"Sophia, get back here," Liam chases after me once we get inside the house. Jacob must hear what's going on because he rushes down the staircase.

"What the fuck did you do?" he asks Liam as I pass him bawling my eyes out.

"Sophia," Liam brushes past Jacob and continues to call out.

I slam the door shut to my room, but Liam barges in so fast that I don't have time to lock it.

"Get out," I shout. "I hate you. I fucking hate you." But Liam just stands there. In shock. Unable to process my words. I don't care though; he brought this upon himself.

"Sophia, I...," he softly says as he reaches for my hand, but I pull away so fast that I have to steady myself once my hand hits my side.

"Did you not hear me? I said 'get out'," I scream. My throat hurts from crying so much, and even though I'm oblivious to the world around me right now, I can see it in Liam's eyes that he's hurting from my vicious words. "Get. Out." I don't know how many more times I have to say it. Liam knows that there's nothing he can do or say to change the way that I feel about him in this moment. I've never cried like this in front of him. In front of anyone. Which is why he simply nods and gives me what I'm asking for.

Space.

***

I didn't sleep last night. I'm beginning to think that I'll never sleep again. I decide to skip breakfast and lay in bed until noon. Besides the fact that I don't have an appetite, I don't want to face Liam right now. Which is why I wait until I hear his office door shut before coming downstairs.

When I pass the dining room, it's empty, which means Jacob must be by the pool. I proceed for the backyard, where I find my baby brother sitting on a lounge chair with his AirPods plugged in. He doesn't hear me approaching, so I tap him from behind.

"Hey," he turns his head and smirks once I come into view.

"Good morning," I tell him, taking a seat at the end of his lounge chair.

"Good afternoon," he corrects me with a smile. "You just get up?"

"Nah, I was up all night. I don't remember the last time I had a decent sleep."

"That bad?" Jacob asks, referring to last night's incident.

"That bad," I raise my eyebrows and state.

Jacob combs through his hair before responding. "I'm sorry, Fee," he says, and I release a breathe.

"What are you sorry for this time, Jacob?"

"For not being there when you needed me," he says as he looks down in disappointment.

"Jacob," I say, placing my hand over his, "you're always there for me."

"That's not true, Fee. Where was I last night, huh? Where was I when Liam was ruining your life? I'll tell you where I was. Home. In bed. Doing nothing. I should've been there to protect you." He's getting worked up for no reason and it hurts me to see him feel like he messed up.

"Jacob, stop. Stop apologizing. Stop saying that you haven't been there for me. You've been there for me since day one. You don't know how much you do for me, and it kills me to see you belittle yourself. Listen to what I'm telling you and start believing it. Will you do that for me? Will you start trusting me when I say that you've been everything to me? Please."

He sees the honesty in my eyes and smiles. "Okay, I can do that."