Chapter Four

Rose

                      Tears obscured her sight. She wiped them immediately. She wasn't certain about her words made to him. She wanted to break them. She couldn't bring herself to say it to him that she wanted their son to be a normal businessman. Liam would never agree over it. She knew it. 

     Her gaze was on the door. He could be back at any time. She didn't want him to know that there were tears in her eyes. He would be furious. She didn't want to endure his anger. 

     The door opened. Her heart began to palpitate in her ribcage. She stared at it without blinking her eyes. 

     Liam emerged from behind the door. A deep frown covered his forehead when he saw her sitting on the mattress, the comforter was pulled over her legs, and her back was resting against the pillows. 

     She gulped when her gaze met his confused intense gaze. He lifted his wrist and stared, "It's too late," He murmured as he closed the door behind him and walked over to the bed. 

    He took her chin between his thumb and fingers. His jaw locked as he glanced deep in her eyes, "You cried," He said under his breath. His intense expression changed into exasperated. 

     She knew. How much he hated her to see in tears, particularly when she was pregnant. She opened her mouth. But she couldn't speak when his thumb pressed. She gulped. She felt goosebumps on the back of her nape. She was aware of his anger. 

     "I... I..." She closed her eyes, hoping to get rid of her tightened throat. She cast her eyelashes low. Tears trailed down infuriating him more. 

     "Selena and Cody will replace him." He said exasperatedly. 

     Her gaze jerked up, "No, y..ou promised me. You c...an't break your words." She glanced at him with glassy eyes. 

     He drew his face closer. His nose touched her. He smelled of alcohol, but it was faint, "Didn't you?" He asked darkly. 

     "Yes," A little sob jumped in her throat. She hid her face in the crook of his neck. 

     He curled his arms around her middle. He slithered her out of bed and strode toward the window almost hugging her to his chest, "This topic is over. Our son is the heir." he declared. 

     She let out an exhausted sigh, "Promise me. You'll protect our kids." She said, her lower lip trembling, more tears were threatening to spill out. 

     "You got my words," He sealed his words with a kiss on her cheek. He brought his hand up and swiped his fingers softly on her cheeks, "Don't cry. You know I hate this s***," His expression was soft but his gaze was always intense as dread was still visible on her face. 

     "Where were you?" She asked, pulling her head back, and placing her arms around his neck.   

     "Discussing business with Dad and Danil." He said, looking deep in her eyes. 

     She lowered her gaze and looked between them, "Are we hurting baby?" She asked, suddenly. 

     He let out a soft laugh and drew his face closer to place another kiss on her cheek, "No, babe," He said, his lips curled up fully. 

     A soft smile crossed her face as she glanced at her husband, his emerald eyes, "You need to rest." He said and strutted toward the bed. He put her down tenderly as she was a porcelain doll. 

    "You're staying with me." She asked. She kept her gaze on him. 

     He pulled his hands back. Her heart plummeted. Her eyes went wide. He pulled his T-shirt over his head and chucked it at the edge of the mattress. 

     She drifted her gaze down the mountains of his abdomen, his abs. She fisted her hands to stop herself from reaching and touching him.

     A smile crawled on his face as he saw his wife looking at him. He slipped next to her, enveloping his arm around her shoulder. 

     "I won't be slim, Liam." She whispered. He liked her small stomach. 

     "I will still love you." He said. She knew he meant it. 

     She continued her chatter, "My stomach will be round. So big," He felt her shock in her soft voice. 

     "Is it frightening you?" He asked. 

     She batted her long lashes, staring at the wall, contemplating, "I don't know." Slowly, she breathed out, "Mom said, I'll be fine." 

     "You will," His fingers drummed on the back of her shoulders. 

     She wasn't looking tired, "Glad to hear this," 

     He let out a soft laugh, looking down at her naive wife, "You can talk to the doctors at any time, ask them anything." 

     "That'd be awkward," She muttered, flattening her lips. 

     "They're here to help you," He said and she yawned, "Go to sleep," Her eyes were heavy with sleep. 

     "Good night," She muttered. 

     "I drank," He spoke softly. 

     "Yes, I smelled it on you." She whispered. 

     "I can go away.." Her back was touching his chest. 

     She clenched his hand, "No, I can endure it. It's not that much," 

    He hummed, thanking the mouth freshener. She closed her eyes. She was thankful for her mist that was

blocking the slight smell of it.