Liam’s POV Aria accepted the phone and brought it to her ear. “Yes? Oh, yes. Hello.” Standing nearby, I crossed his arms. I couldn’t hear what the executive was saying, only Aria’s responses. Still, I could guess what was happening here, just from how pissed that executive sounded on the phone.
With a nod, she walked out of the room, leaving her personal effects behind. She didn’t say that she believed I could save her and her job, but by leaving behind her pictures and awards, the same message was still conveyed. My determination swelled. Whoever was responsible for Aria’s trouble w
Joe’s POV Joe continued to worry about his mom while at school the next day. He was determined to help her, however he could, but he wasn’t sure where to even begin. He could get her something? Like on Christmas or a birthday, everyone loved having gifts to open. Joe sure did. But he didn’t have
Joe followed William into the boy’s bathroom so they could have a few extra minutes to talk privately. Joe was determined not to stay long though, not wanting to get in trouble for being late to homeroom. He didn’t know what to think about the half-brother comment. Liam was William’s dad. Joe want
Aria’s POV “You don’t have to look so skeptical,” Logan said. “I can assure you that I am being genuine.” I didn’t want to throw my friendship with Logan, but it was still difficult to reconcile what I thought we were compared to what we actually were, with Logan only pursuing me in friendship o
Liam’s POV Sophia was not an easy person to track down. She should have been home, spending time with William, but once again at dinner time, William was home alone with a sitter, neither of which had any idea where Sophia was. I stayed to have dinner with William, not wanting him to eat alone.
As she strutted toward me, I realized it needed to be at least once more. “Have you finally changed your mind about us?” she asked, her words slightly slurred. Her breath reeked of alcohol. In response, I lifted my phone and played the recording. Her voice filled the speakers, each word diggin
Aria’s POV The question blindsided me. I had no idea how to answer. Deep down inside of me, the honest answer was yes. I still had feelings for Liam and probably always would. But did that mean I would never have feelings for anyone else? While Logan was asking me about my feelings for Liam, I’m
Joe remembered all the lessons about stranger danger. He knew they shouldn’t accept things from people that they didn’t know or trust.Even accepting this pie was probably a bad idea, though Joe thought that so long as they stayed in the diner, it would be okay.He kept glancing at the door.William
Aria’s POVIn our search for the children, we traveled along the roads to the park. There, I searched the kids’ favorite play areas: behind the slide, around the swings, near the seesaws and the jungle gym.William and Joe were nowhere to be found. Likewise, I saw no evidence that they had been here
Joe’s POVWhen William told Joe he was leaving, Joe knew he couldn’t let William go alone. The world was a dangerous place, and William was far too confident about things. Plus, with how William was talking, he sounded like he wasn’t planning on coming back.Joe hoped to convince him differently.So
Aria’s POVFor most of the day, I did my best to avoid Liam, but it was difficult. He seemed to be doing the same, giving me the space I requested, yet every once in a while, we’d find ourselves entering the same room or hallway, or going the same way toward the stairs.There was an awkward moment o
Aria’s POVBitter thoughts of Markus made me feel sick, but I pushed those dark feelings away and turned off the television again. With Markus gone, he could never hurt anyone ever again. He couldn’t haunt or stalk us.Liam might have already made his choice, but at least the children and I would be
Liam’s POV“Isabelle, I just need to talk to Aria,” I said, pleadingly. “If you just tell me where she is –”“Then you’ll continue to bother her.” Isabelle, arms crossed, glared at me in open disgust and distain. “She told me what she saw. And it makes me feel a thousand times worse, for having told
Liam’s POVI took my own car to Mr. Peters’ office. Several times on the route, I nearly turned and drove home instead, desperate to talk to Aria. Once, I stopped so long at a red light that Joanna called me on the phone.“Your father is dead, Liam. You have an obligation to him now. Aria will still
“I’m so sorry,” Isabelle said, her face downtrodden, her own make staining streaks down her face. We must have looked like quite the pair. It’d be laughable if my heart wasn’t so very heavy. “I totally misread the entire situation. When I saw that ring…”“How could you think anything but what you di
Liam’s POV“I don’t care what you think, Joanna,” I said coldly. With everything going on, now she wanted to threaten me? Didn’t she realize that without Aria, I had nothing left to lose? “With Markus gone, I have no reason to stay in this relationship.”“We had an agreement,” Joanna said. Her anger