Liam’s POV Over the next few days, things didn’t get any easier, trapped in the same office with Joanna. In fact, being in such constant close quarters, I’d begun to notice even more annoying things about her. For one, she always made a slurping sound when she sipped her coffee. Or, she’d brus
Liam’s POV “Perhaps what you’ve done hasn’t been outwardly illegal or criminal,” Mr. Gunner said. “Yet. But if you continue to act the way you have, so unrestrained and hostile to your own employees, you are inviting your own lawsuit.” “They can bring it on,” Joanna said, huffing an annoyed brea
Aria’s POV“Well, you’re pregnant!”!” The doctor turned the ultrasound screen toward me, pointing to a tiny, almost imperceptible form.My world stopped. I reached down, my fingers brushing the barely noticeable swell of my abdomen. A wave of warmth and excitement surged through me.I couldn't wait
Aria’s POVWhen I woke up, the sterile scent of antiseptic filled my nostrils, and the harsh fluorescent lights above me made my head throb. I blinked, trying to make sense of where I was. The hospital.Panic rose in my chest as I reached down, my hands trembling as they settled over my abdomen. The
Aria’s POV“Get out of my way!” Liam’s voice thundered through the room, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at me.I stood frozen, unable to move, the words stinging like a slap. But before I could even register what was happening, he scooped up Sophia in his arms and stormed past me, heading
Third Person POVThe bustling noise of the airport surrounded them as Joe walked with wide-eyed curiosity through the busy terminal. His mother, Aria, was a few steps ahead, her mind focused on getting to their gate on time.They had just returned from a week-long retreat with some of Aria’s high-pr
Aria’s POV"Mom, you can’t wear that!" Joe stood with his hands on his hips, his tiny face scrunched up in disapproval. He looked so serious that I had to bite back a smile."You need to dress up properly before heading to work," he insisted, pointing to the closet as if he were the parent and I the
Aria’s POVI sneered, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. "And what does it matter to you? It’s not yours anyway."Jackson shifted uncomfortably beside me, clearly caught in the middle of this tense standoff.His usual bravado melted away as he glanced nervously at Liam, who stood across fr
Liam’s POV “Perhaps what you’ve done hasn’t been outwardly illegal or criminal,” Mr. Gunner said. “Yet. But if you continue to act the way you have, so unrestrained and hostile to your own employees, you are inviting your own lawsuit.” “They can bring it on,” Joanna said, huffing an annoyed brea
Liam’s POV Over the next few days, things didn’t get any easier, trapped in the same office with Joanna. In fact, being in such constant close quarters, I’d begun to notice even more annoying things about her. For one, she always made a slurping sound when she sipped her coffee. Or, she’d brus
Aria’s POV It seemed strange that a check that was worth so much was still the same size as any other check. For $5 million, I felt like it should be bigger, or glossy, or written in golden font. Instead, it was unassuming, the same as any check I might have written to pay the electric bill, for i
Liam’s POV The first thing I did when I returned to work Monday morning was try to find a new work station for Aria. The boiler room was no place for an office, despite how much she insisted most of her work was spent on the track with the drivers. After the argument we had and some of the thing
Aria’s POV “Joe?” I asked, knocking lightly on the door. “Can I come in?” “I’m sleeping,” Joe called back. “Honey, I know that’s not true.” A moment’s pause was the only reply. Then, at last, Joe said, “Okay.” Opening the door, I walked into the room. The lamp on Joe’s nightstand was cli
Aria’s POV After the kids are tucked into bed, I headed down to the kitchen to put on a pot of coffee. I reasoned that Liam would want to talk soon, as he’d been shooting glares at me all afternoon. This was a conversation I only wanted to have while caffeinated. “Who was that man?” Liam asked f
Aria’s POV After lunch, Samuel and I take the kids to the park where we had reunited so that William and Joe could run around and burn off some of their high energy. Samuel and I sat on a nearby bench, watching. This distance allowed Samuel and me to speak more directly, without worrying about t
The kids whispered to each other while sneaking looks at Samuel. Samuel, politely, pretended not to notice, but I could see, even if the kids were blind to it, that he occasionally caught them looking. “Joe. William,” I said in my most motherly tone of voice. “Be polite.” “It’s fine,” Samuel sai
Liam’s POV I looked down at Aria with confusion. Why was she telling me to back off? I was her husband. This friend of hers, who did he think he was butting in? Taking my family out to lunch? Yes, I’d been working a lot, but that didn’t mean I was going to give up the right to be Aria’s father a