Chapter 23
Liam’s POV
The sound of rustling papers filled the room, my fingers flicking through document after document in a frenzy. I couldn’t focus.
Every sheet I pulled out seemed to carry a new problem, a fresh reminder of the looming crisis I now found myself in. Greg's veiled threat from the conference echoed in my head, repeating over and over, twisting my thoughts into a knot of panic.
"Damn it!" I muttered under my breath, tossing the latest batch of papers onto the desk. They scattered across the polished wood surface, a mess of legal contracts, financial reports, and partnership agreements.
I barely heard the door open behind me. Aria stepped into the office, her footsteps cautious as she approached.
I didn’t look up, my eyes glued to the numbers that weren’t adding up, the deals that seemed suddenly shaky.
“Liam, what’s going on?” Her voice cut through the haze of my frustration.
I glanced at her, rubbing the back of my neck, and let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I couldn’t hide the stress anymore.
“It’s Greg. That bastard’s threatening to take down everything I’ve built.”
Aria crossed her arms, her face hardening. “And how exactly did you get yourself into this situation?”
“It’s complicated,” I replied, trying to evade the real issue. The last thing I wanted was for her to dig into the specifics, to find out just how dangerous the situation had become.
“The company is at risk. He’s spreading rumors, trying to sabotage deals, and the investors are already getting skittish.”
Aria's eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer. “I warned you, Liam. You take too many risks. You’ve always been reckless when it comes to the business.”
I thought of Sophia’s brother at that moment.
I winced, not at her words, but at how right she was. Greg was using the truth about William to blackmail me, and if that information got out, my whole world would crumble.
But I couldn’t tell Aria that. Not yet.
She was furious now, pacing near the door. “You know, I shouldn’t even be surprised. You always put the company first, didn’t you? Everything else came second.”
I couldn’t argue. Instead, I ran my hands through my hair, exhaling in frustration. “I need your help, Aria.”
She stopped mid-stride, her back to me. “My help?” Her voice was low, tinged with disbelief. “Why should I help you with this? You’ve done nothing but drag me into your mess.”
“Because it’s not just my mess,” I said, taking a step closer. “If Greg succeeds, it’ll affect you too. Everything tied to the company—including your contract and the projects you’ve been working on—will be at risk.”
Aria paused at the door, her hand gripping the handle. For a moment, the silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating.
Finally, she turned, her expression unreadable.
“If I help you with this, you have to promise me something.”
I could see the determination in her eyes, the way her jaw set in that familiar way when she wasn’t going to back down. I stood still, waiting for her terms.
“Promise me you’ll sign the divorce papers,” she said, her voice steady but cold.
For several moments, I didn’t respond.
The ultimatum hung in the air, and my mind raced. It was a simple demand, one I should have agreed to months ago, but there was a weight to it now that hadn’t been there before.
She was serious, and she was ready to walk away.
After what felt like an eternity, I nodded. “Alright. I’ll sign them.”
The relief in her eyes was barely visible, but I saw it. Yet, I knew the truth.
I needed her help more than ever, and as much as I wanted to give her the freedom she deserved, there were things she couldn’t know. Not about William.
“I’ll have my team send over the details,” I said quietly, watching as she turned and walked out without another word.
The house was quiet when I arrived home later that night, my mind still replaying the conversation with Aria. I had promised her the divorce, but it didn’t sit well with me.
Everything was slipping out of control, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was on the edge of losing it all.
Sophia was waiting for me in the living room, a glass of wine in her hand.
She didn’t even glance up when I entered the room, but I could feel the tension from her side of the house. Her question came before I had a chance to sit down.
“Why is Aria taking up so much of your time lately?” Sophia’s tone was accusatory, sharp.
I sighed, already knowing this conversation was bound to go south. “It’s work-related, Sophia. Nothing more.”
Sophia finally looked up, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. “Work-related? Or is it something else? I’ve seen the way you’ve been around her. And Joe—he’s not your son, Liam, but you’ve been spending more time with Aria and him than with William.”
The mention of William sent a cold shiver down my spine, though I kept my face neutral.
I had my reasons for staying close to Aria and Joe, and not all of them were work-related. But Sophia had no right to question me. She had no idea what was really at stake.
“I’ve been busy,” I said shortly, not wanting to entertain this argument. “You wouldn’t understand.”
Sophia’s lips tightened, her eyes flashing with anger. “I think I understand perfectly. You can’t let her go, can you? And now she’s moving on with Logan. You think I don’t know that?”
I shot her a look, my temper flaring. “Logan has nothing to do with this.”
“Oh, really? Because it sure seems like you’re losing her to him,” Sophia snapped back, standing up from the couch.
“You’ve been distracted, Liam. And let me tell you something—Aria isn’t coming back to you. She’s falling for him, and you’re too blind to see it.”
The words hit harder than I wanted to admit. I clenched my fists, trying to keep my composure, but the frustration was boiling over.
“You’ve made my life harder than Aria ever did,” I bit out, my voice harsh. “So don’t stand here and tell me what I can or can’t do.”
Sophia’s eyes widened at my words, her face paling. For a moment, neither of us said anything.
The air between us was thick with resentment, the weight of our tangled past hanging over everything.
Without another word, I stormed off, leaving her standing there in stunned silence. My footsteps echoed in the empty hallway as I made my way to the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me.
The truth was, Sophia had hit a nerve.
I didn’t want to admit it, but there was a part of me that couldn’t let Aria go. Even with everything happening, even with the mess I’d made, I wasn’t ready to lose her.
But I had already promised her the divorce.
And yet, somewhere in the chaos, I knew one thing for certain: whatever happened next, I had to protect the truth about William. No matter the cost.
