“Do we have to tell anyone that I live here?” I asked. “At least for now.” “I guess not…” He seemed hesitant. “HR will have questions about it.” “I don’t work there anymore,” I reminded him. “Right.” After a paused, he asked, “Am I allowed to tell people that Joe is my son?” “You can say tha
Liam’s POV The only way I could be happier today was if Aria agreed to be my wife again. As it was, I was still just about as thrilled as I could be. Aria, William, and Joe were all living under my roof like a near-perfect family. It was the kind of thing I’d always dreamed about, especially after
In the future, when she had a few days to think about things, I would ask her again. For now, I’d let it go. After unloading the car, Aria and I headed into the kitchen to start getting lunch ready for us and the kids. I’d already bought some lunchmeat and some rolls, so it didn’t take long to set
Aria’s POV Alone in the mansion the next day, while Liam was at work and the kids at school, I felt much like a ghost wandering the halls. Every square inch of this place was filled with old memories, both the good kind and the bad. I had known being here would be difficult, but now that I was h
Even after William and I sat down, Sophia kept all of her attention focused on me, glaring. She had not yet acknowledged her own son sitting beside her. “Mom?” William said. Sophia didn’t answer, focus on me. “Mom? I came to see you.” Still she ignored him. “William is here,” I said. “No
Aria’s POV “How about some ice cream?” I asked William on the way back to the mansion. “No,” he said. With his head turned toward the window, I couldn’t see his face, but his voice sounded small enough to reveal the depths of his hurt. He might have been crying. I pretended I didn’t notice. “W
Liam’s POV With renewed determination, I drove home, eager to talk to Aria and try to convince her to return to work with the team. But when I walked into the mansion, I was surprised to be greeted by Joe, but not William. My stomach twisted, remembering that Aria was going to take William to se
“I didn’t like that,” William said. “She shouldn’t have said those things.” “You’re right,” I said. “I wouldn’t have liked that either.” In the past, Sophia had cursed me out using every foul word under the sun. I didn’t particularly care – until she started adding Aria in her vile outbursts. That
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