Joe clapped his hands, giggling. I couldn’t help but laugh along with him, the stress of everything else melting away, if only for a moment.Isabel leaned back against the couch, watching us with a soft smile. “You’re a natural, Aria,” she said. “Even in the middle of all this chaos.”I shrugged, wi
Aria’s POVThe doorbell rang just as I was finishing up my coffee. My first instinct was to ignore it—I didn’t have the energy for any unexpected visitors today. But the doorbell rang again, more insistent this time. Sighing, I set my mug down and opened the door. Liam stood there, holding a larg
Liam’s POVThe hum of voices filled the ballroom, but all I could focus on was Logan, standing across the room, laughing with a group of colleagues.The past few days had been a blur of questions, doubts, and more questions. I couldn’t let it go any longer. Tonight, I was going to get the truth from
The door swung open almost immediately, and Joe’s face lit up when he saw me. “Liam!” he shouted, practically bouncing on his toes. “Mom! Liam’s here!” I forced a smile. “Hey, buddy,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt. “Guess what?” Joe beamed, his excitement contagious. “Mom’s trying to fin
Liam’s POV I was halfway through reviewing a contract when a soft knock echoed on my office door. Before I could look up, my assistant stepped inside.Her usual brisk and efficient manner was muted, almost hesitant. That wasn’t a good sign.“Liam,” she started, holding a thin file folder in her ha
“I assure you, we are more than capable of delivering—”“Are you?” the client interrupted again, his voice cold. “Because from where I’m sitting, it doesn’t look that way.”The silence that followed was deafening. I swallowed hard, my mind racing to find a way to salvage the situation, but nothing c
Aria’s POVA knock on the door startled me to my feet. It was late– past Joe’s bedtime. I couldn’t imagine who would think to come at this hour.Pulling the front door open, I was startled to find Liam on the otherside. I could see the exhaustion in his eyes, but there was something else too—a deter
Aria’s POVInviting William over after school has become second nature at this point. What started as a few casual afternoons where he tagged along with Joe has turned into something more regular.Sophia’s either late or doesn’t show up on time to pick him up, so it’s almost like William’s become a
Liam’s POVI watched my phone as it rang, seeing Joanna’s name on the screen. After talking with the investor, and already receiving texts from the others that mirror his opinions, I had next to no desire to answer this call and speak with Joanna herself.And after what she said on television… She p
Aria’s POVI sat on the couch between Liam and Joe, with William sitting on the other side of Liam, watching as the interview was about to air on television.I’d been nervous, even up to a minute ago, but now I only felt numb. I had no idea what was about to happen, but in this moment, I had nothing
Joe’s POVAfter school the next day, William and Joe are supposed to go to the bus and take it home, but they sidetrack, heading downtown instead. Using one of the kids at school’s phone, they already texted Isabelle their plans, asking her to pick them up. They didn’t stick around to see if there w
Aria’s POVIt was the easiest question of my life. “Of course I do. I love Liam very much.”“Then that’s really all you need,” Jackson said. Seeing I was about to dismiss him, he hurriedly continues. “Listen, I know it sounds cliché, but it’s the honest truth. Does it matter what anyone else thinks?
Liam’s POVI stared at Joanna, as the dread crept up inside of me. She was clearly trying to intimidate me though, as if hoping to see if I’d buckle under pressure, and I absolutely refused to give her that satisfaction. So I rallied myself, standing straighter, and told her plainly, “I won’t be int
Liam’s POVWho the hell did this guy think he was, coming into our home and attacking Aria like that? The interviewer Craig had a bad attitude from the start, but I’d been willing to overlook all of it for the sake of the actual interview. To even get the crew here, I’d had to call in some favors. I
Despite that look, the first half of the interview seemed to go alright. Liam and I introduced Joe and William, and the kids talked for a bit about how much they loved us, as well as some of their favorite pastimes.“I want to be a racecar driver when I get older,” William said. “Just like my dad.”
Aria’s POVThe producer suggested that we start with the full family interview as we eased into things, so, after the crew set up the cameras in lighting in the living room, we sat down.The interviewer, the reporter from the station Liam had called a favor into, kept us waiting for a while, as he s
Aria’s POVUnder my ear, I heard the quick pulsing of Liam’s heart, hammering in his chest. Glancing up at him, I was surprised to find his eyes a little wide. Then, I realized the implications of what I had just said.“I didn’t mean it like that!” I said quickly, blushing hard.I wasn’t ready for s