Chapter 47 Just A Pawn
Vanessa pulled up in front of Liam’s house just as the evening sun began to fade. The place looked the same as always, quiet, neat, and boring, just the kind of quietness she needed for the conversation they were about having.
She sat in her car for a moment, gripping the steering wheel, steadying herself. She hadn’t been here in a while, and she knew that alone would already put Liam on edge.
When she finally stepped out and rang the bell, the door opened almost immediately.
Liam froze when he saw her.
"Vanessa?" he said, surprise clear on his face. "I didn’t think… it’s been a long time."
"Are you going to stand there, or are you letting me in?" She asked irritated as she walked past him without waiting for an invitation.
"You could’ve called." he said as he closed the door behind her and followed her into the living room. He studied her face carefully. She looked calm on the outside, but he knew her well enough to sense the storm beneath.
"I didn’t want to. Besides, since when do I need an invitation to come see you?" she replied flatly, as she walked over to the sofa and sat down, while Liam sat next to her, she felt uncomfortable with him sitting so close but she didn't move, she had far more important things to discuss first.
"What’s going on?" he asked. "I know you don't need an invitation to show up especially since Rebecca is no longer in the picture just you and I know you don’t just show up like this. And I've been asking to see you for sometime now but you won't show up."
Vanessa rolled her eyes as she leaned back against the chair, crossing her legs, "Let's not talk about all that. At least I'm here now and I need to talk to you about something," she said. "I have a plan."
“What plan?” Liam asked, raising a curious brow.
“It’s a very nice place. Trust me, you'll love it,” Vanessa said, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes.
Liam sighed. "Every time you say that, it means trouble." He replied, he had come to dread that sentence from her.
She smiled faintly. "This one is important."
He leaned back, folding his arms. "Fine. Go on."
"I’m going to seduce Edward," Vanessa said plainly. "I’ll make him fall for me then, I’ll marry him."
The room went silent.
Liam straightened up as he looked at her as if she had grown two heads. "What? You don't mean that, do you?" He asked sharply.
"Of course I do. Why else will I be talking to you about it?" Vanessa replied, with a scowl.
She didn't understand why he was making it look as though it was such a big deal. She had thought about this plan all through the previous day and she had come to the conclusion she had to do it.
If not for anything, at least, to show Rebecca that she will always be one step ahead of her.
He shook his head immediately. "That’s insane. Why would you do that? You don’t have to go that far."
Vanessa’s expression hardened. "You don’t understand."
"Then explain," he said. "Because this makes no sense."
"I can’t just sit back and watch Rebecca live happily," Vanessa snapped. "Comfortably married to Derek, acting like she deserves it. I won’t accept that."
"So this is about jealousy," Liam said slowly.
"Yes," she admitted without shame. "I’m jealous. Angry. Bitter. Call it whatever you want. But I won’t lose to her, I have to show her I'm always ahead, I deserve all the good things, not her." She replied her voice dripping with hatred.
Liam ran a hand through his hair as he let out a sign. "So you’re ready to destroy everything just because you can’t stand seeing her happy?" He asked, most times he just can't seem to understand Vanessa.
This was something else, whatever game she was playing was far from revenge now.
"Yes," she said without hesitation. “I can't stand her being happy. I want to destroy her so it's either you're with me or against me! What's it going to be?”
He stared at her for a long moment, then sighed. "Fine. If that’s what you want." He paused. "How do you even plan to pull this off?"
Everytime he told himself he wouldn't be part of her scheme, somehow, he still ended up aiding her and that was because he loved her. He'd rather do all of it with her than watch her find someone else to replace him.
Vanessa’s lips curved into a small, confident smile. "Don’t worry about that. Just leave everything to me."
Liam studied her face, clearly not convinced. "And what about the phone?" he asked. "Rebecca’s phone. Any progress?"
Vanessa’s jaw tightened. "Nothing useful, she said. "I’m not getting any real information. And Amelia isn’t helping matters either. She’s being useless."
"That’s a problem," Liam said. "Without that, your plan becomes harder."
"I know," Vanessa replied irritably, already getting tired of the many questions. "But I’ll find another way."
They talked for a while longer, going over plans, mistakes, and next steps, but the conversation felt strained. There was a distance between them that hadn’t been there before.
At some point, Liam shitted closer to her.
"You’ve been distant," he said. "You barely come around anymore."
"I’ve been busy," she replied, her voice strained.
He reached out, placing his hand on her arm, then slowly sliding it toward her waist. Vanessa stiffened, She didn’t pull away immediately, but she didn’t respond either.
"Vanessa," he said softly, leaning closer as if to kiss her.
She turned her face away. "Not now.
Liam frowned. "What’s wrong?"
"I’m just tired," she replied.
He tried again, his hand lingering. "It’s been a long time."
Her patience snapped. "I said not now."
He pulled his hand back, anger flashing in his eyes. "Ever since you started this plan of yours, you don’t let me touch you anymore."
"That's not true and also I’m on my period," she said harshly. "And even if I wasn’t, I don’t owe you my body."
Liam froze, then laughed bitterly. "Wow. That’s what this has come to. Do you even love me or I'm just a pawn in your own games?"
She looked away, refusing to meet his eyes
Liam paused, then nodded slowly. "Okay. No problem." His tone was calm as he continued, but his eyes were dark. "I know what to do."
Vanessa looked at him, uneasy. "What does that mean?"
"Nothing you need to worry about," he said, standing up.
She watched him closely, sensing something had shifted between them. This wasn’t the same man who once followed her every command without question, this wasn't the same Liam that once worshipped her. There was resentment in his eyes now, something darker, more dangerous.
"I should go," she said, standing up.
As she walked out of the house, one thought echoed loudly in her mind.
She was losing her grip on him.
And if she didn’t act fast, she might lose far more than she planned.