Chapter 428

Liam dodged her touch, his cheeks flushing. "It's not exactly pleasant to look at," he muttered, fingers fumbling with the mask. Just as he raised it to his face, Olivia caught his wrist. Her piercing gaze held his, searching and intense. "Does it still pain you?" she asked softly.

His heart clenched painfully, eyes burning with unshed tears. Liam shook his head slightly. "Not anymore," he managed, voice rough with emotion. "The worst is over."

Olivia gave a small nod, understanding flashing in her eyes. With a subtle gesture, she urged him to keep reading.

Settling back into the chair, Liam turned the pages, the quiet room filled only with the whisper of paper. It wasn't until midway through that he realized the entire journal centered around him.

The early entries were mundane - daily routines, simple observations, no mention of anyone, not even the Blackwood family. Then his name began appearing.

One passage stood out: "Today Henry introduced me to his grandson. He said Liam was handsome and kind, that we'd get along perfectly. But Henry was wrong. Liam can't stand me. The moment our eyes met, his expression darkened. He told me to leave, said I was stealing his grandfather's affection. Called me a spoiled brat. My heart aches."

Liam's chest tightened with guilt and unexpected amusement. Yes, that had been him. Back then, with Margaret's poisonous words in his ears, he'd been convinced Olivia was nothing but trouble, a threat to his place in his grandfather's heart.

During their first meeting, Liam had scowled at Olivia's presence. Yet as days turned to weeks, she became like family. Then something deeper blossomed - feelings Liam had struggled to acknowledge, fearing they were improper.

What he hadn't known was that Olivia felt the same. She'd carried a secret affection for him. But their shared pride and sensitivity created walls of misunderstanding between them.

Liam wanted to read further, but Olivia's hand closed over his, stopping him. Apparently she only wanted him to see this particular page. Confused, he looked up. Her intense gaze bore into him, silently demanding he acknowledge what lay between them.

He hadn't realized she still carried hurt from those early days. "I'm sorry," Liam said sincerely, voice thick with regret. "I never meant to push you away. My stubborn pride... I should have been honest from the beginning. Can you forgive me now?"

Olivia remained silent, simply releasing his hand.

Respecting her quiet, Liam continued reading. The following pages contained only trivial daily accounts, none of the deeper emotions young Olivia had clearly hidden. Perhaps she too had considered her feelings inappropriate, too private even for her personal journal.

A pang of sadness struck Liam. He turned to Olivia, taking her hand again, his voice earnest. "Would you believe me if I told you I've loved you for years?"

Olivia didn't respond, but her lashes fluttered slightly. They sat in comfortable silence for nearly half an hour before exhaustion finally claimed Olivia. As her head nodded forward, Liam carefully gathered her into his arms and carried her to bed. He tucked the blankets around her with gentle precision, then turned to leave.

Suddenly, in that twilight between sleep and waking, Olivia's hand shot out, grasping his. "Liam... stay," she murmured, voice barely audible.

Emotion surged through him, his heart pounding. "I'm here," he whispered, squeezing her hand. "I won't leave. I'll stay right here with you." Liam settled on the edge of the bed. Slowly, Olivia's breathing evened out as she drifted back into peaceful slumber.