章節 41: Startled cat

Jessica's POV

'How did I not see these?' I wondered. Had my anger blinded me to the changes in him?

'Of course,' my inner voice said to me.

"Liam, are you unwell?" I blurted out, my voice etched with concern.

His eyes flickered, and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of fragility. "I'm fine," he said, his tone soft but reassuring.

Although I couldn't win his heart in the past, I studied his reactions well enough to know he was hiding something. I saw the faint shadows under his eyes, the tension in his jaw. Something was amiss.

"Really?" I pressed, my hand reaching out to brush his cheek. "You look... different, paler."

Liam's gaze held mine. He parted and closed his mouth like he wanted to say something but decided against it.

What was he hiding?

"I'm fine, really," he whispered, his eyes locking onto mine. He held my hand against his chest, and I felt his erratic heartbeat.