Her eyes flared with anger, meeting mine without backing down. “It wasn’t a game, Liam. I wasn’t trying to mess with you. I was hurt.”“Well, congratulations,” I shot back bitterly, “because that’s exactly what you did. You’ve been dragging me along,and when I finally gave in you threw out the very
Liam’s POVI stood outside the office building, my heart hammering in my chest as thick plumes of smoke billowed into the sky.Sirens screamed from all directions, adding to the dizzying chorus of voices and alarms.But none of those faces belonged to Aria.Frantically, I scanned the crowd, searchin
As we drove to the hospital, I sat beside her, clutching her hand. I didn’t care about the ashes smeared across my skin or the sweat that dripped down my face.All I cared about was the rise and fall of her chest—proof that she was still with me.I hadn’t realized how much I needed her until this mo
Aria’s POVI blink awake, groggy and sore all over. The sterile white of the hospital room comes into focus slowly, and I wince as a sharp sting ripples across my collarbones. The burns.I lift my head, but even that small movement sends pain shooting through my body. Great. This is just fantastic.
We share a smile—one that feels oddly familiar, like a glimpse of what we used to be.But then his phone buzzes, and the moment breaks. Liam glances at the screen, his expression tightening.“It’s work,” he mutters, clearly reluctant. “I have to go. But I’ll be back.”He leans down and presses a kis
Aria’s POVThe office buzzes with life as I step inside, the familiar sounds of keyboards clacking and hushed conversations wrapping around me.It feels good to be back, though a dull ache in my collarbone reminds me that I'm not entirely in fighting shape just yet. But I'm here, and that's what mat
My collarbone still aches, but it’s manageable, and I’m so focused that I barely notice the knock on my office door.“Come in,” I say absentmindedly, still typing away at my computer.The door opens, and I glance up, my fingers freezing mid-typing. It’s Liam, holding two takeout bags.He steps insid
Liam’s POVAs I pull into the parking lot, Joe’s slip of “Dad” echoes in my mind, over and over, like a broken record. The moment I heard it, my heart dropped.I can’t shake the feeling that there’s something more to his connection with Aria than I’ve ever been told. I pull into my usual spot and ta
Liam’s POV Markus’s smile grew, seemingly even more pleased. “Good. You’ve finally seen the truth in things then. Women. Relationships. What do they matter? Legacy, that’s what’s important. You are making the right choice, son. Finally. But then, I always knew you’d come around.” He only could be
Their leaving together could have been a coincidence. Even so, an uncomfortable feeling rose up in my stomach. They looked good together, side by side. Both so attractive, model-like, even though Joanna seemed much happier than Liam. His unhappiness was what gave me the strength to step forward.
Aria’s POV There had to be some kind of misunderstanding. Even if Jackson truly had seen what he said he’d seen, there had to be an explanation. If there wasn’t, then this, combined with those texts Joanna showed me, and the one I had spotted on Liam’s phone last night all added up to only one con
Now, the drivers all seemed torn. Some threw caution to the wind and continued to listen to me. Others shied away from having to speak to me. Jackson was yet to be seen this morning, which was unusual for him. Despite his rambunctious nature, he took driving seriously. He’d never before been late
Liam’s POV “There’s nothing going on between Joanna and me,” I explained. Still skeptical, Jackson glared at me. Behind him, Joanna smirked. I wished, to make things simple, that I could reveal the entire situation to him in a way that would make him understand. But if I did, I doubted he woul
Liam’s POV Joanna’s face lit up like it was Christmas morning and her birthday at once. Her mouth opened, but before she could say one word, I interrupted her. “On one condition.” She closed her mouth, pressed her lips hard together for a moment, then spoke. “What is it?” “This will absolutely b
Aria’s POV Reading the message on Liam’s phone, I went entirely still. Well, my body went still while my brain worked overtime. A million different thoughts flew threw my mind. What Aria knows won’t hurt her. What could that mean but the obvious? Was there any other way to interpret this? I sear
“He loves you,” Isabella said. “I’ve seen it in the way he looks at you and how he acts.” “Does that matter? His father and Joanna have been pressuring him to divorce me, threatening the entire team. Maybe the pressure has finally gotten to him.” “If he wasn’t under so much pressure anymore, then
Liam’s POV When it came to be closing time, I apologized to the accounting department but still made plans to leave as soon as possible. Some guilt about staying overnight the night before stuck with me, doubled now by how much I was considering Joanna’s offer. Aria had been right. She and I neede