Chapter 66

Liam stormed into Lucas's office with a furious look on his face. Without even knocking, he slammed the door shut and strode up to Lucas's desk.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, man?" Liam demanded, his voice rising in anger.

Lucas looked up from his work, surprised by Liam's sudden appearance. "What's going on, Liam?" he asked, trying to keep his tone calm.

"You know damn well what's going on," Liam shot back, his fists clenched at his sides. "I heard you've been getting too close to Kiara, and I'm telling you to stay the hell away from her."

Lucas leaned back in his chair, studying Liam carefully. He knew that Kiara was Liam's girlfriend, but he couldn't help the attraction he felt towards her. Still, he didn't want to cause any trouble between himself and Liam.

"I'm not sure what you're talking about, Liam," Lucas said carefully. "Kiara and I are just friends now. I would never do anything to hurt her."

Liam snorted in disbelief. "I don't believe you for a second," he said. "I've seen the way you look at her. You need to back off before I do something we'll both regret."

Lucas stood up slowly, trying to defuse the tension in the room. "Look, Liam, I understand that you're protective of Kiara, but you have nothing to worry about," he said. "I respect your relationship, and I would never try to come between you two."

Liam narrowed his eyes, not convinced by Lucas's words. "You better stay away from her, Lucas," he said, his voice low and threatening. "Or else."

With that, Liam turned on his heel and stormed out of the office, leaving Lucas to ponder the volatile situation. He knew that Liam was a hothead, and he didn't want to provoke him any further. But he also couldn't help the feelings he had for Kiara, and he wondered how he would navigate this delicate situation without causing any harm.

An hour later, Liam arrived at Kiara's house, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Kiara opened the door and her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of him.

"Liam, what's happened? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.

Liam took a deep breath before speaking. "I just had a row with Lucas," he said, his voice filled with frustration. "He won't leave you alone, Kiara. He keeps bothering you and it's not right. I had to tell him to back off."

Kiara's heart sank at Liam's words. She had been afraid something like this would happen, but she had hoped that Lucas would listen to reason and stop pestering her. The fact that Liam had to intervene only confirmed her fears.

"I'm sorry, Liam," she said softly. "I didn't mean to cause trouble between you and Lucas. I just don't know what to do. He won't take no for an answer."

Liam shook his head. "It's not your fault, Kiara. Lucas needs to understand that he can't keep pushing himself on you. I won't let him hurt you."

Kiara smiled weakly at Liam's words, grateful for his protectiveness but also saddened by the situation. She didn't want to be the cause of a rift between Liam and Lucas, but she also couldn't help the way she felt.

"I just wish this would all go away," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam reached out and gently took her hand. "I know, Kiara. But don't worry. I'm here for you. Always."

Kiara looked up at Liam, her heart swelling with gratitude for his kindness and support. She knew that she could always count on him to be there for her, no matter what. And for that, she was eternally grateful.

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Kiara took a deep breath as she walked into the mall. She hadn't been here alone since the divorce, but she needed some new clothes for an upcoming job interview and she didn't want to send Martha or her other staffs since they had been doing a very good job. As she walked through the crowds, she spotted Lucas with his arms wrapped around a different girl.

Kiara's heart sank as she recognized him. She hadn't seen him since the divorce, and she had hoped that she would never have to see him again. But here he was, with another woman, and he looked smug when he saw her.

Kiara felt a mix of emotions wash over her. Anger, hurt, and sadness all jumbled together in her mind. She felt a knot in her stomach as she watched Lucas whisper something into the ear of his new girlfriend. She couldn't hear what he was saying, but she could tell by the way he was looking at her that he was enjoying this moment.

Kiara took a step back, feeling the urge to run away. But she knew she couldn't let him see her falter. So, she took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and walked past them, pretending not to notice.

Lucas watched her walk by with a smirk on his face. He had been waiting for this moment, the moment when he could show her that he had moved on, that he was happy without her. But as she walked away, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He knew that he had hurt her, and seeing her again reminded him of that fact.

Kiara continued to walk through the mall, trying to shake off the feeling of seeing Lucas with another woman. She knew that she had to focus on herself and her future, and not on the past. She took a deep breath and reminded herself that she was strong enough to handle anything that life threw her way but even as she drove away, Kiara couldn't help but fight the tears that streamed down her eyes. With Lucas, she had known what it meant to love and be loved and now, she had a feeling that she might never get that chance again, not even with Liam.