Chapter 14: Fractured Lives

The cold metal click of handcuffs echoed in Amelia's ears as she watched the officers drag Michael away. His screaming had faded to a dull roar in the distance, but his presence still loomed over her like a dark, suffocating shadow. She stood frozen, the events of the night crashing over her in waves, each one more overwhelming than the last.

It was over. Michael was gone—arrested, taken away. And yet, Amelia didn't feel the sense of relief she thought she would. Instead, she felt hollow, as if the fear, the chaos, and the violence had left a permanent scar on her soul.

Her body trembled, adrenaline still coursing through her veins, but she didn't move. She couldn't. The weight of everything that had happened kept her rooted to the spot, her mind struggling to process the reality of it all.

"Amelia."

The sound of Liam's voice broke through the haze, and she turned slowly to see him standing a few feet away, his face bruised and bloody from the fight but filled with concern. He took a hesitant step towards her, his eyes searching hers.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice filled with a tenderness that made her heart ache.

Amelia opened her mouth to respond, but the words wouldn't come. Her throat felt tight, her chest constricted. She wanted to tell him she was fine, that she was grateful, that she was safe—but none of it felt true.

Instead, she shook her head, her tears spilling over as the weight of everything came crashing down. Liam closed the distance between them in an instant, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. Amelia collapsed into him, her body shaking with sobs as she finally let herself break down.

"I'm so sorry," Liam whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this."

Amelia clung to him, her fingers gripping the fabric of his shirt as if he were the only thing keeping her grounded. She buried her face in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of him, and for a moment, she allowed herself to feel safe.

But even as Liam held her, Amelia's mind was racing. The events of the night had left her shaken, but they had also brought something else to the surface—something she had been trying to avoid for weeks.

Ethan.

Her gaze flicked over Liam's shoulder to where Ethan stood a few feet away, watching them with a look of deep concern. He had been there too. He had fought for her, protected her, just as much as Liam had. The conflict in his eyes was unmistakable, and Amelia felt it too, the pull between the two men growing stronger with every passing moment.

Ethan's face was bruised as well, his eyes filled with the same intensity that had been there since the moment he'd shown up to save her. He had come for her, risked his own safety, and now he stood quietly, waiting—waiting for her to acknowledge him.

But Amelia couldn't. Not now.

Liam pulled back slightly, his hands cupping her face as he searched her eyes. "You're safe now," he said gently, his voice full of reassurance. "It's over."

Amelia nodded weakly, though she didn't fully believe it. The physical threat of Michael might have been over, but the emotional and psychological scars he had left behind would take much longer to heal. And there was still the looming question of what came next.

"Amelia." Ethan's voice cut through the silence, and both she and Liam turned to face him. He took a step forward, his expression a mix of pain and concern. "Are you okay?"

The question seemed so simple, yet Amelia had no idea how to answer. She wasn't okay. She was far from okay. Her life had been torn apart, and now, standing between two men who cared about her, she felt more fractured than ever.

"I don't know," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I… I don't know."

The tension between Liam and Ethan was palpable, and Amelia could feel it building with every second that passed. Both men had risked everything to save her, and now they stood waiting—waiting for her to choose.

Liam's grip on her hand tightened slightly, as if he feared she might slip away from him. "Amelia, you don't have to make any decisions right now," he said softly, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "Just take your time. We'll figure this out."

Ethan, however, wasn't willing to wait. His eyes, dark with unresolved emotions, locked onto hers. "You don't have to run from this, Amelia," he said quietly. "You don't have to run from me."

Amelia's heart ached as she looked between the two of them, torn between the past and the present, between the life she had before Michael and the life she had now. She had cared deeply for Ethan once, had loved him even, but circumstances had pulled them apart. Now, with everything that had happened, those feelings had resurfaced, complicating everything.

But then there was Liam—the man who had stood by her through the worst of it, who had shown her kindness, love, and patience when she had needed it most. He had been her anchor, the person who had made her feel safe again, and she wasn't sure if she could walk away from that.

"I don't know what to do," Amelia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm so confused."

Liam's expression softened, but there was a flash of hurt in his eyes that made her chest tighten. "You don't have to decide right now," he repeated, his voice gentle. "But I need to know if there's still a place for me in your life."

Ethan took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. "And I need to know if there's still a place for us," he said quietly, his voice filled with the same intensity that had always drawn her to him.

Amelia's breath caught in her throat, the weight of their words pressing down on her like a physical force. She wasn't ready for this—for any of it. She had barely survived the trauma of Michael's obsession, and now she was being asked to choose between two men who both meant so much to her.

"I can't…" she stammered, her voice trembling. "I can't make that choice. Not now."

Ethan's jaw clenched, but he nodded, understanding. "I'm not asking you to choose right now," he said softly. "But you need to know that I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."

Liam, his eyes filled with quiet hurt, stepped back, giving her space. "Neither am I," he said softly. "But I'll give you the time you need."

Amelia stood there, her heartbreaking as she looked between the two men who had risked everything for her. She didn't want to hurt either of them, but she knew that, in the end, she would have to make a choice. And that choice would change everything.

But for now, all she could do was breathe—breathe and try to find a way to heal from the darkness that had nearly consumed her.