chapter 4

Liam froze in the doorway, his briefcase slipping slightly in his hand. The color drained from his face as my words hung between us.

“Mia… can we talk about this later? I’m exhausted.”

“No.” I stood my ground, arms crossed. “We’ve been ‘talking later’ for months. I found the letter from Rachel, Liam. And I got another message today with an old photo of you two. If we’re really going to fix this, I need the truth. All of it.”

He sighed heavily and closed the door, running a hand through his dark hair. We sat on the couch, the same one where we had danced and kissed just the night before. The warmth from earlier felt fragile now.

“Rachel was… toxic,” he started, voice low. “We were together for three years before you. She constantly put me down, especially in private. Made me feel like I was never enough. The cheating was the final blow, but the damage started long before that.”

I reached for his hand. “And the impotence? Is it really just from the stress she caused?”

He squeezed my fingers but wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Mostly. The doctors say it’s anxiety-related. Performance pressure. But there’s more.” He paused, swallowing hard. “My family… there’s a history of health issues. My father had similar problems. I’ve been scared that if I fully open up to you, you’ll see me as broken too.”

My heart ached for him. I moved closer, cupping his face so he had to look at me. “You are not broken, Liam. You’re human. And I love you. We can work through this together. No more hiding.”

He pulled me into a tight hug, his body finally relaxing against mine. “You’re too patient with me, Mia. I don’t deserve it.”

We spent the rest of the evening talking — really talking. I shared my own insecurities about feeling unwanted, and he opened up more about his past. Afterward, we tried another gentle test. I kissed him slowly, taking the lead without pressure. His responses were warmer, his hands more confident on my waist. We fell asleep wrapped around each other, closer than we had been in a long time.

The next day at work, I felt hopeful for the first time in weeks. During my lunch break, I researched ways couples dealt with psychological intimacy issues. I made a small list of ideas — date nights, open conversations, even seeing a therapist together.

But when I got home, Liam was already there, looking tense again. “We need to talk about Rachel,” he said before I could even set my bag down. “She contacted me today. She wants to meet. Says she has information that could affect us.”

My stomach dropped. “What kind of information?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. But I think I should go alone. To finally close that chapter.”

Warning bells rang in my head. “Liam, no secrets. If we’re testing this relationship, we do it together. Let me come with you.”

He looked torn, but finally nodded. “Okay. Tomorrow evening. But promise me you won’t let her get into your head.”

That night, as we lay in bed, I rested my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. The closeness felt real, but the shadow of Rachel and whatever secret she held made me uneasy.

I was determined to keep testing our love — to fight for the man I loved. But deep down, I worried that meeting his ex would open a door we might not be able to close.

And something told me the real test was only just beginning.

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