“He loves you,” Isabella said. “I’ve seen it in the way he looks at you and how he acts.” “Does that matter? His father and Joanna have been pressuring him to divorce me, threatening the entire team. Maybe the pressure has finally gotten to him.” “If he wasn’t under so much pressure anymore, then
Aria’s POV Reading the message on Liam’s phone, I went entirely still. Well, my body went still while my brain worked overtime. A million different thoughts flew threw my mind. What Aria knows won’t hurt her. What could that mean but the obvious? Was there any other way to interpret this? I sear
Liam’s POV Joanna’s face lit up like it was Christmas morning and her birthday at once. Her mouth opened, but before she could say one word, I interrupted her. “On one condition.” She closed her mouth, pressed her lips hard together for a moment, then spoke. “What is it?” “This will absolutely b
Liam’s POV “There’s nothing going on between Joanna and me,” I explained. Still skeptical, Jackson glared at me. Behind him, Joanna smirked. I wished, to make things simple, that I could reveal the entire situation to him in a way that would make him understand. But if I did, I doubted he woul
Now, the drivers all seemed torn. Some threw caution to the wind and continued to listen to me. Others shied away from having to speak to me. Jackson was yet to be seen this morning, which was unusual for him. Despite his rambunctious nature, he took driving seriously. He’d never before been late
Aria’s POV There had to be some kind of misunderstanding. Even if Jackson truly had seen what he said he’d seen, there had to be an explanation. If there wasn’t, then this, combined with those texts Joanna showed me, and the one I had spotted on Liam’s phone last night all added up to only one con
Their leaving together could have been a coincidence. Even so, an uncomfortable feeling rose up in my stomach. They looked good together, side by side. Both so attractive, model-like, even though Joanna seemed much happier than Liam. His unhappiness was what gave me the strength to step forward.
Liam’s POV Markus’s smile grew, seemingly even more pleased. “Good. You’ve finally seen the truth in things then. Women. Relationships. What do they matter? Legacy, that’s what’s important. You are making the right choice, son. Finally. But then, I always knew you’d come around.” He only could be
Aria’s POVLiam and I went down into the kitchen, where I put a pot of coffee on. It was late for caffeine, but after the day we’d had, for this conversation, I wanted to be fully alert.I’d agreed to hear Liam out, as I’d never fully given him the chance to explain in the past. My feelings were sti
Aria’s POVSeeing William and Joe safe and sound at that table sent a rush of relief through me so quickly that I very nearly lost my balance. Liam, as if noticing, placed a hand at the small of my back just in time to keep me upright.I didn’t have time to think about anything else going on, or how
Joe remembered all the lessons about stranger danger. He knew they shouldn’t accept things from people that they didn’t know or trust.Even accepting this pie was probably a bad idea, though Joe thought that so long as they stayed in the diner, it would be okay.He kept glancing at the door.William
Aria’s POVIn our search for the children, we traveled along the roads to the park. There, I searched the kids’ favorite play areas: behind the slide, around the swings, near the seesaws and the jungle gym.William and Joe were nowhere to be found. Likewise, I saw no evidence that they had been here
Joe’s POVWhen William told Joe he was leaving, Joe knew he couldn’t let William go alone. The world was a dangerous place, and William was far too confident about things. Plus, with how William was talking, he sounded like he wasn’t planning on coming back.Joe hoped to convince him differently.So
Aria’s POVFor most of the day, I did my best to avoid Liam, but it was difficult. He seemed to be doing the same, giving me the space I requested, yet every once in a while, we’d find ourselves entering the same room or hallway, or going the same way toward the stairs.There was an awkward moment o
Aria’s POVBitter thoughts of Markus made me feel sick, but I pushed those dark feelings away and turned off the television again. With Markus gone, he could never hurt anyone ever again. He couldn’t haunt or stalk us.Liam might have already made his choice, but at least the children and I would be
Liam’s POV“Isabelle, I just need to talk to Aria,” I said, pleadingly. “If you just tell me where she is –”“Then you’ll continue to bother her.” Isabelle, arms crossed, glared at me in open disgust and distain. “She told me what she saw. And it makes me feel a thousand times worse, for having told
Liam’s POVI took my own car to Mr. Peters’ office. Several times on the route, I nearly turned and drove home instead, desperate to talk to Aria. Once, I stopped so long at a red light that Joanna called me on the phone.“Your father is dead, Liam. You have an obligation to him now. Aria will still