Aria’s POV
“William!”
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I whipped my head around at the sound of the shout, my heart leaping in my chest. My eyes went wide as I saw who had walked in
-it was Liam’s assistant, looking just as shocked to see me as I was to see him.
But it wasn’t just him that caught me off guard. Clinging to his leg, with tears streaming down his face, was the other little boy.
I blinked, momentarily thrown. “William is your child?”
The assistant froze, his eyes darting between me and the boy. He seemed as startled as I was.
“-uh, I’m so sorry,” he stammered, quickly bending down to pick up the crying child. He murmured something to William,
who buried his face in his father’s shoulder, still sniffling.
With an apologetic glance in my direction, the assistant hurriedly led the boy out of the room, their footsteps fading away.
I stood there, my mind racing. A pang of guilt twisted in my chest. I’d always laughed off Joe’s habit of scouting for a dad, treating
it like a silly game.
But now, seeing William and his father, I realized just how deeply Joe must long for a father figure. And his real father… The thought made my stomach churn.
Joe, ever the perceptive one, noticed the shift in my mood. He moved closer, his small hand slipping into mine.
“It’s okay, Mom,” he said softly, his voice filled with reassurance. “William’s always bragging about how cool his dad is, but honestly, he seems pretty ordinary. The dad I picked out at the airport was way cooler–and way better looking!”
I managed a smile, ruffling Joe’s hair. “Is that so?”
“Yeah,” Joe said with a grin. “You’d like him, Mom. He’s just like you–always knows what to do.”
As Joe’s words echoed in my mind, my thoughts drifted back to William and the assistant. Something about the way they
interacted didn’t sit right with me.
They didn’t seem like father and son–there was a formality between them, a distance that felt wrong.
More like boss and subordinate, I mused, frowning slightly.
“This food is terrible,” Jackson grumbled, poking at his plate with a fork. His expression was a mix of disgust and frustration.
I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound easing some of the tension I’d been feeling. “That’s the price you pay for winning a
championship,” I teased.
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Jackson shot me a playful glare. “If I eat everything without complaint, you owe me a date.”
I raised an eyebrow, my smile fading as 1 prepared to refuse.
But before I could say anything, I noticed Liam approaching from across the room, his presence casting a shadow over my lighthearted exchange with Jackson.
“Jackson, isn’t your training keeping you busy enough?” Liam’s voice was cold, cutting through the air like a blade.
“You’re right, sir.” Jackson’s response was quick, almost instinctive.
I turned to face Liam, my eyes narrowing in defiance. “You have no right to interfere in our personal lives.”
His face darkened at my defiance, his jaw tightening with anger. Without another word, he spun on his heel and stormed off, his retreating form rigid with fury.
Jackson watched him go, then turned back to me with a smirk. “You’ve got a knack for making the boss angry,” he teased, though there was a hint of caution in his voice. “Too bad I’m the one who always ends up paying the price.”
I waved him off, eager to change the subject. “Don’t worry about it. He’ll get over it.”
But the lightness of our earlier banter was gone, replaced by a tension that lingered in the air.
Later that evening, as I sat in my office reviewing Jackson’s dietary and training plan, my phone buzzed with a message from
Liam’s assistant. The words on the screen made my heart sink,
“Please finalize and submit Jackson’s complete dietary and training plan by the end of the day.”
I stared at the message, frustration simmering beneath the surface. Jackson, who had been looking forward to our date, gave me a
sympathetic look.
“Can I ask you something?” He said hesitantly. I nodded.
“Did you do something to upset Liam in the past? He’s always been a little uptight, but around you he seems…. I don’t know,
different.”
I sighed, my thoughts heavy with memories I’d rather leave buried.
“Leaving those divorce papers behind must have hurt his pride,” I thought bitterly. “Now he’s just taking every opportunity to
get back at me.”
As the evening wore on, I found myself outside Liam’s office, the completed report clutched in my hand. I knocked, but there was
no answer.
After a moment, I tried the door, but it was locked. With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and dialed the assistant’s number.
“Liam’s not in his office,” I said when he picked up. “Where should I leave the report?”
There was a pause before he spoke, his tone laced with helplessness. “I’m sorry, Ms. Aria, but you’ll need to contact Mr. Liam
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directly.”
Frustration bubbled up as I ended the call. Not moments later, my phone buzzed again–this time with a message from Liam
himself.
I opened it, my eyes widening as I read the address he had sent me. It was familiar to me.
It was our old marital home.
My breath caught in my throat, a wave of unease washing over me. That place was filled with memories I’d tried so hard to forget
-painful memories of a life I’d left behind.
I tried messaging Liam back, but there was no response. Left with no other option, I reluctantly made my way to the address.
When I arrived, my fingers hesitated over the door handle, the weight of my past pressing down on me.
But to my surprise, the door opened with a soft click. I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the familiar surroundings.
Nothing had changed. Everything was exactly as it had been five years ago, down to the smallest detail. The furniture, the decor-
everything was just as I remembered it.
My heart ached at the thought. Had Liam really not moved on? Had he not brought Sophia into this house, not erased the traces of
our life together?
I walked further in, each step echoing softly in the empty rooms. The living room still held the same cozy ambiance, the same
photographs on the mantelpiece capturing moments of happiness.
I moved towards the window, staring out at the overgrown garden, wondering if Liam had maintained it or if it was just as
neglected as my own heart felt.
As I turned to leave, I noticed a faint light coming from the upstairs hallway. My pulse quickened. Maybe Liam was here, waiting
for me.
Taking a deep breath, I began to ascend the staircase, the wooden steps creaking under my weight, each one bringing me closer to
confronting the unresolved past.
But with each step, my mind raced with doubts. What did Liam really want from me?
Why bring me here, to a place so heavy with memories? The questions lingered, unanswered, as I reached the top of the stairs, the faint light beckoning me forward into the unknown.
