ADELINE'S POV
"You and Dante broke up!? What the fuck happened Addie?" Liam asks as soon as he walks into my apartment. I can't believe I have to lie to him of all people. I hate myself so much for doing this but Liam is never going to be okay with what Dante and I want to do to Adrian.
According to Liam, Adrian hasn't done anything wrong and trying to scam him will be me breaking the law. If I'm going to reveal everything to Liam, it will only be after all this is over and done with.
"You got my text, didn't you?" I say walking away from him and heading towards the kitchen because I'm trying to avoid eye contact with him. If I even so much as look into his eyes for more than two seconds, he'll see right through me and I'll have to pretend and lie to him even more.
"Yes, Addie. Of course, I got your text. That's why I'm here. Now do you mind explaining to me what the hell is going on. I thought you two were like crazy over each other. I mean you practically moved in with him." Liam says following me into the kitchen. I grab a glass and pour myself some fresh orange juice to distract myself as Liam looks at me eagerly, curiously waiting for a response.
"I guess I as wrong about him. We didn't want the same things. He moved to another town and He broke up with me via a call." I lie.
"What??" Liam asks absolutely dumbfounded. "That literally doesn't make any sense."
"That's what I said!" I say loudly with a weird chuckle that definitely sounded fake.
"Adeline…" Liam says slowly walking towards me. He glares at me intensely looking into my eyes like he's trying to find a hint of truth behind them. "Is there something you're not telling me because this is all sounding very weird. One minute you're with Dante and you look like you're finally happy again and the next minute he's dumping you and he's gone?"
I let out a breath and try to find my words because I'm suddenly tongue tied and if I don't say anything soon, Liam will find out I'm lying.
"Look. I know what it sounds like okay. I really don't understand it myself but that's what happened. He broke up with me and that's it. Yes, I'm disappointed. Yes, I thought I was finally going to be happy again after Dain but once again, the universe has shown me that all I deserve is misery." I say breathing heavily, my chest rising and falling and it makes Liam's eyes soften at me.
But I'm not hyperventilating right now from a broken heart. I'm breathing so heavily because I'm lying to my best friend and I feel so shitty about it that a tear breaks free and I start to sob.
"Oh my God Addie. Come here." Liam breaks and pulls me into his hands for a warm hug. "The universe doesn't hate you, Addie. You just keep meeting shitty people and that's not your fault. I was fooled my Dante too you know. I actually believed he was good. I actually trusted him with you. I'm so sorry Addie."
He says and pulls back from the hug, wiping away my tears with his thumb. "And you do not deserve misery. You deserve all the happiness in the world. God I just want to find that dickhead and break his nose or something. I can't believe he did this to you."
I sniff and shake my head aggressively as I place my hands in Liam's. "Let's just forget about Dante, okay? I don't want to talk about him and I don't want to think about him. I agreed to marry Adrian." I immediately drop another bomb on him and his eyes early pop out of their sockets.
"What the actual fuck Adeline?" He whispers slowly. "Okay wait. I know you're hurt but are you sure about this? This is marriage Adeline? Do you really want to do this? Spend the rest of your life with someone you barely even know? This is very impulsive of you and-"
"I'll have time to get to know him Liam. The wedding isn't until after my parents launch their company. I'll have months to get to know him. Besides Adrian is a responsible business man who will be able to provide me with all the stability that I need. He wants to marry me for absolutely nothing in return plus he's investing in my parents' company. He's a good guy Liam. I'll marry him."
Liam looks at me like I just said the weirdest and stupidest thing in the world and honestly, I don't even blame him for his reaction. If I were in his place, I would have a lot of questions too but I don't need him to ask me questions right now. I don't want to say another lie to him so he'll just have to buy what I'm selling here.
He looks at me like he's at a loss for words. "Addie…"
"My parents are having dinner with Adrian and I tonight and I want you to come with me. It'll be just like old times. I know this is a lot to take in Liam but what I need right now is a friend. I just need you to be here for me." I hold his hands in mine and the look in his eyes tells me everything I need to know.
He believes me so technically that makes me a diabolical liar. I don't know if Liam is ever going to forgive me for what I'm doing but at the end of all this I just hope the love he as for me and our friendship will be enough for him to forgive and understand me.
"You know I'm always here for you Addie. You're my best friend and I love you so much. If this is what you really want then I'll support you every step of the way and if Adrian ever tries to hurt you, I'll be there to knock him off his feet. Literally." Liam says with a smirk and I fall into his arms, burying my face into his neck as he holds me tight.
"What time is dinner with your parents?" He asks me as he rubs my back up and down. I look up to the clock behind him and I can't believe it's already 3p.m.
"Actually, it's in two hours." I say.
"Well, we better get ready then. You still got that suit of mine in your closet." He asks and my face is immediately covered with a smile from memories of when Liam used to come over and stay with me for a couple of days. I still have a few of his clothes and utilities here and I can't help but miss when we used to hang out together.
"Of course, I do Liam." I say with a sweet smile. "How's Naomi doing by the way?"
"Oh, she's great. She makes me the happiest man." He says, and then he places a soft kiss on my forehead before disappearing up the stairs to get ready.