mind raced with images of Liam and his supposed new partner.

Laughing together.

Holding hands.

Sharing secrets.

Sofia's chest constricted.

She couldn't breathe.

"Excuse me, Mrs. Jenkins," Sofia said.

"I'm not hungry."

Sofia fled the dining room.

Tears threatened to spill.

She couldn't face the possibility.

Liam moving on.

Liam loving someone else.

Mrs. Jenkins furrowed her brow in confusion, watching Sofia rush out of the dining room.

"Is everything alright, Miss Sofia?" Mrs. Jenkins called out.

But Sofia was already gone.

Mrs. Jenkins's expression softened with concern.

She had seen Sofia's fragile state before.

The young miss's emotions were raw.

Mrs. Jenkins knew better than to pry.

She cleared the table, her mind whirling.

What had triggered Sofia's sudden departure?

Was it something to do with Master Liam?

Or perhaps Julian's her ex?

Mrs. Jenkins couldn't shake off the feeling.

Something was amiss.

Sofia rushed to her room, slamming the door shut.

Tears streamed down her face.

She collapsed onto her bed.

Why did Liam's potential relationship hurt so much?

She thought she'd moved on.

But Rachel's words had ripped open old wounds.

Sofia buried her face in her pillow.

Her sobs echoed through the room.

She couldn't shake off the image.

Liam with someone else.

Laughing, smiling, loving.

The pain seared her heart.

Sofia's phone lay silent on her nightstand.

No messages from Liam.

No reassurance.

Just silence.

Liam sat in the private room at RX Bar, surrounded by his friends.

His face was cold, expressionless.

The music pulsed around them, but Liam's mind was elsewhere.

"Come on, Liam, lighten up!" his friend, Alex, shouted over the music.

Liam forced a smile.

"Just preoccupied," he replied.

His friends laughed, buying the excuse.

But Alex noticed Liam's distant gaze.

"Everything okay, man?" Alex asked, concern etched on his face.

Liam hesitated.

For a moment, Sofia's face flashed in his mind.

He pushed the thought away.

"I'm fine," Liam said, his voice firm.

The conversation flowed around him.

Drinks were ordered, jokes were shared.

Liam participated, but his heart wasn't in it.

His phone remained silent.

No messages from Sofia or even the estate.

Remy gazed at Liam's cold face, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"I heard your Love Potion is stored at your estate," Remy said calmly, a sly smile spreading.

Alex's hand instinctively reached for the volume control, lowering the music.

The room fell silent, all eyes on Liam.

Liam's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes flashed with a hint of warning.

Remy chuckled.

"Sofia, your weakness," Remy teased.

Liam's jaw clenched, his voice low.

"Drop it, Remy."

Alex intervened, sensing tension.

"Ease up, Remy. Old news."

Remy shrugged.

"Just making conversation."

The music resumed, but the atmosphere remained charged.

Liam's thoughts drifted to Sofia.

Was she truly moving on?

The thought sent a pang through his chest.

"But you said you have moved on with your life," James said, his brow furrowed in concern. "Are you planning to keep and love her again, just to end up hurt like before?"

Liam took a sip of his wine, his eyes never leaving James's face.

"No, I can't forget what happened in the past," Liam said coldly. "Why should I keep caring?"

His friends stared at each other, exchanging uneasy glances.

Remy spoke up, "Liam, we get it. You're hurt. But shutting off your feelings won't—"

"I'm not shutting off my feelings," Liam interrupted, his voice firm. "I'm moving forward."

James raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Because from where I stand, it looks like you're still stuck on Sofia."

Liam's expression remained impassive, but his eyes flashed with a hint of vulnerability.

James's eyes narrowed.

"Liam, come on. You're not convincing anyone," James said, skepticism etched on his face.

Liam's gaze remained icy.

"What's there to convince? I've moved on," Liam stated, his voice firm.

Remy exchanged a dubious glance with Alex.

"Save it, Liam. We know you," Remy said, his tone laced with amusement.

Liam's mask slipped for a moment, revealing a glimmer of pain.

"I won't go down that road again," Liam said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The room fell silent.

Alex broke the tension.

"Let's focus on the present. No more Sofia talk," Alex said.

Liam's eyes flashed with gratitude.

"Thanks, Alex."

But James wouldn't let up.

"Liam, honestly? You're still in love with her," James said.

Liam's face hardened.

"Don't push this, James."

Remy leaned forward.

"Guys, ease up. Liam's made his choice," Remy said.

The conversation shifted, but the underlying tension remained.

Liam's thoughts strayed to Sofia.

Had he truly moved on?