Chapter 41
Liam’s POV
I stood outside the office building, my heart hammering in my chest as thick plumes of smoke billowed into the sky.
Sirens screamed from all directions, adding to the dizzying chorus of voices and alarms.
But none of those faces belonged to Aria.
Frantically, I scanned the crowd, searching for her, but my pulse quickened with each passing second.
Panic gripped my chest tighter. I moved from person to person, grabbing sleeves, asking the same question over and over: “Have you seen Aria? Where’s Aria?”
Most just shook their heads, too stunned or scared to give any clear answers. The dread weighed heavier now.
I pushed further into the crowd, nearly colliding with a firefighter when someone called out behind me.
“She went back in!” a woman shouted. My stomach dropped. “She was calling for you, I think. I tried to stop her, but—”
I didn’t hear the rest. My feet were moving before I even processed it. I bolted toward the entrance, shoving past anyone in my way, my pulse thudding in my ears.
The heat of the flames hit me like a wall as I approached, but I barely registered it. My mind was on one thing—Aria was inside, and I had to get her out.
Without hesitation, I ripped off my blazer and used it to cover my face. The thick, acrid smoke stung my eyes, and the heat pressed down on me like a weight.
I couldn’t see much through the swirling ash and debris, but I knew I had to push forward. My instincts screamed at me to stop, to turn around, but I couldn’t. Not without her.
“Aria!” I yelled, my voice hoarse from the smoke, but there was no answer.
I stumbled through the wreckage, coughing as the air grew thicker. My mind raced with a thousand worst-case scenarios.
Where was she? Why had she gone back in?
The thought that she could be trapped somewhere, injured—or worse—twisted my gut.
Then, through the haze, I saw her.
Aria lay just outside an exit, motionless on the floor, debris scattered around her. My heart lurched. “Aria!” I screamed, sprinting toward her.
My hands trembled as I reached her side, but my body moved on autopilot. Burning embers clung to her clothes, and pieces of rubble covered her legs, some still smoldering.
Without thinking, I used my jacket to bat away the embers, quickly removing the pieces of debris that pinned her down.
She didn’t stir.
“Come on, Aria,” I muttered, my voice desperate as I worked, barely noticing the files and papers that spilled out from under her arms as I lifted the last piece of rubble.
I froze when I realized she had been shielding them with her body—documentation.
She had gone back into the burning building for these. My mind reeled for a second, but there wasn’t time to question it.
Right now, she needed me.
Gently, I slid my arms underneath her and lifted her up. She was limp, her head rolling slightly against my shoulder as I carried her, the smell of smoke and burning wood all around us.
I tightened my grip, fighting the knot of fear in my throat.
I burst back out into the open, the cool air hitting me like a shock. People rushed toward me—paramedics, firefighters—but I only had eyes for Aria.
I knelt down carefully as the paramedics swarmed, immediately taking over, checking her vitals, speaking in calm, clinical voices that I barely registered.
Everything felt surreal, like I was moving through thick water, the world muffled except for the pounding of my heart in my ears.
“She’s going to be okay,” one of the paramedics assured me, but it didn’t feel like enough.
Nothing felt like enough until she was awake, until she opened her eyes and gave me that look—the one that said she could handle anything. But right now, she looked so fragile.
The paramedics loaded her into the ambulance, and I followed without a second thought.
As we drove to the hospital, I sat beside her, clutching her hand. I didn’t care about the ashes smeared across my skin or the sweat that dripped down my face.
All I cared about was the rise and fall of her chest—proof that she was still with me.
I hadn’t realized how much I needed her until this moment. All our issues, all our unresolved arguments—they didn’t matter now.
I couldn’t stand the thought of losing her. Somewhere in that ride to the hospital, I made a silent vow: I was going to be the man she needed me to be.
Whatever it took, I would protect her.
I stood in Aria’s house, the soft hum of the refrigerator in the background as I explained the situation to Isabel.
She sat on the edge of the couch, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as I spoke.
“She’s stable,” I said, my voice quieter than usual, weighed down by the events of the day. “But they’re keeping her in the hospital for a few days, just to monitor her.”
Isabel nodded, her face pale but resolute. “I need to be there with her,” she said firmly. “But what about Joe?”
I hesitated, glancing toward the closed door where Joe was likely playing in his room, unaware of the gravity of what had happened.
“I’ll talk to him,” I said, my voice steadying. “I’ll explain it, and then we can all go see her.”
Isabel looked at me, her eyes searching mine. “You think he’ll understand?”
“He’s tough, like his mom,” I replied with a small, sad smile. “He’ll understand.”
We took Joe out for ice cream before heading to the hospital. I sat across from him at the table, watching as he pushed his cone around, clearly distracted.
“Joe,” I said, drawing his attention, “there’s something I need to tell you about your mom.”
Joe looked up, his eyes widening with concern.
“She had an accident at work,” I explained, keeping my tone calm. “She’s in the hospital right now, but she’s going to be okay.”
Joe’s lip trembled, but he stayed composed. “She’s really sick?” he asked, his small voice barely audible over the chatter of the ice cream parlor.
I nodded, reaching across the table to place a hand on his. “Yeah, but the doctors are taking good care of her. And I was there with her when it happened. She’s safe.”
Joe’s expression softened slightly, and he nodded.
“If you were there, then I know she’s okay,” he said quietly. The comment stirred something in me—a warmth I hadn’t expected in the middle of all this chaos.
He shifted in his seat. “Can we see her?” he asked, his voice tentative.
“Of course,” I replied. “But just so you know, she might look a little different in the hospital, okay? It might be a bit hard to see her like that.”
Joe hesitated for a second, then nodded. “I’ll be brave.”
We filed into my car, Joe quiet beside me, clearly lost in thought. As we pulled out of the parking lot, Joe glanced over at me. “Thanks, Dad.”
My breath hitched for a second, but before I could say anything, Joe quickly added, “I mean, Liam… I didn’t mean to say…”
I chuckled softly, reaching over to ruffle his hair. “It’s okay, Joe. You can call me whatever you want.” I paused, my heart thumping in my chest. “Dad’s fine.”
Joe smiled a little, relieved.
As we drove toward the hospital, I couldn’t help but wonder just how much truth there was to that slip-up.
I shook the thought off for now, but part of me was already planning the next step—confronting Logan once and for all about Joe’s parentage.
Whoever Joe’s biological father was, I knew one thing for sure: I wasn’t going to lose Aria, or Joe, to anyone. Not now.
