Chapter 138

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 – spending time with family and friends. I had already disappointed Joe and William too many times to stay and work. It was past time that I rectify that.

Earlier, Markus had talked to me about legacy. With his own failing health, he must have been focusing on the contributions, or lack thereof, that he was leaving to the world. For my father, that meant, how much money did he accumulate? And who would protect those investments when he was gone?

Even as his son, I never mattered to Markus more than his stock portfolio.

We couldn’t be more different.

But while I didn’t care about the money, the realization of Markus’s failing health made me consider my own mortality. Someday, I too would face the end. What kind of legacy would I leave behind? What kind did I want to leave behind?

My work was important to me. I loved this team, this club, and I wanted to see it succeed. But it wasn’t the most important thing.

To me, my legacy meant Joe and William – my family.

So, after bidding my assistant goodnight, I headed home.

The minute I walked through the door back home, I called out, “Joe! William!”

Nearby, I heard a sharp gasp and then the thunderous footsteps of two small boys running down the hallway.

“Don’t run,” Aria tried to correct them, but it was far too late to wrangle them.

Dropping down to one knee, I stretched open my arms just in time for the two boys to fly into them for a tight hug.

“You’re home,” Joe said, like he just couldn’t believe it.

“Mom!” William said. Pulling back from me slightly, he looked behind him to where Aria was. “Mom! Dad’s home!”

Aria stepped into the hallway, slowly following along behind the boisterous boys. Watching the three of us, she smiled slightly, a warmth in her eyes.

“Welcome home,” she said.

I grinned at her. “Happy to be here.”

We looked at each other for a long moment, affection passing between us, but then, as quickly as that warmth appeared, it was gone, as if she had pulled it straight back into herself.

I felt colder without it.

With the hug ended, I stood. “Aria…” There was so much to talk about, I didn’t even know where to begin, but the boys were unwilling to share me at this moment. Grabbing each of my hands, they tugged me towards the stairs to play.

“We haven’t seen you in forever!” Joe said.

“You have to play with us!” William agreed.

“Later,” Aria whispered to me as I was dragged by her, clearly having seen the longing to talk to her in my eyes.

She was right, though. As much as I wanted to talk to her, the boys came first. I’d been neglecting them for far too long and while one night wasn’t going to make up for how absent I’d been, it was a good place to start.

I didn’t care what my father said or threatened, my place would always be here.

Aria’s POV

Watching Liam interact with the kids rebuilt someone in me that had started to fade with his absence. With Liam here, our little family felt complete in a way it hadn’t for the past few weeks, and I was glad for it. I was starting to feel alone in all this.

Liam fit right back into things as if he’d never been gone. The boys welcomed him back as if his absence hadn’t hurt them. Looking closely though, worry still lingered in their eyes, like they thought this might only be a small respite before he disappeared again.

My heart ached a little, seeing that trepidation in their eyes. But they trusted so easily. They’d likely welcome him back again and again, hoping that this time would be the time that he stayed.

Joanna’s words continued to haunt me even now, watching Liam play cars with the boys, kneeling down in the carpet while Joe carefully explained the rules. She’d seemed so certain that Liam would leave me behind to pursue more monetary beneficial ventures.

If that were to happen, he’d want take the kids with him, most likely. I couldn’t imagine him leaving them behind. I’d fight him tooth and nail. These children were just as much mine.

Shaking my head, I cursed myself for letting Joanna sneak into my thoughts and my heart.

Liam wasn’t going to leave me.

But why didn’t he tell me about his father? I was married to him and I had no idea that he came from such a wealthy family, or that his father was putting such pressure on him.

Then there was the issue of whether or not he’d pursued me to escape an arranged marriage. I had always wondered why someone as famous and handsome as him would have even been attracted to me in the first place. I considered myself attractive enough, but I was not on the same level as the models and movie stars he’d previously dated.

Could Joanna had been telling the truth? Was Liam trying to escape an arrange marriage? Was the entire relationship built off a lie?

Liam entertained the kids all the way until bedtime, when he tucked them in. It took some convincing to get them to stay in their beds.

“What if you get busy again?” William asked.

Liam looked stricken. “I won’t be that busy anymore.”

Later, when the kids were appeased, Liam and I went into the kitchen, where I put on some coffee. We’d been putting off this conversation all evening. Liam wasn’t the only guilty party here.

I had no idea how to ask him the things I wanted to ask, too afraid the answers might hurt me.

When the coffee was ready, Liam and I both poured a glass. Then we sat down at the kitchen table in chairs farthest from each other. We stole glances at each other over our warm mugs.

After an awkward, long few minutes, Liam spoke first. “You deserve a better explanation for what happened earlier. With Joanna…” He sighed. “I was hoping I was wrong about things, and that she was still holding onto that torch she always carried for me. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.”

He was talking about his father. I could interject, let on that I know, but something within me was telling me to hold back, to not reveal all that I know. It wasn’t that I distrusted him, I just wanted to hear what he had to say, before I revealed that I had gone to Joanna for answers when he had earlier been so aloof.

“I never told you about my father. Our relationship is… strained. I’d wanted to keep that past separate from the life I built with you. For a while, I thought I could. Markus – my father – seemed to want to give me a wide berth after we married. But now he’s back.”

Liam stared down into his coffee. He hadn’t taken a sip yet, just watched as it slowly cooled.

“He’s dying,” Liam said, “And I genuinely don’t know how to feel.”