Chapter 28

Lauren's POV

Liam stepped further into the kitchen, his presence as sharp and unyielding as a blade. His ice blue eyes swept over the scene—the plates still on the counter, the faint smell of buttery pancakes lingering in the air, and Alexander standing there like he belonged.

“What are you doing here, Alexander?” Liam’s voice was measured, but there was an edge to it, like a storm threatening to break.

Alexander didn’t flinch, his posture relaxed, but there was a subtle tension in his shoulders. “I could ask you the same,” he said evenly, his tone almost too calm.

“Don’t play games,” Liam shot back, his words low and deliberate, the kind of tone that made me hold my breath. “Why are you in her house?”

“Liam—” I started, but the air between them was already thick, charged with unspoken challenges. Neither of them even glanced my way.

Alexander’s lips curved into a faint, sardonic smile. “I’m here for the same reason you are,” he said, motioning to the flour and eggs in the grocery bag Liam was gripping tightly. “For the pancakes.”

Liam’s laugh was cold and humorless, a sharp contrast to the warmth that had filled the kitchen just minutes ago. “That’s rich, coming from you.”

“Enough,” I snapped, stepping between them. My voice was sharp, but my hands trembled as I pressed them against Liam’s chest, trying to create some distance between the two men. “Both of you, stop it.”

But my words fell flat. They weren’t listening to me; they were locked in their own silent battle, their gazes clashing like swords.

“You don’t belong here,” Liam said, his voice as cold and unyielding as steel. “Not. In. Her Home.”

“And yet, here I am,” Alexander replied, his tone laced with defiance, though his face betrayed nothing.

Liam’s hand clenched into a fist at his side, the movement subtle but unmistakable. Alexander noticed it too; I saw his jaw tighten, a flicker of something darker passing through his eyes.

“Don’t do this,” I said quietly, the words trembling on my lips as my heart pounded against my ribcage.

The silence that followed was deafening, each second dragging out like an eternity. I felt the weight of it pressing down on me, suffocating, as if the entire room was holding its breath.

Then, with a suddenness that made me flinch, Alexander stepped back. His eyes flicked to mine, and for a brief moment, there was something in his gaze but nothing I could decipher.

It wasn’t anger, but it wasn’t surrender either.

“Thank you for the pancakes,” he said, his voice quiet but steady. He turned his head toward the living room. “Bye, Abigail.”

“Bye!” Abigail called cheerfully from the couch, completely unaware of the tension crackling like a live wire around her.

Alexander’s lips quirked into a faint smile before he turned and walked toward the door. The sound of it closing behind him echoed in the silence, a final punctuation to the moment.

I exhaled shakily, realizing I’d been holding my breath. But before I could gather my thoughts, I felt Liam’s eyes on me, sharp and unyielding.

“What the hell was that, Lauren?” he demanded, his voice low but simmering with restrained anger.

I looked at him, my chest tightening under the weight of his scrutiny. I didn’t have an answer. Not one I could put into words. Because the truth was, I wasn’t sure what I was thinking.

The house felt colder after Alexander left, like he’d taken all the warmth and chaos with him. Liam stood in the middle of the kitchen, his eyes scanning me as though trying to read every thought racing through my mind.

“Lauren,” Liam pressed, his tone firmer now. “Talk to me.”

I turned to face him, crossing my arms over my chest like it might shield me from the weight of his concern. “He showed up drunk last night. Out of nowhere.”

My voice wavered, but I forced myself to keep going. “He was a mess. He kept saying things—things about Owen, about Abigail. I couldn’t just… turn him away.”

Liam’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “So you let him stay.”

“It wasn’t like I had much of a choice,” I said defensively. “He was barely coherent. What was I supposed to do? Leave him on the porch?”

“You could’ve called me,” Liam said, his voice quieter but no less intense.

I looked away, guilt prickling at the edges of my mind. “Right. About that. No phone.”

“What? Did he—” Liam’s face scrunched.

“Long story,” my eyes rolled, glancing at the broken glass and metal bits still on the floor.

Come to think of it, I should have demanded money before he left.

“That doesn’t make it okay—any of it!” Liam said, stepping closer. “You can’t let him get under your skin like this, Lauren. He’s dangerous—for you and for Abigail.”

I flinched at the words, even though I knew he wasn’t wrong. “He wasn’t dangerous last night,” I said softly. “He was… different. Here for a reason.”

Liam’s brow furrowed as he gave me a look, glancing at the broken phone. “Right,” the sarcasm rolled off his tongue. I could see the question forming in his eyes before he even asked it. “Different how?”

I hesitated, unsure how to put it into words. “He was… patient. Gentle, even. The way he was with Abigail this morning—it wasn’t what I expected. It’s like he actually cared about her.”

“He’s manipulative, Lauren,” Liam said, his tone sharper now. “That’s what he does. He finds your weaknesses and uses them against you. Two days ago he was plotting for your hair. Reveal your identity, Abigail, to everyone!”

“I know that,” I snapped, the frustration bubbling to the surface. “I know who he is. But what if…” My voice trailed off, and I shook my head.

“What if what?” Liam pressed, his eyes narrowing.

“What if… somethings wrong. What if I’ve been wrong…” The words felt like a betrayal as they left my mouth. “What if he’s not the monster I’ve made him out to be? What if he really does care about her? About me? Maybe we made a mistake—”

Liam’s expression softened, but there was still a trace of frustration in his eyes. “Lauren, you can’t let yourself fall into that trap. Protecting Abigail is what matters most. You said that yourself.”

“I know,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. He’s right. What was I thinking?

He reached out, his hand resting lightly on my shoulder. “You’re doing everything you can to keep her safe. That’s what matters. Not him. Not whatever he’s trying to prove.”

I wanted to lean into his touch, to let his steady presence anchor me. But something held me back—a sliver of doubt, of confusion. “Liam, what are we doing?” I asked, my voice trembling. “What are we, really? Because I don’t know anymore.”

He looked at me, his eyes searching mine. “We’re doing what we have to do. For Abigail. For you.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I said, pulling away from him slightly. “This… engagement. It’s fake. But sometimes it doesn’t feel that way. And I don’t know where that leaves us.”

Liam’s gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked like he might say something more. But then he took a step back, giving me space. “It leaves us where we’ve always been, Lauren. On the same side. Fighting for the same thing.”

I nodded, but the words didn’t settle the unease in my chest.

“Look,” he said, his voice gentler now. “I get it. Everything with Alexander—it’s a lot. But you can’t lose focus. You’ve worked too hard to let him pull you back into his chaos.”

“I know,” I said again, though the conviction in my voice was fading.

Liam hesitated, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “I wasn’t going to bring this up yet, but you need to know. I found her.”

“Found who?” I asked, frowning.

“The nurse,” he said, his voice low. “The one who locked you in the operating room. I know where she is.”

The room seemed to tilt for a moment, my breath catching in my throat. “You’re sure?”

“Positive,” Liam said, his eyes dark with determination. “She’s at the hospital. And I think she has answers.”