Aria’s POV
The house was unnervingly quiet as I walked through. The silence pressed against my ears, making the faint sounds from the bedroom more pronounced.
Curious, I followed the noise, my footsteps soft on the familiar floor.
As I reached the doorway, the sound of running water ceased abruptly, and the door to the en–suite bathroom swung open. froze, my breath catching in my throat.
Liam emerged, a towel slung low around his hips, water droplets clinging to his skin as they glistened in the dim light. His hair was damp, and he ran a hand through it, pushing it back from his forehead.
He seemed completely at ease, as if it were the most natural thing in the world to be standing half–naked in front of me.
For a moment, I couldn’t tear my eyes away. Liam’s body had always been toned, but years of training and discipline had sculpted
him even further.
He caught me staring, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
“Are you going to stand there and watch me get dressed?” he asked, his tone more amused than anything else.
I quickly averted my gaze, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. I placed the report I had brought on the nearby dresser, my movements hurried and awkward.
Without another word, I turned to leave the room, eager to escape the situation. But as I reached the door, something caught my eye–a stack of papers on the bedside table.
I froze again, my gaze zeroing in on the top document. It was familiar, too familiar. The divorce papers.
The same ones I had left behind years ago, unsigned. They were still there, untouched, as if waiting for my return.
Why hadn’t he signed them?
Before I could dwell on the question, Liam strolled over and picked up the papers. He glanced at them, a casual expression on his face.
“I’m not that stingy,” he said, his voice even. “After three years of marriage, I wasn’t going to let you leave with nothing.”
My heart skipped a beat. Did that mean he hadn’t wanted to divorce me?
The thought flashed through my mind, startling me. But Liam’s demeanor remained unchanged, giving no indication of what he might be thinking.
Liam then handed me back the divorce papers, his tone shifting to something more businesslike. “Let’s go over your report,” he said, his voice firm. “I want every detail”
+15 Bonus
I blinked, caught off guard by the abrupt change in tople.
I nodded, pulling myself together as I retrieved the report from where I had set it down. Liam’s eyes were sharp as he scrutinized every line, every note I had made. He nitpicked my work, questioning every detail, every decision I had outlined. T
Hours passed in what felt like an endless barrage of criticism and questioning. The sun had long since set, and the clock on the
wall ticked steadily toward midnight.
My patience wore thin, but I kept my responses measured, refusing to let Liam’s relentless questioning break my composure.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Liam leaned back in his chair and gave a dismissive nod. “You can go,” he said, his
tone clipped.
But as I gathered my things, he added with a sneer, “Wouldn’t want to make you late for your date, would I?”
I stared at him, momentarily speechless. His words were laced with sarcasm, and I couldn’t help but wonder if he had deliberately
kept me late just to ruin my plans. But that was absurd, wasn’t it?
Liam’s expression hardened, his eyes narrowing. “Don’t flatter yourself,” he snapped. “I’m just worried you’ll be a bad influence
on Jackson.”
The absurdity of the situation hit me then, and I bit back a retort. Of course, Liam wouldn’t go to such lengths just to interfere with my personal life. It was ridiculous to even consider it.
I shook my head slightly, mocking myself for the fleeting thought. Without another word, I turned and left the room, the weight
of the day’s events pressing down on me.
The following week, the kindergarten was buzzing with excitement as the annual parent–child event approached. Every child had to submit a handmade project, and the air was filled with anticipation.
I watched with a smile as Joe proudly displayed the model race car he had crafted, his small hands pointing out every detail with
enthusiasm
“Look, Mom!” Joe said, his eyes shining with pride. “I made it all by myself!”
I admired the model, impressed by his effort. The car was sleek and well–constructed, its lines reminiscent of the ones I had seen
in Liam’s garage.
For a brief moment, the resemblance between Joe’s excitement and Liam’s passion for racing flashed in my mind, but I quickly
pushed the thought aside.
Our moment of pride was interrupted when William, Liam’s assistant’s son, strutted over with a smug expression. He eyed Joe’s model with disdain before sneering, “You’re going to lose for sure. My dad’s here, and he helped me with mine.”
Joe looked up at William, unimpressed. “So what?” he retorted, crossing his arms over his chest. “Your dad’s just some guy. My
car’s better.”
2/3
+15 Bonus
Before William could reply, a familiar voice called out, “William,” Both boys turned, and my heart skipped a beat as I saw Liam approaching, his gaze focused on William…
Joe’s face tell as he watched William run to Liam’s side, his small hand slipping into Liam’s much larger one.
The sight of them together sent a shock through my system. Liam was William’s dad?
Joe’s expression turned to one of betrayal. He tugged on my sleeve, his voice a mix of confusion and hurt. “Mom, he said he would be my dad. How can he be William’s dad too?”
My thoughts were racing, my mind struggling to process the revelation. It was too late to hide Joe now; he and William were nearly the same age, and the resemblance between Joe and Liam was undeniable.
Liam was bound to put the pieces together.
Liam approached us, his expression darkening with each step. When he reached us, his voice was sharp, filled with barely-
contained anger.
“Aria,” he demanded, his eyes boring into mine, “who is his father?”
I forced myself to meet his gaze, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. “He doesn’t have a father,” I said, each
word measured.
Liam’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You-!”
Before Liam could finish, Joe tugged on my hand again, his eyes wide with a mischievous glint.
“But I do have a dad,” Joe said, his voice filled with childlike certainty. He looked up at Liam, his expression brightening as if he had just solved a great mystery. “And he’s right here, isn’t he?”
The words hung in the air, thick with implication. My heart sank, a wave of dread washing over me as I looked down at Joe. He smiled up at Liam, oblivious to the tension between the adults.
“Joe” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
Liam’s eyes flicked from Joe to me, his expression a mixture of shock and something unreadable. For a moment, time seemed to stand still, the world narrowing to the three of us standing in the middle of the bustling kindergarten event
