Chapter 55
Liam’s POV
I can’t shake it, the regret gnawing at me since last night.
I sit at my desk, staring blankly at the documents in front of me, not seeing any of it. I keep replaying those words in my head— “Please, don’t break my heart.”
What the hell was I thinking? It sounded desperate, lovesick, even.
I’m not some clueless teenager anymore, and yet, when I’m around Aria, everything I think I know about myself goes out the window.
I lean back in my chair, scrubbing a hand over my face. Since the fire, I’ve had no choice but to confront some hard truths.
One of those is that I can’t imagine my life without Aria. But last night—
God, why did I have to say that? Does it mean I love her? It must, right? Because why else would I be doing all this? Why would I care so much?
My phone vibrates on my desk, pulling me out of my thoughts. It’s a text from my assistant: No updates on the birth records yet. Sorry, Liam.
I sigh. The frustration I’ve been trying to bury bubbles up again.
No matter how hard I try, I can’t commit fully to the idea of loving Aria until I know the truth—until I find out if there are any more secrets about Joe’s parentage.
Swiping the text away, I pull up Aria’s social media on my computer, something I’ve resisted doing for a while. I feel like a stalker, but I need to find something—anything—that might point to who Joe’s father is.
Based on the stories she told me last night, I have a general timeline in mind, so I start scrolling through old posts, old photos.
There are plenty of pictures of Aria and Joe—family outings, soccer games, birthdays. But no man ever seems to be in the picture.
The absence is glaring.
Joe has to look like someone, right? Someone who isn’t Logan.
I lean forward, narrowing my search, looking for any little detail I might’ve missed before. Still nothing. With each passing minute, my frustration grows.
It feels like I’m staring at pieces of a puzzle I can’t fit together, and I hate it.
When I get home that evening, I’m already wound tight. The last thing I expect is for Sophia to be waiting for me in the kitchen, arms crossed, her expression furious.
"We need to talk," she snaps the moment I walk in the door.
I sigh, hanging my keys on the hook. "What now?"
"It’s about Aria," Sophia says, her voice dripping with contempt.
"She’s basically been kidnapping William. Do you know how much time he’s been spending at her house? She’s turning him against me. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was all some conspiracy to keep you away from me."
I stop in my tracks, staring at her. "What are you talking about?"
Sophia throws her hands up, clearly annoyed. "William! He’s with her all the time. You know, she’s probably filling his head with lies about me, trying to play the hero."
Her accusation catches me off guard, but something else sticks out in her words. William has been spending a lot of time at Aria’s, yes, but kidnapping? Turning him against her?
That doesn’t sound like Aria.
But Sophia... she’s been late to pick William up more and more lately.
"Wait a second. You’ve been late to pick him up? What the hell are you doing all night, Sophia?"
She recoils, as if she hadn’t expected me to question her. "That’s not the point, Liam. The point is—"
"It is the point," I interrupt, my voice rising. I’m fed up, tired of being kept in the dark.
"You’ve been dropping the ball, and you have the nerve to accuse Aria of something like this? If you don’t get your act together, William’s going to remember. He’s going to look back on this, and he’ll never forgive you."
That hits her hard. I see it in the way her face tightens, in the flicker of doubt that passes over her features. She’s shaken, but instead of backing down, she hardens.
"Don’t turn this around on me," she snaps, stepping closer. "This is about Aria, and you know it."
I shake my head. "This is about you needing to step up as William’s mom. If you keep pushing him away, you’re going to lose him, Sophia."
For a moment, neither of us speaks, the tension between us thick. Then, without another word, she storms off, slamming the door behind her.
I stand there for a long time, staring after her, my jaw clenched. Everything is falling apart, and I don’t know how to stop it.
Later that night, I find myself standing on a deserted baseball field under the dim lights.
Logan is already there, leaning against the chain-link fence, waiting for me. I’ve been avoiding this conversation for too long, but I can’t anymore. Not if I want the truth.
As I walk up to him, he gives me a nod, his expression neutral. "What’s this about, Liam?"
"I need answers," I say without preamble. "I need to know the truth about Joe’s father."
Logan’s brows furrow. "We’ve already been through this. I’m not Joe’s father."
"Then who is?" I ask, my voice tight. "You have to know something. You were there, Logan. You were around when Joe was born."
Logan shifts uncomfortably, crossing his arms over his chest. "I already told you. I don’t know who Joe’s father is. That’s the truth."
I narrow my eyes, studying him. "You expect me to believe that?"
"Believe whatever you want," Logan says with a sigh. "But it’s the truth."
I take a step closer, not willing to let this go.
"Look, Logan. You’ve been trying to get between me and Aria for a long time now. But this—this is about more than just us. I need to know the truth. You’re the only other person who might have the answers."
Logan’s expression softens for a moment, and he lets out a long breath. "The only way you’re ever going to find out the truth, Liam, is if you ask Aria directly. That’s your answer."
I stare at him, taken aback. "What?"
Logan shrugs, giving me a small, tired smile. "I don’t know who Joe’s real father is. But I do know this: if Aria finds out you’ve been going behind her back, you’re going to lose her all over again. You just need to ask her up front."
I’m surprised by how genuine he sounds. There’s no malice in his voice, no smugness. He’s not trying to taunt me. He’s just... telling me the truth.
"Wow," I say, shaking my head. "That’s actually good advice. Does that mean you’re finally giving up on pursuing Aria?"
Logan lets out a soft chuckle, his eyes sad. "I’ll never give up on Aria. But I want her to be happy. And if she’s happy with you..."
He trails off, and I can see the emotion in his eyes. For the first time, I realize that maybe I’ve been wrong about him.
Maybe Logan isn’t just trying to get in my way. Maybe he really does care about Aria’s happiness.
"...Then I’ll let her go," Logan finishes, his voice quiet.
I stand there, not sure what to say. The air between us feels different now—less tense, more real. And for the first time, I wonder if maybe Logan and I aren’t so different after all.
