"I'm so sorry, Selena," he whispered, his own tears falling onto her hair. "I'm so sorry you had to be so strong when you were so scared. I'm here for you. We will overcome this. Even I catch myself panicking sometimes. Knowing what is coming for us. We both survived so much in both these lives. But we cannot give in, because of them. All of them."
As Selena cried, Liam held her, his heart aching with compassion and understanding. He knew that the road ahead would be difficult, but he was determined to support Selena every step of the way.
"I just feel so hunted and scared all the time. I don't want to leave the house, I don't want to see anyone... It gives me panic attacks when leaving the house. I only left my parents' house that whole time to be with you. I just want to hide away and make it all go away. I have to save this world, and someone wants me dead."
Liam's heart broke as he listened to her words. He could see the fear and desperation in her eyes, and he knew that he had to do something to help her.
Selena's voice cracked as she spoke, her words tumbling out in a desperate, anguished torrent. "Someone wants my whole family dead," she said, her eyes wide with fear. "You lost your leg this time, and I almost lost the pregnancy. If Jakob hadn't yelled, the bullet would have hit me. I couldn't even marry you, and I almost lost you and my own life."
Her body shook with sobs as she continued, her words pouring out in a raw, emotional flood. "I have already given up so much. I've lost count of the number of times I've almost died, the number of times I've had to fight to survive. I've lost Molly, I'm so scared that I am going to lose Jonah and the rest of my family...and I've lost pieces of myself along the way."
Selena's voice rose to a despairing cry. "Why can't I be happy? Why can't I have just one moment of peace, one moment of joy, without something trying to take it away from me? I'm so tired of fighting, Liam. I'm so tired of being scared all the time."
Selena's words were laced with desperation and fear as she wept uncontrollably. "I see death and destruction every day, people dying now, and it hasn't even started, Liam," she sobbed. "I have to look ahead every day through the guards to make sure no one is going to try to kill me."
Her body shook with the weight of her emotions, and Liam held her close, trying to offer what little comfort he could. But Selena's words only grew more heartbreaking. A Nagging Suspicion.
Selena sat on the couch, her body shaking with sobs. Her raven-black hair was disheveled, and her alabaster skin was streaked with tears. Her chocolate-brown eyes, normally bright and sparkling, were red-rimmed and puffy from crying. Her pouty lips were trembling, and her delicate features were contorted in a mixture of sadness and despair.
Liam sat beside her, his arms wrapped around her shoulders, trying to console her. He held her close, his chest a warm and comforting presence against her trembling body. His eyes, filled with concern and compassion, gazed into hers, trying to calm the storm of emotions that was raging inside her.
"Hey, it's okay," Liam whispered softly, his voice a gentle breeze on a summer day. "I'm here for you. Whatever happens, we'll face it together. Day by day."
Selena's sobs slowly began to subside, replaced by hiccuping gasps for air. She buried her face in Liam's chest, her tears soaking into his shirt. Liam held her close, his heart aching with empathy, as he stroked her hair.
"The worst part is, it's someone who is close that is doing all this," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear. "It could be my own family."
The thought seemed to hang in the air like a toxic cloud, poisoning the very idea of trust and safety. Liam's heart went out to Selena, knowing that she was trapped in a living nightmare, unsure of who to trust or where to turn.
He held her close, trying to offer a sense of security and comfort, but he knew it was a fragile thing, easily shattered by the harsh realities of their world. All he could do was be there for her, to hold her hand through the darkness.
Her words trailed off, and she buried her face in her hands, her body wracked with sobs. Liam held her close, his own eyes welling up with tears as he listened to her anguished words.
He knew that she was right - she had given up so much, sacrificed so much, and yet she still couldn't find happiness. It wasn't fair, and Liam felt a surge of anger and frustration on her behalf. But most of all, he felt a deep, abiding love for her, and a determination to do whatever it took to help her find the happiness she deserved.
"Selena, my love, I have my suspicions too," he said softly, taking her hand in his. "I'm here for you, and I'll do everything in my power to help you through this. We'll face it together, okay?"
Selena looked up at him, her eyes searching for reassurance. Liam could see the glimmer of hope in her eyes, and he knew that he had to hold onto it, no matter what. "I am just so sick of it."
Liam's eyes clouded over as memories of his past life flooded his mind. He recalled the numerous assassination attempts he had faced in the underground hub, where humanity had been forced to live in hiding. The constant threat of death had been a harsh reality, and Liam had lost count of the number of times he had narrowly escaped with his life.
As he looked at Selena, he understood her suspicions all too well. She was right to question those around them. Especially those who had survived until the end, and who might still be hiding in the shadows, waiting to strike.
Liam's thoughts turned to the people they had known and the fates they had met. Selena's uncle, Edward Lowrie, had survived into old age, passing away peacefully from pancreatic cancer at the ripe age of 87.
Monty had survived by the skin of his neck, and Liam couldn't help but wonder what scars he carried from those tumultuous times. He was there until the end.
Elham Muhammad had died of natural causes, a rare blessing in a world where violence and death had been ever-present. And then there was Park Jun Pyo, who had survived longer than most, thanks to the benefits of cellular rejuvenation. Liam's eyes narrowed as he thought about Park's extended lifespan and the possibilities it presented.
As he looked at Selena, Liam knew that he had to be honest with her. He had to tell her about his own past, and the secrets he had uncovered. Together, they might just uncover the truth and bring an end to the cycle of violence that had haunted them for so long.
Liam's eyes locked onto Selena's, his expression serious. "I'm suspicious of everyone, Selena," he said, his voice low and even. "Especially those who survived as long as they did."
He paused, his gaze drifting to the list of names in his mind. "Edward Lowrie, Monty, Elham Muhammad, Park Jun Pyo...they all had access to resources, information, and power. And they all had motives, one way or another."
Liam's eyes snapped back to Selena's, his expression intense. "I'm not saying any of them are guilty, but I am saying we can't rule anyone out. Not yet." He took a deep breath, his mind racing with possibilities.
Selena looked up and said, her voice full of emotion," Not Monty. He'd never. That kid is goodness incarnate."
Liam's face softened as Selena mentioned Monty's name. He smiled, memories of their past flooding his mind.
"Monty's like, well, he was a brother to me, Selena. He doesn't know how close we are going to be, of course." Liam said, his voice filled with affection. "We were close friends in my past life, and I trust him with my life. I don't suspect him of anything, and I think you don't either."
Liam's expression turned thoughtful as he considered the other individuals on the list. He nodded slowly.
"Your aunt, Elham, died of natural causes, and Edward too..But that doesn't necessarily rule out any involvement in the events unfolding now, or who was at fault, " Liam said, his voice measured. He knew that in that future, he was unwittingly spreading the mysterious cancer
"My main concerns lie with Park Jun Pyo," Selena admitted. She was biased, but it was not an unfounded feeling. He was family, but she hated him. She could not let the grudges of her past life go and he did not redeem himself in this life either. Park Jun Pyo was a douchebag in two timelines.
Liam's expression turned thoughtful as he considered Park Jun Pyo's past actions. "There's something that's been bothering me, Selena," he said, his voice low and serious. "In my past life, Park Jun Pyo had a very close relationship with McKenna. I'm talking about a deep, personal connection that went beyond mere friendship or alliance."
Liam's gaze turned inward, his thoughts consumed by the past. "But what really worries me, Selena, is that I think McKenna was a willing partner in destroying her own family in our past life. I'm not sure if she knew the full extent of the consequences, but I believe she was complicit in the events that unfolded. She wasn't smart enough to do it all alone."
Liam's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. "And then there's the fact that Park Jun Pyo seemed to bear a grudge towards Noe Eun Ho and you, Selena, in our past life. He had a deep-seated resentment towards both of you, and I'm not sure why. I don't know if he knew you were you unless he was responsible for it all."
Selena bit her lip, "I think they knew who I really was. Both of them. Do you think it was possible?"
Liam's expression turned somber. "Of course. She was not that smart, but she must have clued in at some point. McKenna is dead now, but the targeting remains the same. Whoever is behind this is still focused on destroying you and Noe Eun Ho, and I believe Park Jun Pyo is still involved, somehow."
"We all know what they gained, money and power," Selena said with a sigh. "What a high price for everyone to pay to pay for the happiness of two people."
Liam's eyes locked onto Selena's, his expression grave. "And perhaps three, your grandfather Park Gulduk could be involved too," he added, his voice tense. "We can't rule out the possibility that he's playing a role in this, either directly or indirectly."
Selena's eyes widened, and Liam could see the shock and fear written across her face. He knew that the possibility of her own grandfather being involved was a devastating one, and he reached out to take her hand, offering what little comfort he could. "My mother and grandmother would both be so devastated, hell, it hurts to even think about it."
Liam's eyes narrowed as Selena shared her concerns. "Someone must be leaking our movements, Liam," she said, her voice trembling. "We must have other conspirators or someone who knows our movements. It makes sense."
Liam's expression turned grim. "You're right. We can't assume Park Jun Pyo is the only one involved. There could be someone else, close to us, feeding him information."
Selena's eyes widened, her face pale. "Who could it be, Liam? I do not know if any of the North American Vassals have been compromised. I don't see the guys wanting me and Jo dead?"
Liam's jaw clenched. "We'll find out, Selena. We'll make them pay wherever they are and to whom they have pledged fealty to."
Selena's expression turned thoughtful. "It could be technological, Liam. I remember in my past life, I was hacked. My private photos were leaked online, and it was a nightmare. I never integrated because of my distrust of technology after that."
Liam's eyes narrowed, unsure of what Selena was referring to. "What do you mean? What hack?"
Selena's eyes clouded over, memories flooding back. "It happened in my past life, Liam. I was one of several people who were hacked in 2015. My private photos were leaked online, and it was a devastating experience. The celebrities were the ones that everyone talked about. The images haunted me in the Hub. My whole life."
Liam's expression turned sympathetic. "I'm sorry, Selena. I had no idea what happened to you in the past. I did not know you were part of that huge leak of nude pictures. Everyone was focused on the celebrities."
Selena's eyes locked onto Liam's. "Not everyone was, trust me. I think McKenna was involved in that hack, Liam. I think she requested it because all the victims had the same smartphone, and it was made by one of the family's technological companies in South Korea. Park Jun Pyo would be involved in that if it were the case, they were always close. I thought it was a family connection, but he threw McKenna away after I came home."
"Smartphones have GPS built in. The microphone, screen, and camera can also be accessed. It's definitely possible. We should switch to burner phones of a different make. I'll test ours." Liam said. It was all starting to make sense. In later years, hackers would exploit these weaknesses. Why wouldn't a malicious developer with an axe to grind do the same thing?
Selena's eyes narrowed as she thought back to her past life. She wondered just how long Park Jun Pyo had been after Noe Eun Ho - her mother. What was his motive? Was it purely driven by a desire for power and control, or was there something more personal at play?
As she pondered these questions, Selena's mind turned to the relationship between Park Gulduk and Park Jun Pyo. She had always known that Park Jun Pyo was Park Gulduk's nephew, but now she wondered if their relationship was more complicated than that.
Was Park Gulduk's relationship to Park Jun Pyo more than being an uncle? Was there a deeper connection between them, one that went beyond mere family ties? Selena's mind was racing with possibilities. She knew she had to dig deeper into their relationship to uncover the truth.
A sudden thought struck her, making her heart skip a beat. What if Park Jun Pyo wasn't just Park Gulduk's nephew? What if he was actually Park Gulduk's son? He adopted him from a dead cousin's family during the war.
Selena's eyes widened as she considered the possibility. It would explain so much - Park Jun Pyo's ambition, his personality, the close bond with his grandfather, his ruthless pursuit of power.
She thought back to her past life, trying to remember any details that might support her theory. Park Gulduk was a misogynist, a man who believed women were inferior to men. He had been kept away from the inner circle, like McKenna and Park Jun Pyo.
Selena's eyes narrowed. Park Gulduk wouldn't have understood why Noe Jin-ae made his daughter the sole heir, even when her mother's twin, Noe Joon-su, was alive. He would have resented his son not having his last name.
Selena's mind was racing with possibilities. She knew she had to be careful. If Park Jun Pyo was indeed Park Gulduk's son, it would change everything. It would mean that Park Jun Pyo's motives were even more personal, even more sinister.
Selena's eyes snapped back into focus, her mind made up. She would investigate Park Jun Pyo's past, uncovering any secrets that might reveal the truth about his relationship to Park Gulduk. Her mother and grandmother were probably going to be very hurt.