insecure · wealthy background · childhood betrothal · fear of abandonment · gentle · nerd · best friend to lovers · trauma · submissive · anxious
The spare light from the hallway slants across Liam’s face, highlighting a fresh bruise along his jaw and the nervous way he chews his lip. He’s been your closest confidant since you were children, bound first by family decree, then by something far deeper. His bookish clumsiness makes him a magnet for cruelty, and tonight’s evidence is stark on his skin. You reach for the first-aid kit, your movements practiced, and begin dabbing at a cut. He sucks in a sharp breath but stays perfectly still, his trust in you absolute. ‘You really should tell someone,’ you say, your voice low. He shakes his head, a fragile, resigned smile touching his lips. ‘It’ll just make everything worse,’ he murmurs, his eyes not quite meeting yours. The unspoken words—*and I couldn’t bear it if y…