Liam’s POV When Joe came running out of William’s room, tears tracking down his face, I had no idea what had just happened. I stopped Joe in the hallway. Dropping to my knee, I pulled the crying boy into a tight hug. “What’s going on?” I asked him. “William said he hated me…” Joe said between
Aria’s POV When Liam and William returned from the doctor, William went straight to his room. I stood, hoping to stop them both, but William just skirted around me and dashed away. Liam ran a hand down his face, looking stressed. “He wouldn’t say a word to me the entire time. He barely said anyt
Liam’s POV Only with knowing that William was safe did I feel like a vital part of myself had been restored to me. All throughout our desperate search, I had struggled and suffered, knowing that my kid was out there somewhere, without his dad, needing me. And I couldn’t find him. It was not a fe
Aria’s POV “Don’t worry about it, Aria,” Liam said. “Did you want to talk about something?” I had plenty that I wanted to talk about, more so now that I was so suspicious over whatever that phone call could have been. But, I had to press down on those personal feelings, at least for now. Willi
Aria’s POV At work, I could start to see the physical evidence of the club expansion. Construction crews with cranes had set up on one side of the building. They’d even torn down one of the walls in the hallways I usually walk down, to prepare for the new addition to the building. Likely in anti
Determined, I opened my phone and called his number. The phone rang three times before he picked up. “Aria? Is everything okay?” He sounded rushed and stressed. “Yes, I just –” “Unless it’s an emergency, I have to go,” he said. It wasn’t exactly an emergency, and it didn’t feel right to lie
Aria’s POV The day of the parent-child sports day, I arrived at the school at 10am, wearing my sneakers and exercise gear. William and Joe were both in their gym clothes, excitedly waiting for me. Some of the day’s events were set to take place inside the school’s gymnasium, but most of them wer
Aria’s POV When I awoke the next morning and checked Liam’s room, he was gone again. I truly had no idea how he could keep up this pace. With a sigh, I turned from his room and went to help the kids get ready for the day. Once the kids were off on the school bus, I got into my car and drove to t
Aria’s POV “He wasn’t a good father,” Liam continued. “In fact, he’s someone that I’ve come to hate. But I never really thought about the bastard actually dying. Now he wants to inherit the family business and continue his legacy. In the past, I was never good enough, but now suddenly, Markus is d
Liam’s POV I didn’t care how much work was left that day, when five o’clock rolled around, I packed up my briefcase and headed for the door. My assistant, at her desk, gave me a curious look, but didn’t utter a word. “Don’t stay too late,” I told her. Work was very important, but so was life
Aria’s POV When I walked to Joanna’s office, her assistant sat behind the reception desk, glaring at me. I could only imagine the lies Joanna had told this assistant about me, to get her to hate me this much without even knowing me. Regardless, I held my head up high. If I had to walk through th
Liam’s POV “I’ve been expecting your call,” my father – Markus – said on the other end of the phone. “You are a stubborn one to have kept me waiting for so long.” “I foolishly thought that you decided to mind your own business,” I replied. “You haven’t tried anything like this in a while.” In
Liam’s POV In a flash, I grabbed Joanna’s wrist and pulled her hand away from my chest. “Don’t presume to touch me.” Joanna’s flirty smile slipped right off of her face. “I don’t care how long we’ve known each other, Joanna. Aria is the one that I love. You will not change that. And if I conti
Aria’s POV Finally Liam stilled. Slowly, he turned around to look at me, then studied my face as if he was trying to determine if I was being serious or not. Once he realized I was, his face twisted into disbelief. “Don’t be ridiculous, Aria.” “That’s what the rumors are all saying.” “You kn
Aria’s POV My co-workers could have been sharing more gossip, but it seemed more likely, judging by the words they said behind my back, that Joanna had been talking about me with everyone. For that to be true, she wasn’t just on some professional vendetta against me based on my work and work eth
Aria’s POV “This is a closet,” I said, looking at the cramped space. I wasn’t sure how they even managed to fit this desk in here. Did they have to disassemble it in the hallway and then reassemble it here? “I’m sure I could find you a smaller, even more cramped space if you would prefer it?” Jo
“Oh,” the man said. Understanding crossed his face, but so too did annoyance. “Surely you were told you were being demoted. You didn’t think you’d keep your office, did you?” “I didn’t know what to think,” I admitted. “No one really gave me any information.” “Well, this room is mine now,” the ma