Chapter 43: Dinner to remember Dinner at Liam’s mother’s house was a grand affair. The dining room, bathed in warm golden light, was adorned with elegant centerpieces and fine china. Chelsea sat quietly, feeling both out of place and curious. Despite the opulence, there was a warmth in the air, largely thanks to Liam’s mother, whose kind smile eased some of Chelsea’s nerves.As the courses were served, Liam’s mother set down her glass of wine and fixed her gaze on him. “Liam,” she began with a touch of curiosity, “are you and Chelsea seeing each other?”Chelsea’s breath hitched, her heart pounding as she glanced at Liam. He remained calm, meeting his mother’s gaze without flinching.“We’re taking things slowly,” he replied evenly, a small smile playing on his lips.Liam’s mother gave an approving nod, her eyes twinkling. “That’s good to hear. Relationships built on a steady foundation often last the longest.” She turned to Chelsea with a warm smile. “And how are you finding things he
Chapter 44: Dinner AftermathThe drive back from Liam’s mother’s house was steeped in a contemplative silence. The warmth of the evening still lingered, the golden glow of the sunset casting long shadows across the road. Chelsea stared out of the window, her mind replaying the events of dinner—the way his mother and grandmother had treated her, the subtle undertones of their questions, and most importantly, the quiet strength of Liam’s presence beside her.“Are you alright?” Liam asked, his voice breaking through her thoughts.Chelsea turned to him, offering a small smile. “I’m fine. Just thinking.”He nodded but didn’t press further. She appreciated that about him—his ability to give her space without making her feel abandoned. The rest of the ride passed in a comfortable quiet, each lost in their own thoughts.When Liam pulled up outside her house, he stepped out to open her door, a gesture she’d grown accustomed to but still found endearing.“Thank you for tonight,” she said as she
Chapter 45: A planned surprise Liam leaned back in his chair, tapping a pen against the polished surface of his desk. The idea had been forming in his mind for days, and now he was ready to set things in motion. He pressed the intercom button and summoned Valerie, his personal assistant.Within minutes, Valerie entered the office, her clipboard in hand, ready to take notes.“You called, sir?” she asked.“Yes, Valerie. I need you to book a reservation at the most exclusive restaurant in town,” Liam said, his tone decisive. “Make sure it’s for tomorrow evening.”Valerie nodded, scribbling on her notepad. “Of course, sir. Anything else?”“Yes,” Liam continued, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “I want you to shop for a very sexy dress—something bold but classy. Include lingerie, a swimsuit, and whatever other girly things you think might complement the outfit. Don’t hold back on the price.”Valerie’s eyebrows shot up slightly, but she maintained her professionalism. “Understood. I’ll h
Chapter 46: Dawn of a new startThe sterile atmosphere of the hospital hung thick in the air as Adams, Sandra, and his mother waited outside the operating room. The rhythmic tick of the clock on the wall seemed louder with every passing second, amplifying the tension. Sandra sat beside Adams, clutching his hand tightly, while his mother paced back and forth, her expression unreadable but clearly troubled.Suddenly, the sound of approaching heels echoed down the hallway. A well-dressed woman in her early forties, carrying a sleek leather briefcase, walked toward them. Her presence was commanding, her gaze sharp and unwavering."Good evening," she began, her voice professional but tinged with urgency. "I’m Vera Morris, the legal representative of Mr. Maxwell—the patient currently in surgery. I’ve been trying to reach you."Adams stood, his brows furrowing. “You’re my father’s lawyer?”“Yes,” Vera replied, glancing at his mother briefly before turning back to him. “I need to inform you o
Chapter 47: Morning with blissThe morning sun filtered through the curtains of Chelsea’s bedroom, bathing it in a warm glow. Despite the beauty of the day, her thoughts were anything but serene. She sat on the edge of her bed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the intricate lace of the red dress Liam had sent. His words from the night before echoed in her mind.“You’ll wear it for me tomorrow.”Chelsea sighed, her emotions a whirlwind. Liam’s gestures were grand and romantic, but they came with a weight she wasn’t sure she was ready to carry. Reese’s words of encouragement had helped ease her doubts, but the fear of getting hurt still lingered.Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her bedroom door.“Come in,” she called, already knowing it was Reese.Reese poked her head in, a bright smile on her face. “You’re not still sitting here overthinking, are you?”Chelsea gave her a weak smile. “Maybe.”Reese stepped inside, plopping down beside her on the bed. She picked up the dres
Chapter 48:A brilliant surprise Chelsea sat at the dining table in her small apartment, nervously fidgeting with her hands. The events of the previous night still played on her mind, replaying Liam’s kiss and the way he had treated her like she was the most precious thing in the world. But with those memories came a pang of doubt.She had just finished brewing her morning coffee when there was a knock at the door. Reese, as usual, was quicker to answer.“It’s for you!” Reese called, her voice teasing. “Guess who.”Chelsea rolled her eyes but felt her heart race. She walked over to find Liam standing at the doorway, his presence filling the small space. He was dressed impeccably in his signature tailored suit, holding a leather-bound file.“Good morning,” he said with a smile that made her pulse quicken.“Liam, hi,” she managed, stepping aside to let him in.Reese smirked knowingly before excusing herself. “I’ll leave you two alone.”Chelsea shot her a glare, but Reese just winked and
Chapter 49: A hand written noteThe ride back from the restaurant was quiet but comfortable. Chelsea glanced out the window, taking in the city lights and the soft hum of the car engine. Liam sat beside her, his presence commanding yet calming.When they reached Chelsea's home, Liam stepped out and opened the door for her."Thank you," she said softly, stepping out into the cool night air."I'll walk you to the door," Liam said, his voice low and firm.They reached the entrance, and Chelsea fumbled with her keys, nervous energy coursing through her. She turned to him, her expression tentative."Tonight was... incredible," she said. "Thank you for everything. The dinner, the university... it’s all overwhelming, but in the best way."Liam's gaze softened, his eyes tracing her face. "You don’t have to thank me, Chelsea. You’ve earned it. I just want to see you happy."The way he said her name sent a shiver down her spine. For a moment, she thought he might lean in, but instead, he reache
Chapter 50: Call of duty The drive back home was supposed to be uneventful, but Liam’s phone buzzed sharply, breaking the silence. He glanced at the caller ID, a deep frown forming when he saw his mother’s name.He picked up immediately. "Mother? What’s wrong?"Her voice trembled on the other end. "It’s your father. He collapsed earlier tonight, and they rushed him to the hospital. He’s in surgery now."Liam gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white. "What happened? Was it his heart again?""Yes," she confirmed, her voice breaking slightly. "They’ve been trying to stabilize him for hours. Liam, I think you should come over. I need to talk to you.""I’ll be there soon," he said firmly, cutting the call.---When Liam arrived at his mother’s house, he was greeted by the sight of her pacing the living room, her usual composed demeanor replaced by worry. She looked up as he entered, rushing toward him."Thank you for coming," she said, her voice shaky."How is he?" L
Chapter 69: A Distasteful SurpriseKim walked into Reese’s office with a stack of printed papers and placed them on the table. Reese, who had been staring at her computer screen in deep thought, glanced up and reached for the documents.“I did a deep search for the name Gerald Hudson,” Kim began. “But I found nothing. No records, no background, nothing that could link him to any existing family. The only thing that came close was a Hudson family that used to live in France.”Reese frowned as she skimmed through the documents. “Hudson family?”Kim nodded. “Yeah, but their only son supposedly died in a car accident twenty years ago.”Reese’s heart skipped a beat. She immediately dropped the papers and looked at Kim with a sharp intensity. “The Hudsons… I know that family. They were friends with my parents.”Kim blinked in surprise. “You do?”“Yes,” Reese said firmly. “I even knew their son—the one who supposedly died. His name was Jeremy. Except… if this Gerald Hudson is linked to them,
Chapter 68: Getting Fed UpAria lay in her hospital bed, her fingers clutching the blanket in frustration. The walls of the hospital room felt suffocating, and she was sick of lying here, feeling weak and helpless. Her father, Charles, sat beside her, his face full of concern.“Aria,” he said gently, “you just lost a child. You shouldn’t be stressing yourself over anything right now. You need to rest.”Aria’s eyes burned with anger. “I don’t have time to rest, Dad. If I don’t act fast, Chelsea will take Liam away from me, and I can’t let that happen.”Charles sighed. “Liam is still around, isn’t he? He’s been checking up on you.”She scoffed. “That means nothing. He’s only here out of obligation, not love. I need to make sure I have him in my hold. I need to remind him why he belongs with me.”Charles frowned. “Aria, listen to me. You need to recover first. Rushing into anything will only make things worse.”“I don’t care,” she snapped. “I won’t sit back and let that girl take what’s
Chapter 67: The best presentation The next morning, Chelsea dressed up quickly, adjusting her dress before stepping out of her bedroom. Today was another busy day at culinary school, and she was determined to make the most of it.As she walked toward the kitchen, she was surprised to find Reese already there, setting the table. The delicious aroma of eggs and toast filled the air.“Morning,” Chelsea greeted, raising an eyebrow. “You’re up early.”Reese flashed her a small smile. “I thought I’d make breakfast before we both head out. Figured we could use a good meal before the day starts.”Chelsea chuckled and took a seat at the counter. “That’s sweet. I could get used to this.”Reese poured her a glass of juice before sitting down across from her. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about something… and I’d love to talk to you about it.”Chelsea raised an eyebrow. “I’m all ears. What’s up?”Reese hesitated for a moment, tapping her fingers on the table. “So, last night, I was scrolling thr
Chapter 66: Who's my father?Adams sat in his room, his fists clenched as he replayed the conversation he had overheard earlier. The muffled whispers, the urgency in his mother’s tone didn't sit right with him. Something was off, and his gut told him it was something big. He stormed out of his room, heading straight for his mother’s study.When he pushed the door open, his mother flinched, caught off guard. She quickly put her phone down and tried to compose herself, but Adams wasn’t buying it.“Who were you talking to?” he demanded, his voice cold and sharp.His mother hesitated, her eyes darting around as if searching for an excuse. “Just a business associate,” she said lightly. “It’s nothing for you to worry about.”Adams narrowed his eyes, his temper bubbling to the surface. “Don’t lie to me, Mother. I heard your conversation. You were talking about me. Now tell me what the hell is going on?”Her face paled, and she stammered, “Adams, you’re overreacting. It’s nothing serious. I w
Chapter 65: Brewing PlansThe sound of Chelsea's heels clicking against the pavement echoed faintly as she followed Liam to his sleek black car. She hesitated for a moment before sliding into the passenger seat, her hands clutching her phone tightly.“Why did you want to see me?” she asked, breaking the silence as Liam rounded the car and got in.“You’ll know in a moment,” he replied curtly, starting the engine. His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it that set her on edge.The car moved smoothly onto the road, the tension inside palpable. Chelsea’s phone buzzed in her hand, breaking the silence. She glanced at the screen—Reese.“Hello?” she answered.“Where are you?” Reese’s voice was sharp with concern.“I’m with Liam,” Chelsea replied, her gaze flicking toward him nervously.“Alright,” Reese said after a pause. “Call me when you’re done, okay?”Chelsea agreed and ended the call, slipping her phone back into her bag. She turned to Liam, whose gaze remained fixed on the road a
Chapter 64: Failed planAria’s heart pounded as she sat in her hospital bed, her face pale but determined. The plan had gone wrong—terribly wrong. She hadn’t intended to lose the baby, only to garner Liam’s sympathy and drive him further from Chelsea. Now, her rage burned through her veins as she clutched her phone tightly, waiting for Valerie to pick up.“Hello?” Valerie’s voice came through, cautious but sharp.“Get the doctor in here. Now,” Aria demanded, her tone venomous.“Aria, calm down—”“Don’t tell me to calm down!” she snapped. “This wasn’t supposed to happen! I told you we needed to be careful.”Minutes later, Valerie appeared in her hospital room, followed by the doctor. Aria glared at both of them. “Liam’s going to come here soon. You’re going to tell him I’m in critical condition. Make it believable, or so help me—”The doctor nodded nervously. “I’ll do as you say. But we need to keep the story straight.”Aria took a deep breath. “Fine. But let me make this clear— f Liam
Chapter 63: Heavy with tension The room was heavy with tension as Aria sat in her hospital bed, sipping water through a straw. Her features were calm, but her mind raced. She knew the doctor would do as he was told; the fear in his eyes had confirmed that. Still, loose ends worried her, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that someone might betray her.Valerie entered the room, closing the door softly behind her. She looked flustered, her usual confidence slightly shaken."Aria, we need to talk," Valerie said, her voice low."What is it?" Aria asked, narrowing her eyes.Valerie hesitated, glancing at the door as if to ensure they were alone. "Someone called me earlier. They know about the plan."Aria’s grip on the water glass tightened. "Who? What did they say?""They didn’t give a name, but they made it clear they know about the fall, the lies—everything," Valerie said, pacing the room. "They said secrets like ours don
Chapter 62: Her deceitful actThe morning sunlight filtered through the massive windows of the luxurious estate as Aria descended the grand staircase. Dressed in a flowing robe, her hand grazed the polished railing as her heels clicked against the marble steps. From the corner of her eye, she saw Valerie standing at the bottom of the stairs, nodding subtly as though everything was in place.Aria’s heart raced—not from fear, but from anticipation. She had rehearsed this moment countless times with Valerie and her trusted doctor. It was a calculated risk, but one she deemed necessary to manipulate Liam further. She didn’t plan for anything extreme, certainly not losing the baby, but she needed to create the perfect storm.Her foot hovered over the next step, her ankle turning deliberately, and before she could catch herself, she plummeted downward. The sound of her body hitting the steps echoed through the house, followed by a sharp cry that seemed to pierce
Chapter 61: Her cunning planThe evening breeze filtered through the open windows of the grand estate, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming roses from the garden below. Adams sat in a leather armchair in his bedroom, his mother perched gracefully on the edge of the bed. She wore an elegant silk robe, her demeanor as poised and calculated as ever."Adams, darling," she began, her voice low and conspiratorial, "we need to talk about your father’s assets."Adams leaned back, folding his arms across his chest. "Mother, we’ve discussed this before. Let’s not jump to conclusions while he’s still recovering."His mother waved a hand dismissively, her manicured nails catching the light. "Recovering or not, we both know your father isn’t as sharp as he used to be. This... illness only accelerates things.""That doesn’t mean we should act rashly," Adams replied, his tone firm but respectful.She arched an eyebrow, her expression co