Chapter 135 Let me guess… ten?

Chapter 135 Let me guess… ten?


I do not even know how it happened, but suddenly the anniversary party is almost here.

Just a few more days. It is being held at a country house by the lake. Mum has been losing her mind over it. She moved there two weeks ago just to make sure everything goes exactly the way she wants.

Three days before the party, she keeps calling me again and again, asking for help.

I end up taking a few days off school and going to her.

Liam offers to drive me.

He shows up at school in a red convertible that is impossible to miss. The moment I open the door and get in, people start staring.

I can feel their eyes on us.

“How many cars do you even have?” I ask as he drives out of the parking lot.

His hands stay on the wheel, his eyes on the road, but a small smile forms on his lips. “Do you actually want to know, or are you just joking?”

“I was joking,” I say with a laugh. “But now I am curious. Let me guess… ten?”

“Ten?” He lets out a laugh. “That is the biggest number you could think of?”

I press my lips together, feeling a bit stupid. I always knew he was rich, but I never really understood how rich.

“Stop laughing at me,” I mutter. “Just tell me.”

“Alright.” He taps his finger lightly against the wheel as he speaks. “In Northwood, I have five. I mostly drive the M8 and the Maserati. In New York… maybe three or four. I do not even remember anymore. There are a few more in LA. I ordered a Lamborghini last year, and it just arrived at my place a few days ago. We should fly there sometime and try it out. And that is just in the US.”

“Okay, that is enough,” I cut in before he keeps going. “I get it. But why do you need so many? You only use a few. It feels like such a waste.”

“A waste?” He glances at me. “People who worry about that usually do not have money. I have more than I can ever spend, so I buy whatever I like.”

I go quiet after that.

He is not wrong. We live in completely different worlds, and I do not think I will ever fully understand his.

“Hey,” he says, looking at me again. “You are not upset, are you?”

“No… it is just…” I hesitate before speaking. “We are so different. Do you really think we can have a future together?”

He takes one hand off the wheel and reaches for mine, holding it.

“I know what you are thinking,” he says. “But let us not think that far. Just focus on right now. We will deal with everything else later.”

I nod and smile, trying to push away the thoughts sitting at the back of my head.

After we leave the freeway, he puts the roof down, letting the warm summer air rush in. The weather is perfect. We even catch the sunset, the sky glowing in soft colours.

At one point, he pulls over and buys me mint chocolate chip ice cream. It tastes amazing, and for a while, I forget everything else.

By the time we reach the country house, it is already past seven.

The car moves through a large iron gate and into a wide garden that looks like something out of a movie. Everything is neat and carefully arranged.

We stop in front of the house, right by a fountain.

A maid comes forward to take our bags, and then Mum appears at the door, rushing toward us.

“Finally!” she says, waving her hands. “You should have been here this afternoon. I have so much for you to do.”

“Mum…” She pulls me inside before I can even react. “You have so many staff here. What do you need me for?”

“I need you to take charge,” she says, gripping my shoulders and turning me to face her. “The work in the backyard is not done yet. Maybe you can watch over that. No, wait, you have not even seen the plans. That will not work. Let me think… go talk to the florists. Help them with the decorations.”

“Mum, relax,” I say softly.

Her eyes look tired and red. She clearly has not been resting.

“Everything is fine. You have handled everything. Why are you so stressed?”

She takes a deep breath. “Yes… yes, you are right. I need to calm down. Sophie, come with me. I want you to meet..”

She stops mid-sentence. I follow her gaze and turn. A man and a woman walk around the corner. I recognise them immediately.

Mr. Thorne.

And Liam’s mother, Caroline Griswold. Her hand is wrapped around his arm, her body close to his as she leans in to speak to him.

They look… too close. Closer than he ever looks with my mother. Mum’s face changes the moment she sees them. Everything suddenly makes sense.

“Alicia,” Mr. Thorne says with a smile. “Caroline was just saying how nice the backyard looks.”

“Thank you,” Mum replies, her voice cold. “I was just asking Sophie to help out.”

Caroline looks at me, raising a brow.

She looks perfect, like always. Beautiful, elegant. But the way she smiles at me feels wrong. Like she is looking down on me.

“Oh, are you trying to find something for her to do?” she says. “In that case, maybe she can help the cleaners. It takes quite a bit of time to get my room ready.”