Chapter 54
Aria’s POV
The hum of voices around me barely registers as I take a sip of my iced tea, trying to focus on the conversation at hand. I’m in the middle of a lunch meeting, nodding politely as the person across from me discusses project deadlines and client demands.
The restaurant is bustling, and my mind keeps wandering to everything but work. The promotion has been on my mind for weeks now, and each day feels like a step closer to the inevitable.
I shift in my seat, straightening as I hear someone calling my name. When I look up, I’m met with the bright, familiar face of an old colleague, Maya. She’s waving enthusiastically as she approaches my table, all smiles.
“Aria! I heard about the big news!” she says excitedly, pulling me into a quick hug before sitting down next to me.
I blink, momentarily thrown off. “Big news?”
Maya gives me a knowing grin. “The promotion, of course! Everyone’s been talking about it. Congratulations, you totally deserve it.”
My heart skips a beat. I wasn’t expecting this conversation, not here, not now.
I feel a rush of adrenaline as I force myself to smile, trying to play it cool. “Oh, right,” I say casually, though my pulse quickens. “It’s not official yet. Still weighing my options.”
Maya raises an eyebrow, her tone teasing. “Weighing your options? Come on, this is a huge step up. You’ll kill it.”
I nod along, but my thoughts are spinning. The truth is, I haven’t made a decision, and the pressure of the looming deadline is getting harder to ignore.
I can feel the weight of it pressing down on me, ticking away like a clock in the back of my mind. I’ve been stalling for time, but soon, I’ll have to face it head-on.
“Thanks,” I say finally, forcing a smile. “I’ll let you know when it’s official.”
Maya chats for a few more minutes before excusing herself, leaving me to sit there with my half-finished tea and a growing sense of unease.
The conversation with her just made everything feel more real—like the clock’s running out, and I’m not sure what I’ll choose when the time comes.
Later that afternoon, I’m standing on the sidelines of the soccer field, watching William and Joe run drills with their team. Soccer practice has become a routine for us now, and it’s one of the few times where I can see Joe in his element, carefree and happy.
I know he’s made a real friend in William, and that makes my heart swell with a mixture of pride and concern.
William’s been spending more time at our house, and it’s clear to me that he’s craving something—attention, security, a sense of belonging that he’s not getting at home.
When practice wraps up, the boys race over, breathless and laughing. Joe heads to grab his water bottle from my bag, but William lingers by my side, a more serious expression on his face.
“Hey, bud,” I say, ruffling his hair. “You did great out there.”
William shrugs, his eyes downcast. “Thanks.”
I crouch down a bit so I’m more on his level. “What’s on your mind?”
He hesitates for a moment, biting his lip. Then, in a soft voice, he says, “I wish my mom was here. I miss her.”
The words hit me harder than I expected. I knew something was off, but hearing him say it so plainly, so vulnerably, makes my heart ache.
I sit down on the bench, motioning for him to join me. He does, swinging his legs as he looks out at the empty field.
“She’s always busy,” he continues quietly. “Sometimes I feel like she doesn’t care.”
I place a hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“I’m sure your mom cares about you, William. She’s just... she’s got a lot on her plate. But that doesn’t mean you’re not important.”
He looks up at me, his expression a mix of sadness and confusion. “Why doesn’t she show it, then?”
I wish I had a good answer for him, but the truth is, I don’t know what’s going on in Sophia’s head. I just know that William deserves more than what he’s getting.
I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully.
“I don’t know, William. But I want you to know that you’re always welcome with me and Joe. You have a place with us, no matter what.”
His eyes brighten a little at that, and he gives me a small nod. “Thanks, Miss Aria.”
I smile at him, my resolve hardening. I’m more determined than ever to help him, even if it means pushing Sophia harder than I have before.
William needs someone who’s really there for him, and if that someone has to be me, then so be it.
That night, after Joe’s gone to bed and the house is quiet, there’s a knock at my door.
I’m not expecting anyone, so I’m surprised when I open it to find Liam standing there, a small box in his hands.
“Hey,” he says, his voice low. “I hope I’m not bothering you.”
I shake my head, stepping aside to let him in. “No, it’s fine. What’s that?” I nod toward the box, curious.
Liam looks down at it, a hint of a smile on his lips. “It’s something I thought you might like.”
He hands me the box, and I open it to find a framed photo inside—an old picture of us from years ago. We’re both laughing, caught in a candid moment during one of our early dates.
My breath catches in my throat as I run my fingers over the frame, memories flooding back.
“I found it while I was going through some old things,” Liam explains, his tone soft. “Thought you might want it.”
The gesture is so thoughtful, so personal, that it stirs something deep inside me. I glance up at him, feeling a rush of emotion I hadn’t expected.
“Thank you,” I say quietly. “This means a lot.”
Liam smiles, and for a moment, it’s like nothing’s changed between us. We sit down on the floor, the photo resting between us as we start talking—really talking.
We fall into an easy rhythm, reminiscing about the early days of our relationship, the moments before everything got complicated.
“I remember the first time Joe kicked a soccer ball,” I say with a laugh, leaning back on my hands. “He could barely stand, but he was determined to play.”
Liam chuckles, his eyes softening at the idea. “That sounds just like him,”
“Yeah, he tripped pretty quickly after that. But he got back up!,” I protest, grinning. “He was tough, even back then.”
We trade stories like that for what feels like hours, laughing and teasing each other as the weight of the present slips away.
We don’t talk about the hard stuff, the things that broke us apart. Instead, we focus on the good times, the moments that made us who we are.
Eventually, we’re both lying on the rug, staring up at the ceiling, our laughter fading into a comfortable silence.
I feel a sense of peace I haven’t felt in a long time, like for once, everything is exactly where it should be.
Liam turns his head to look at me, his voice soft.
“Aria, I know I have no right to ask this... but please, don’t break my heart.”
His words hang in the air between us, heavy and fragile all at once. I don’t know what to say.
All I can do is meet his gaze, my chest tightening as I realize just how much we’ve both been through, how much is still unresolved.
“I’m trying,” I whisper, though I’m not sure I believe it myself.
Liam gives me a small, sad smile, and we fall back into silence, the unspoken words lingering in the air as we both drift toward sleep.
