Chapter 196

Aria’s POV

Ever since William asked me about the divorce, the question stuck in my brain. If the kids were even able to perceive the many difficulties between us, enough to assume that we were going to split permanently, then Liam and I needed really needed to have a discussion right now, not on Sunday.

At least about this.

To comfort the kids, we needed to present a united front. Something we’d never be able to do if we never talked about anything, or consistently put off talking about important things until one or the other of us was ready.

Raising kids was often messy, and required allowances on both sides. Sunday was just too far away. Period.

So around lunchtime, I headed up to Liam’s office to see if he wanted to go out for lunch together. Over a meal, I felt we could finally have a chance to have a quiet, private discussion with each other, without having to worry about work or the kids overhearing.

Yet, when I entered the office, Liam was nowhere in sight. Only Joanna was in the office.

She looked up at me with only slightly-guarded distain. “He had to go out for a while. Is there something I can do for you, Joanna?”

Crawl back under the rock you came from. “No. I just needed to speak with Liam.”

“Work related?” Joanna asked.

I glared at her. “I don’t see how that is any of your business.”

“Well, I am your supervisor, and it is still office hours. And if it is a work related issue, then perhaps I can assist you with whatever you need.”

“No, thanks.” I turned toward the door.

“Oh. So you were just hoping to speak with Liam about some private matter. I hope you weren’t trying to patch things up with him.”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“Actually, it is, given who Liam and I are to each other. I don’t have to remind you that he and I are having an affair.”

“That’s what you say.”

“I’ve given you proof. What more do you need?”

“The only thing that could convince me you aren’t lying is if I hear the words you claim specifically from Liam’s own mouth.” I half turned back around so that I could continue to glare at her. As that is extremely unlikely to occur, I will never believe you.”

“You’ll be surprised,” Joanna said, smirking.

She had to be purposefully digging, trying to wedge even more distance between Liam and I. But I wasn’t going to let her do it. Joanna was not a trustworthy, reliable source. Her desires had been clear from the beginning – she wanted Liam and nothing was going to get in her way.

I was tired of her mind games and her tricks. She kept trying to make me worry and make me scared. Maybe it was time I put some fear back into her, by revealing just how soon her games and lies would be revealed to be just so.

“Liam and I are going to talk on Sunday,” I said. “He’s agreed to tell me everything then. No more secrets. No more half-truths or omissions. Everything will be out in the open.”

I meant it as a threat, and for a moment, it seemed to have hit the mark as such. Joanna’s eyes went a little wide as she looked at me. But then, another moment later, she began to laugh.

“What the hell is so funny?” I asked her.

“Is that what he told you? That he’d reveal all on Sunday?” Her words were difficult to understand through her heavy laughter. “You will be separated by then!”

I’d meant to shock and frighten her with my words, but they’d seemed to miss the mark. Instead, Joanna was pulling the reverse – sending a wave of nervousness straight through me.

Using my willpower, I forced myself not to have too obvious of a reaction, at least not in the way of surprise or fear. My glare became a glower though. I couldn’t stop that.

“What are you talking about?” I demanded.

She ignored me at first, laughing too hard.

“Stop laughing and answer me,” I said, stepping closer to her desk. She was making fun of me and I didn’t even know why. It was infuriating as much as it was unnerving.

Finally, Joanna seemed to contain herself. With pity in her eyes and mirth on her lips, she looked at me and said, “You’ll see, Aria. You’ll see.”

It was an ominous thing to say.

Turning back toward her work, she seemed to entirely cut me off. Ignoring me now, she focused on her computer and the emails on her screen.

Just like that, I was dismissed. I wanted to argue with her, or put up some kind of fight in my defense. But her body language, turned away from me, made clear that she would not be answering my questions.

Anger and worry swirled uncomfortably in my gut, but knowing I would find no answers here, I turned and left.

Liam’s POV

I’ve been avoiding my office as much as I could, not wanting to spend any more time around Joanna than absolutely necessary. I’d arranged to have most of my calls forwarded to my cellphone, and with my laptop, I’d taken refuge on the bleachers at the track. So far no one had really paid me any mind.

I was so out of the way, all the way at the top by the fence, that I wasn’t certain anyone even noticed me up here. This was a relief and exactly what I wanted.

Everything was going well enough, my working here. I could talk on the phone without being interrupted or interrupting anyone else. And my internet seemed to work fine, even this far away from the main building.

I was actually getting quite a bit of work done.

Then my phone rang. I’d already fielded so many calls this morning that I figured this was just another one being directed over from my office. I didn’t bother checking the caller ID.

“This is Liam.”

“Liam, this is your father.”

Hearing Markus’s voice, my stomach immediately soured. “Why are you calling?”

“Does a father need a reason to call his only son?” Markus asked.

“Normal fathers, no. But you’ve never been a normal, good father. You’ve never even tried,” I said coldly. “So tell me what exactly it is that you want before I hang up on this call right here and now.”

“You’ll regret being so frosty with me when I’m dead and gone…”

“I’m hanging up.”

“Wait.” He sighed. “Wait. I didn’t call you to fight.”

That would be another first, though I didn’t call him on that. By starting an argument, I would only drag this out, and I wanted this conversation to be over as fast as physically possible.

“Then, why did you call, Markus? I don’t have time for games. Be clear and to the point.”

I checked my watch, deciding to give him exactly one minute before I simply hung up the phone and continued on with my day.

As the seconds ticked by, he finally spoke up. “I am calling only because I want to tell you how very proud of you I am.”