Chapter 13

Aria's POV

My heart pounded in my chest, the sound almost deafening as I tried to regain my composure. Liam was too close, his presence overwhelming in the small fitting room.

I couldn't let him see how rattled I was, not now, not ever. I needed him gone.

"Leave, Liam," I demanded, my voice low and laced with frustration. I kept my gaze steady, refusing to show any sign of weakness.

But Liam didn't move. His eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made it hard to breathe.

"You still haven’t answered my question," he said, his tone infuriatingly calm.

I clenched my fists at my sides, the frustration boiling over. "I don’t know what you’re talking about! I just want you as far away from my life as possible!"

Before Liam could respond, a knock on the fitting room door made me jump.

“Aria?” Logan’s voice called from the other side, filled with concern.

“Coming!” I replied a little too quickly, my voice sounding higher than usual. I waited until Logan’s footsteps faded, but the momentary relief was short-lived as Liam leaned in closer.

He smirked, his breath warm against my ear. “It seems your body doesn’t agree,” he whispered, the words sending a shiver down my spine.

My eyes widened in shock, humiliation, and anger twisting inside me.

I shoved him hard, pushing him away. “You’re still a jerk, just like before!” I spat out, barely keeping my voice from breaking.

Liam froze, his smirk fading as he noticed the tears threatening to spill over. I couldn’t let him see me like this, not after everything.

I turned away quickly, blinking back the tears as I forced myself to calm down.

Stepping out of the fitting room, I found Logan waiting for me, his brow furrowed in concern. “Are you okay?” he asked, taking a step toward me.

I plastered on a smile, waving off his concern. “I’m fine, just a little tired,” I lied, avoiding his gaze.

I couldn’t let anyone see how much Liam had shaken me, especially not Logan. The last thing I wanted was for him to see my vulnerability.

Logan didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he let it go, walking beside me as we headed toward the front of the store.

As we walked, I caught sight of Liam leaving the fitting room with Sophia. She was clinging to him, her arm looped through his as she chatted away, completely oblivious to the turmoil inside me.

The sight of them together sent a sharp pang through my chest, but I quickly looked away, forcing myself to focus on anything but them.

Liam, however, acted as if nothing had happened. He greeted Logan casually, nodding in acknowledgment as we passed each other.

I kept my head down, determined not to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he had affected me. My heart was heavy, the emotions swirling inside me like a storm I couldn’t calm.

The ride back to my place was tense, the air thick with everything unspoken. Logan's usual light-hearted demeanor was replaced with a thoughtful silence, making the drive feel longer than it should have.

Logan broke the silence after a while.

“Aria, if you want, I can help you pay the breach of contract penalty…” he offered, his voice careful, as if he was testing the waters of our unspoken tension.

I shook my head, exhaustion weighing heavily on my shoulders. “No need,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

The last thing I wanted was to be indebted to Logan, especially when I sensed that his attitude toward me was becoming more intimate and complicated.

When we finally arrived home, Joe was waiting for me, his face lighting up the moment I walked through the door. His bright smile and excited chatter were a welcome distraction from the day's stresses.

As he rushed to hug me, his small arms wrapped around my legs, I felt a momentary lift in my spirits.

“Mommy!” he exclaimed, running over and practically throwing himself into my arms. His excitement was contagious, and I couldn’t help but smile as he began recounting his day at kindergarten.

“I outwitted William today! He tried to take my toy, but I tricked him, and he gave it back!” Joe’s eyes sparkled with pride as he told his story, his energy filling the room.

I listened, trying to stay present, but my mind kept drifting back to the past. I thought about how, during our secret marriage, Liam and I had never appeared together in public.

I was always in the background, watching as he charmed other women at parties, maintaining his image as a carefree bachelor. It was as if I didn’t exist in his world, and yet here we were, years later, and he still had the power to turn my life upside down.

“Did that bad dad make Mommy upset?” Joe’s voice broke through my thoughts, bringing me back to the present. His little face was scrunched up in concern, his eyes searching mine.

“I can help you teach him a lesson!” he offered, puffing up his chest in a show of determination.

I couldn’t help but smile, my heart warming at Joe’s protective instincts. I reached out to ruffle his hair, finding comfort in his presence.

Maybe having Joe was all I needed.

His love was pure and unconditional, something I could rely on when everything else felt like it was falling apart.

Later that evening, after Joe had gone to bed, I called Isabella. I needed to talk to someone about the day’s events, to make sense of everything that had happened.

“I don’t know what to do, Isabella,” I admitted, my voice filled with frustration as I paced the room. “It feels like Liam is slowly invading my life again, and no matter what I do, I can’t seem to stop it.”

Isabella was quiet for a moment before speaking softly. “Do you still love him?” Her tone was gentle but probing, the kind of question only a close friend would dare to ask.

I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see me through the phone.

“I don’t want to love him anymore. It’s too painful,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. “Every time I think I’ve moved on, he shows up and stirs everything up again. It’s like I can’t escape him, no matter how hard I try.”

“But it looks like he’s not ready to let you go, even if he doesn’t know Joe is his son,” Isabella pointed out, her voice calm and steady.

I sighed, leaning back against the couch as I stared up at the ceiling.

Whatever the reason Liam hadn’t signed the divorce papers, I was certain it wasn’t because he still loved me. And yet, his presence in my life felt like a shadow I couldn’t escape.

As I ended the call with Isabella, I felt a sense of resolve settling over me. I had to find a way to move forward, for Joe’s sake and for my own.

Whatever Liam’s intentions were, I couldn’t let them derail the life I had built. With that thought in mind, I began to prepare for the days ahead, focusing on what I could control and letting go of the rest.