Liam was stunned as the country club security moved in, handcuffing him without so much as asking for his side of the story. There was no attempt to understand what had happened, no investigation, just swift action based on assumptions. The fact that they were in the men's bathroom didn’t seem to raise any suspicion. No one questioned why Selena was even there, in a place meant for men. That alone should have made them stop and think something wasn’t adding up.As they put the cuffs on him, for a moment, Liam considered resisting. It would have been easy for him to shake them off and leave. And no one would be able to stop him. But he stopped himself, knowing that fleeing would only worsen the situation. Instead, he allowed them to cuff him, the cold metal biting into his wrists, the weight of the injustice sinking in. His mind raced, trying to comprehend how everything had spiraled so quickly. He was being accused of something he hadn’t done, trapped in a scheme by someone desperate
“Did he physically harm you?” another journalist asked, her voice professional though her eyes gleamed with concern, leaning forward as if to capture every detail of Selena’s response. Selena’s expression saddened with perfect timing. Her voice quivered, playing the part of the frightened victim to perfection. “Yes,” she replied shakily. “I had to fight him off. He tried to push me down, and when I resisted… he hit me!” Her hand flew up to her face, gesturing toward the red mark on her cheek, a mark she had carefully crafted moments earlier, knowing it would evoke sympathy and paint her as the victim. But, the truth was far more sinister. No one had laid a hand on Selena, but she had learned how to manipulate her image well. Pressing her hand hard against her face before walking out into the crowd had left the perfect hint of redness, a fabricated wound to sell her story. As she pointed her finger to the red mark on her face, she said,“This is what he did to me,” she choked out, he
Meanwhile, upon arriving at the police station, Liam was escorted inside the police building. They still had handcuff on him. The two cops who had arrested him had no idea of his real identity, so they treated him like they would treat every other criminal.The fluorescent lights shined overhead, casting harsh shadows on the walls as they walked down a long corridor. Liam could hear the distant sounds of people talking, phones ringing, and the rustle of paper. It all felt surreal, like a scene from a movie, but he knew this wasn't a movie, it was his reality now.Inside the processing room, Liam was told to stand against a cold wall. The officer removed his handcuffs but kept a firm grip on his arm, ensuring he didn’t make any sudden moves. Another officer entered, casting a glance at Liam, his expression a mix of suspicion and curiosity.“First name?” the officer asked, jotting down notes on a clipboard.“Liam,” Liam replied in a composed tone, his posture relaxed despite the serious
Liam brushed the worrying thoughts away, assuring himself that his family trusted him, and they would never believe the things being said about him on the news over him, after all they were his family and they knew him better.After all the procedures were done, Liam was escorted down a narrow, dimly lit corridor and taken to a holding cell. The clanging of the metal door echoed as it swung open, and the officer gestured for him to step inside.The moment he stepped foot inside, he could feel how the room was cold and unwelcoming, a small bench against one wall and nothing else. The faint scent of disinfectant mixed with the dampness of the air. Liam entered without a word, his composed expression never leaving him. He knew there was nothing to be worried about, hence he wasn't worried. The door clanged shut behind him, the sound reverberating off the walls, leaving him alone in the sterile, claustrophobic space.He sat down, leaning back against the cold concrete wall, staring at the
Alvin remained silent at first, his prolonged pause causing Liam to wonder if he believed the stories circulating in the news.After a moment, Alvin finally broke the silence, his voice calm and professional. “Alright, let’s get this over with.” He didn’t acknowledge Liam directly, instead turning his focus to the officers.The officer, clearly recognizing who Alvin was, hesitated briefly before nodding. “Mr. Danvers, everything has been cleared. You’re free to go.”Luke, standing behind Megan, chimed in with a smirk. “Yeah, I dunno, maybe he should stay here longer. That orange jumpsuit might suit you. Maybe it’s your new look.”Liam shot Luke a look, but couldn’t help the small smirk tugging at his lips. “Glad to know you’re enjoying this.”Alvin, ignoring the banter, moved forward, leading the way out. “Let’s go.” more than ever it was confined to Liam that his dad was mad at him, judging by the way he was acting. He had barely spoken to him directly ever since they arrived. Well,
Aretha glanced toward the door, her smile disappearing as she took in the mysterious stranger’s presence. Ethan was equally puzzled, glancing between his father and the unfamiliar man, who was a complete stranger to them.“Can I help you?” Ethan asked, his voice polite but laced with caution.Mr. Carrington looked at the man, and as he took in his presence a defeated expression appeared across his face, realizing who he was. While his kids didn’t know him, Mr Carrington certainly did, and he was afraid of the man from the looks of it.The man met their gazes with an unreadable expression, his eyes sharp and calculating. “I’m here to see your father,” he said smoothly, his tone even and authoritative. He then shifted his gaze to Mr Carrington with a smirk on his face.Rachel exchanged a worried glance with Aretha. “Who are you?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The siblings wondered what this man wanted with their father and seeing the defeated look in their fathers eyes,
Mr. Carrington lay unconscious in the bed, his face pale and his chest still. Mr. Blackthorn stood by the bedside, a calculating look in his eyes, as if he were entirely unfazed by the sudden turn of events. The faintest hint of a smirk playing on his lips. The fact that he was standing there, unmoved by the situation, made the entire scene feel sinister, like he had orchestrated this very moment.Ethan ignored Mr Blackthorn, his focus entirely on his unconscious father. “Dad!” He shouted, rushing to his father's side, panic flooding his senses. “What happened?” He turned his sharp gaze toward Mr. Blackthorn, suspicion clouding his mind. The man’s calm demeanor only fueled Ethan’s fears that he might have done something to Mr Carrington. “What did you do?” He asked coldlyMr. Blackthorn raised an eyebrow, his expression unfazed. “I believe your father simply became overwhelmed,” he replied, his voice smooth and dispassionate. The way he spoke he had no emotion in his tone, which made
“Honestly, it’s for the best. She’ll just drag you and the baby down.” Megan added, trying her best to make sure Liam doesn't change his mind and stand by his decision to pay Elena off.Alvin grunted in agreement, setting down his glass of wine. “Yeah, I guess that works. You’re better off keeping her away from the child, Liam.”Liam was delighted to hear both his dad and his sister supporting his decision. He didn't want to tell them of his plan at first, because he thought they would disagree with him, but he was wrong. Liam showed a weak smile, however before he could respond, Irene raised her hand, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Wait. Don’t encourage him,” she said to Megan and Alvin who were supporting Liam's decision, despite the fact that his decision was going to keep a child from his mother, basically robbing him of his mother's love. Irene's tone was firm and disapproving. She looked directly at Megan and then at Alvin, before turning her gaze back to Liam. “This isn’t just