Chapter 16
Aria’s POV
Sophia stormed into Liam’s office, her heels clicking sharply against the floor, the tension rising with each step. I watched from the chair across from Liam’s desk, arms folded, knowing exactly what was coming.
"Liam," she began, her voice high-pitched, almost whiny, as she rounded the corner of his desk, planting both hands on it as if to emphasize the gravity of her complaint.
"It’s been weeks since you’ve visited William." She dragged out the word weeks, her voice rising. "He’s been asking about you ever since he got sick. He thinks you don’t care anymore."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Sophia was laying it on thick, playing the victim card as she always did.
Liam, sitting behind his desk, didn’t so much as flinch. His expression remained impassive, unreadable. His hand lingered on the pen he’d been holding, but he didn’t put it down.
"I’ve been busy, Sophia," he said flatly, his gaze flicking back to the paperwork as though dismissing her. "You know that."
"Busy?" she repeated. She straightened up, crossing her arms in mock indignation. "He’s your son! How can you be too busy for him when he’s been sick?"
I could feel the jab forming in my throat, the words tingling on my tongue, ready to cut through Sophia’s theatrics.
"Funny you should say that," I interjected smoothly, my tone casual but cutting.
Sophia turned to me, her brows raised, clearly annoyed by my intrusion. I didn’t give her the chance to speak.
"Didn’t you claim William has a gluten allergy? Yet he’s been eating regular snacks at kindergarten without a problem." I tilted my head, the sarcasm in my voice barely concealed. "I mean, if he’s really that sick, should he be eating cookies and crackers?"
For a moment, Sophia’s face froze, her cheeks flushing a deep red, and her mouth opened, but no words came out. The silence was deliciously satisfying.
Liam’s eyes turned cold as he finally looked up, his gaze settling first on Sophia and then briefly on me before snapping back to her.
"My patience has limits, Sophia," he said, his voice like ice. The air in the room seemed to chill. "Stop having William lie about being sick."
Sophia stood there, mouth slightly agape, trying to process Liam’s blunt words. Her anger simmered just beneath the surface, a storm that could erupt at any second, but for once, she held it in. She looked between the two of us, weighing her options.
It was clear Liam’s words left Sophia wounded.
Without another word, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the office.The door slammed behind her, sending a loud echo through the room.
The moment hung in the air between us. I allowed myself a small, satisfied smile.
It wasn’t often that Liam took my side when it came to Sophia, but today, the truth had been impossible to ignore.
I straightened in my chair and glanced at Liam. His expression had softened slightly, the edge of tension slipping away.
"So," I began, seizing the moment. "I’m assuming this means we’re finally terminating the partnership? It’s been dragging on long enough."
Liam’s brow furrowed, and his fingers resumed tapping lightly on the desk.
"Who said anything about terminating the contract?" His tone was measured, but I could hear the confusion laced within it.
I blinked, thrown off by his response. "What? I thought that’s why you called me in here. To end things—both the business and the marriage."
He looked at me like I’d just said something completely absurd, his brow knitting together. "Aria, I called you here to figure out what happened with the race and the training. That’s all."
I could only stare at him, trying to gauge if he was serious. His expression didn’t waver, and I realized, slowly, that I’d misread the entire situation.
"You believe me?" I asked, my voice quieter now, unsure of how to interpret his unwavering gaze.
"Of course," Liam replied without a second’s hesitation, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
I felt a jolt of surprise. For all our history, for all the battles we’d fought over the years, this was... unexpected.
Maybe I’d been holding on to the past for too long. Maybe I hadn’t been seeing Liam for who he was now, but for who he used to be.
Before I could dwell on the thought, Liam’s face contorted in pain. He clutched his stomach, doubling over in his chair as a cold sweat broke out across his forehead.
"Liam!" I rushed to his side, my hands instinctively moving to support him. His usually composed face was twisted in agony.
He gripped the edge of the desk with one hand, his knuckles white from the force of his grip. His assistant, who had been lingering quietly by the door, rushed over in a near panic, his face filled with concern.
"It’s his chronic stomach issues," the assistant explained quickly, his eyes darting between me and Liam. "It flares up when he’s under stress. He needs to go to the hospital—now."
I nodded, my focus on Liam, whose shallow breathing made it clear he was in no state to argue. I helped him to his feet, and as we made our way toward the door, his hand shot out and grabbed mine, his grip tight and desperate.
"Liam, we need to get you to the hospital," I urged, trying to guide him toward the exit, but his hand held fast to mine. There was something almost pleading in the way he clung to me.
The assistant glanced at me, his expression imploring. "Please stay with him, Aria," he said softly.
I hesitated for a moment, the weight of the request sinking in, but when Liam’s eyes met mine, the decision was made.
"Alright," I muttered, adjusting my stance to support him as we headed out of the building and toward the car.
At the hospital, the doctor confirmed what the assistant had suspected—acute gastritis, brought on by stress. Liam needed to be admitted for observation.
I stood by his bedside, arms crossed, watching as the nurses moved around, setting up IV lines and monitoring his vitals.
Once we were alone in the room, Liam, looking pale and exhausted, leaned back against the pillow, his eyes closed. The hospital lights cast a dull glow across the sterile room, the steady beeping of machines the only sound.
"You never explained why you left back then," Liam said suddenly, his eyes still shut.
I stiffened at the question, caught off guard.
"There’s nothing to explain," I replied, my voice clipped. "It’s in the past. No need to dig it up again."
Liam’s eyes opened, and he turned his head slightly to look at me. But before he could say anything else, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out, seeing Logan’s name flash across the screen.
I’d almost forgotten about him. He had been on a business trip for the past few days, and today was the day he was supposed to return.
I hesitated, glancing between the phone and Liam, who watched me with a curious expression.
Before I could decide what to do, Liam reached out, snatching the phone from my hand. He answered it with a swift press of a button, lifting the phone to his ear.
"She’ll be with me tonight," Liam said coldly, his eyes never leaving mine. Then, without waiting for a response, he hung up and tossed the phone onto the table beside him.
I stood there, stunned, as the weight of what had just happened settled over me.
