The morning sun cast golden streaks across the Carter estate, but the warmth didn't reach inside. The mansion felt cold, silent, and heavy with the weight of everything unsaid.

Sora sat at the dining table, absentmindedly stirring her untouched cup of tea. Her thoughts spun like a storm — Liam's words from the night before echoing over and over.

"I don't hate you... but I wish I could."

What did that even mean? Why couldn't he hate her? And why did her heart ache at the thought that he was trying to?

The clink of a cup against porcelain broke her spiral. She looked up to see Liam across the table, his expression unreadable as he sipped his coffee. His eyes flicked to her for the briefest moment before he set the cup down.

"You didn't sleep," he stated, not asked.

Sora flinched. "Neither did you," she shot back, her voice sharper than intended.

Liam smirked, though it didn't reach his eyes. "I'm used to sleepless nights."

They fell into silence again, the tension thicker than the air itself. It was unbearable — this constant push and pull between them. Sora hated it. She hated how much her heart twisted for someone who treated her like both an enemy and something fragile all at once.

"I want answers, Liam," she blurted out, her fingers tightening around her teacup. "About Vivian. About... everything."

Liam's gaze darkened, but he didn't immediately dismiss her. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, studying her with an intensity that made her shiver.

"She's dangerous," he finally said, voice low. "I told you that."

"But why?" Sora pressed, leaning forward. "What's her endgame? And why is she so obsessed with you?"

Liam's fingers drummed against the table, his jaw clenched like he was debating whether to tell her. After a long pause, he sighed and looked away.

"Vivian doesn't like losing," he muttered. "And she thinks she lost me because of you."

Sora blinked, her chest tightening. "But... we didn't even talk for years until this marriage was forced on us."

"I know," Liam said, bitterness lacing his tone. "But she doesn't care about logic. In her mind, you took me away. And Vivian always destroys what she can't have."

Sora swallowed hard, her heart thudding louder. "And what are you going to do about it?" she whispered.

Liam's eyes snapped to hers, fierce and unwavering. "Protect you," he said, without hesitation.

Sora's breath hitched, her pulse racing. But before she could say anything, the sound of the front door echoing through the mansion shattered the fragile moment.

A butler's voice rang out. "Miss Vivian Morgan is here to see you, sir."

Sora's blood ran cold, and Liam's entire body went rigid. He stood up, his chair scraping against the marble floor.

"Stay here," he ordered, his voice like steel.

But Sora, heart pounding, silently rose to follow him. She couldn't hide from Vivian forever — and she needed to know exactly what they were up against.

Also, Sora knew the best thing to do to end this war was to ask Vivian clearly, in the name of their ex-friendship.