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
"I don’t know, Logan," I say, glancing down at the papers scattered across my desk. "I need time to figure things out."He stands up, smoothing out his shirt. "Tell you what—let me take you out this weekend. No pressure, just a chance to make up for some of the things I got wrong. What do you say?"
Liam's POVI pace the office, glancing at the clock. It’s late, and my assistant should have been back with an update by now. This investigation—it’s taking longer than I expected, and the lack of progress is grating on me.There’s something off about Joe’s birth records, something that doesn’t add
As the evening winds down, the two of us find a quiet corner away from the crowd.Aria’s leaning against the wall, looking thoughtful, and I can’t help but notice the way the dim lighting casts a soft glow on her features."You’ve been quiet tonight," I say, stepping closer. "Everything okay?"She g
Aria’s POVI sit at a corner table in the café, drumming my fingers on the wooden surface. I’ve been here for fifteen minutes already, nursing a lukewarm cup of coffee as I wait for Sophia.It’s been long enough for my frustration to build, and the longer I wait, the more certain I am that this conv
---Later that evening, Logan pulls up in front of my house to pick me up for our date.I’m still fuming from my earlier encounter with Sophia, but I push it aside as I climb into his car, giving him a small smile."Hey," he says, glancing over at me as he pulls away from the curb. "Everything okay?
Aria’s POVThe hum of voices around me barely registers as I take a sip of my iced tea, trying to focus on the conversation at hand. I’m in the middle of a lunch meeting, nodding politely as the person across from me discusses project deadlines and client demands.The restaurant is bustling, and my
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