Chapter 0015
His words hit me like a blow, leaving me momentarily speechless. I had always believed that if I tried hard enough, I could make
up for Joe not having a father in his life.
But Joe’s innocent question shattered that illusion. For a moment, I just sat there, struggling to find the right words.
I could maintain my composure in front of Liam, pretend that the past didn’t hurt, but when it came to Joe, the facade crumbled.
Before I could respond, Joe’s expression changed, determination settling over his young features.
“I’ll find a dad even better than him!” he declared, his voice firm.
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My heart twisted as I watched him. I wanted to say something to soothe him, to make everything better, but the words wouldn’t
come.
Instead, I leaned over and kissed his forehead, whispering goodnight as I turned off the light.
The next few days passed in a blur. I began intentionally avoiding Liam, a task that became easier since he didn’t frequent the
club often.
I threw myself into work, focusing on anything that would keep my mind off the tangled mess of emotions his presence always seemed to stir up.
One afternoon, Jackson participated in a filmed interview at the club, drawing a small crowd,
The reporter leaned in, her smile widening as she shifted the conversation. “So, Jackson, we know all about your career successes, but the fans are dying to know–what about your love life? Anyone special on the horizon?”
Jackson, with his usual easy grin, didn’t miss a beat. “Well,” he said, glancing my way for just a second before turning back to her, “I’ve got a type.”
The reporter’s eyes lit up, sensing a scoop. “Oh? And what type would that be?”
He shrugged, the picture of casual charm. “Someone like Aria,” he said smoothly, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
My eyes widened, and the reporter let out a delighted gasp. “Really? That’s quite the confession! Is there something we should
know?”
Jackson laughed, shaking his head. “Nah, nothing like that. Just saying, she sets the bar pretty high.
Watching from a distance, I couldn’t help but smile helplessly Jackson was more like a little brother to me, and the idea of him having a crush on me seemed absurd.
“You shouldn’t joke like that anymore,” I said later, giving him a playful shove.
Jackson grinned, about to respond when my phone rang I checked the screen and saw Logan’s name flashing.
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+15 Bonus
“Sorry, I have to take this,” I told Jackson, stepping away from the group.
Logan’s voice was smooth on the other end of the line. “I’m on my way to pick you up. We need to do some shopping for the gala”
Lagreed, not wanting to overthink it. After all, it was just a simple shopping trip.
But as we arrived at the boutique, an unexpected sight greeted us. Liam and Sophia were there, browsing the racks.
Sophia spotted us first, her eyes narrowing slightly as she noticed Logan at my side. She made a point of flaunting their
relationship, linking her arm through Liam’s as she whispered something in his ear.
But Liam’s eyes weren’t on her; they were fixed on me, his gaze intense and unreadable.
I tried to ignore it, focusing instead on the dresses the store assistant brought me.
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I chose a deep emerald gown, something elegant but understated, perfect for the event.
As I stepped into the fitting room, I carefully zipped up the dress, but the zipper caught in my hair, and I winced, unable to free
myself.
“Excuse me,” I called softly, hoping to catch the attention of a store assistant.
I heard the door open, and a moment later, felt a hand gently untangling my hair from the zipper.
Relief flooded me, and I smiled. “Thank you,” I said, but the hand didn’t move away from my back.
I turned around, but found myself face–to–face with Liam.
The air between us crackled with tension, and I nearly screamed in surprise.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady.
Liam didn’t answer right away. His eyes searched mine, his expression unreadable.
“Are you hiding something from me?” he finally asked, his voice low and intense.
