Elena sat there for a long time after the call ended. She didn't move. She didn't blink. She just stared at the wall like she was frozen.
Her heart was beating fast, but her body felt cold.
"Your mother lied to you… about everything."
Those words refused to leave her head.
Elena placed the phone on the table and held her chest. She felt like something heavy was sitting on her heart. She tried to breathe calmly, but fear kept rising inside her like smoke.
"What did she lie about?" she whispered to herself. "What is he hiding from me? And why does it feel dangerous?"
Her thoughts were running too fast. She thought about her mother's face that morning… the anger, the jealousy, the lies. Vanessa always had secrets. Elena had always known her mother was hiding something big, but she never imagined it could be something that Damon himself refused to say on the phone.
Elena walked to the window and looked outside. The street was quiet. The sky was becoming dark. A cold wind entered through the little crack in the window.
"What if the truth breaks me?" she whispered.
She sat on the sofa, grabbed a pillow, and hugged it tightly. David was in the bedroom sleeping again. She didn't want to disturb him. She didn't want him to see how scared she was.
Minutes passed.
Then an hour.
Elena didn't eat. She didn't move much. She just kept thinking and thinking until her head began to hurt.
Suddenly—
**Knock. Knock. Knock.**
Someone was at the door.
Elena jumped a little. Her heart skipped. "Who is that at this time?" she whispered.
She stood up slowly and walked to the door. She opened it halfway.
And froze.
"Liam?"
Liam stood there, breathing hard like he had walked fast. His hair was messy. His shirt was a little wrinkled. His eyes were full of worry.
"Elena," he said softly. "Can I come in?"
She didn't understand why, but her heart warmed a little when she saw him.
"Yes," she said quietly, stepping aside.
He came in and closed the door behind him. The room felt smaller with him standing there. He was always tall, always calm, always the kind of man who made her chest feel tight without even touching her.
"What are you doing here?" Elena asked. Her voice was weak.
Liam stared at her for a long moment. "David told me."
"Told you what?" she asked.
"That you found your real father," Liam said. "And that he's Damon Steel."
Elena looked away. "Everyone seems to know now."
Liam stepped closer. "You didn't tell me."
"I didn't know how to say it," Elena whispered. "Everything happened too fast."
Liam nodded slowly. "Are you okay?"
"No," Elena said honestly. "I'm not okay."
Liam took one more step toward her. "I came because I knew you would be scared. I wanted to see your face myself."
Elena looked at him. His eyes were soft. Caring. Something she had never seen in anyone except David.
"I'm very scared, Liam," she said, her voice shaking. "Damon told me something strange. He said my mother lied to me. He said the truth will shake me. I don't even know what that means."
Liam's jaw tightened. "That man… he talks like he owns the world."
"He does," Elena said sadly. "He even told me I have no choice but to move in."
Liam suddenly looked angry. "You do have a choice. You're not his property."
Elena sighed. "I wish it was that simple."
Liam moved even closer now. He was standing right in front of her. She could smell his cologne. Warm, soft, familiar. Her chest rose and fell quickly.
"Elena," he said softly, "you don't have to face this alone."
She shook her head. "I don't want to drag you into my problems."
"You're not dragging me," Liam said. "I came by myself."
Elena felt something inside her break. A small tear rolled down her cheek. She didn't want to cry, but she was tired of holding everything in.
When Liam saw the tear, something changed in his expression. He reached out and wiped it with his thumb.
"Elena…" he whispered, "don't cry."
She tried to look away, but he lifted her chin gently. Their eyes met, and her heart shook.
"I hate seeing you sad," he said.
Elena swallowed hard. "I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to know everything today," Liam said. "Just breathe. I'm here."
Elena felt warm for the first time that day. Being near him made her forget Damon's cold voice and her mother's lies.
She whispered, "Liam…"
"Yes?" he asked, his voice low.
"I'm scared," she said again. It came out like a confession.
Liam stepped even closer — too close — and he tilted her face up slowly.
"You're not alone," he whispered.
Then he kissed her.
It wasn't slow.
It wasn't soft.
It was deep. Full. Like he had been holding himself back for too long. His arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her against him. Elena's breath caught in her throat. Her hands rested on his chest without thinking.
Her heart exploded inside her.
She felt weak, but she kissed him back without stopping herself. His lips were warm. His touch was gentle but also hungry, like he had wanted this moment for years.
Elena didn't think about Damon.
She didn't think about the mansion.
She didn't think about secrets or lies.
She only felt Liam.
Liam holding her.
Liam kissing her like she meant something important.
She didn't want the moment to end.
But it did.
Suddenly, Liam pulled back slowly. His forehead rested against hers. Both of them were breathing fast.
"Elena…" he whispered, his voice shaking, "I didn't plan to do that."
"I know," she whispered back, touching her lips. "I didn't plan either."
They stood there, staring at each other, breathing the same air.
Then—
**Bang!**
The door flew open.
Elena jumped.
Liam turned sharply.
David stood there, frozen, his eyes wide in shock.
"Elena… Liam… what… what are you doing?" David stuttered.
Elena stepped back, her heart racing.
She didn't know what scared her more—
David's shocked eyes…
Or the fact that Damon's words were still echoing in her mind:
*"Once you enter this house, nothing will be the same again."*
And now?
Things had **already** changed.