Secrets

Hearing Liam's voice immediately sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't believe I was almost tricked by Lucas.

Still lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed when Liam walked past me and grabbed Lucas by the collar of his shirt.

"How dare you come into my room and try to deceive my wife?" Liam shouted.

Lucas laughed out loud. "Come on, Liam. It's just a contract marriage to close a deal. Stop making it look so real. Besides, we’re indoors—no paparazzi are watching you."

Liam felt a sharp pain in his heart as those words left Lucas's mouth. But he quickly overcame it and said angrily, "I don't care what you believe, Lucas. Ashley chose me. Ashley is married to me. Whether it’s a contract marriage or not, legally—on paper—she’s my wife. So in no—"

Lucas cut him short with another annoying laugh. "Oh, Liam, you're claiming her now? Like you love her?" He laughed again, mocking him. "Hah! Liam, she isn’t really your wife, and I have just as much right to her as you do. She just happened to choose you."

Liam, already full of anger, continued, "I don’t care what you think or say, Lucas. But under no circumstances should you ever try this foolishness again."

"Now you call this foolishness?" Lucas grabbed Liam by the collar, and just like that, they erupted into a heated argument.

Ashley stood frozen, watching both brothers hurl hurtful words at each other. She didn't know what to do or how to react. This was the first time two men had ever fought because of her.

Gathering enough courage, she spoke. "Please, you guys should stop," she said, but her words fell on deaf ears.

"L-Lucas, so you want to repeat the same mistake you made in the past, right? You don’t want to grow up, huh? After all the promises and apologies you made back then?"

"Please, you guys should just stop thisssssss!" Ashley finally screamed, her voice piercing through the tension as she stepped between the two brothers, trying to separate them.

Lucas and Liam quickly composed themselves and apologized to Ashley. Growing up, they had been taught never to quarrel with a woman or fight in her presence.

Lucas walked out of the room with the little pride he had left, while Liam headed to his office inside the bedroom, leaving Ashley alone.

The last words Liam had said echoed in her mind.

*"Lucas, you want to repeat the same mistake you made in the past."*

What mistake?

*I don’t think I’m in a position to ask them yet,* she thought. But the words kept lingering in her mind.

Still deep in thought, she suddenly heard her name being called from the office room.

"I'm coming," she replied to Liam.

She stepped into Liam's office, her heart still racing from the confrontation between him and Lucas. Her mind was clouded with questions. *What mistake was Liam talking about? And why did Lucas react so defensively?*

Liam sat behind his desk, rubbing his temples. He looked up as she entered, his piercing gaze softening slightly.

"Close the door," he said, his voice low but firm.

She hesitated but did as he asked. The tension between them was thick—a mix of unspoken words and the weight of their complicated situation.

"You should be careful around Lucas," Liam finally said.

Ashley frowned. "He said he was just teasing me."

Liam scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "Teasing? Is that what he called it?" He exhaled sharply. "Ashley, Lucas is not as harmless as he seems. He has a habit of crossing lines he shouldn’t. And I won’t tolerate it happening again."

A shiver ran down her spine. "What happened between you two before? You mentioned a mistake."

Liam’s jaw tightened. He studied her for a long moment before shaking his head. "It’s in the past. You don’t need to worry about it."

But she did. The way Lucas had reacted, the way Liam’s voice carried both anger and something else—hurt, maybe—it all pointed to a deeper history she wasn’t privy to.

Still, she knew Liam well enough by now to understand that pressing him for answers wouldn’t get her anywhere. Instead, she nodded. "Alright."

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You’re officially starting your role as my wife next week. That means following the rules I set."

Ashley straightened. "Which are?"

He pulled out a piece of paper and slid it across the desk. She picked it up, scanning the neatly typed list.

*"Read this and know that your wife duties are fully starting next week,"* Liam said.

She read within herself.

**1. No unnecessary contact with any other man, especially my brothers.

2. No discussing personal matters with outsiders.

3. Appearances are everything—our marriage must seem real at all times.

4. Always consult me before making any major decisions.**

She set the paper down and crossed her arms. "So, I’m supposed to just… be your obedient wife and do whatever you say?"

Liam’s lips curled into a smirk. "You agreed to this contract, Ashley. This is just part of the deal."

She clenched her jaw but held her tongue. Arguing with him was pointless.

"Fine," she muttered. "Anything else?"

Liam stood up, rounding the desk to stand in front of her. "Just one more thing." He tilted his head slightly, his eyes darkening. "Stay away from Jersey."

Her breath hitched. "Jersey? Who is she?"

"Yes." His voice was cold now. "She’s the lady who stood with my brothers on our wedding day."

Ashley’s curiosity flared. *Oh, I remember.*

*What is he hiding by telling me to stay away from that lady?* she wondered.

"Who is she to you?" she asked aloud without realizing it.

Liam’s expression hardened. "That’s none of your concern."

Ashley stared at him, frustration bubbling inside her. He wanted her to obey his rules without question, yet he refused to answer hers.

But again, pushing him wouldn’t help.

So she nodded, feigning indifference. "Alright. I’ll stay away from her."

Liam studied her for a moment longer before nodding. "Good."

Without another word, he walked past her and out of the office, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

---

**Later That Night**

As she lay in bed, her mind refused to rest. Liam’s warning about Lucas, his insistence on avoiding Jersey, the tension in his voice whenever he spoke about his past—everything felt like puzzle pieces waiting to be put together.

She needed answers.

And she had a feeling she wouldn’t get them from Liam.

Which meant she had to find them herself.