Chapter 60 Her Interest
Chapter 60 Her Interest
Maya
“Here.”
I looked up as Liam handed me a glass of water. I took it, staring down at it.
A small smile crept onto his face as he sat beside me.
“It’s not poisoned,” he said, amusement clear in his voice.
My lips tilted slightly.
That hadn’t even crossed my mind, but somehow it reminded me of the first days we met.
I’d been skeptical of him, which was justifiable considering he once made my life unbearable.
But tables turned quickly. He became the one person who made life bearable again—until everything crashed.
I took a gulp of water, wetting my parched throat. I hadn’t even realized how thirsty I was.
“Can’t put it past you,” I mumbled, taking another sip before setting the glass on the table.
Silence settled over us like a cloak. An awkward one.
“Sorry, I’m…” I gestured around the house. “In your space. Again.”
As much as I tried not to think about it, this house held memories. Not all of them rosy—we argued almost every day.
But they were still memories. Memories I cherished.
“It’s fine,” Liam murmured, shifting slightly so he faced me.
Unspoken words hung between us, thickening the tension.
I had questions.
Why he went public about marrying Abigail without telling me. Why he called off the wedding. How he even found me here.
Why we kept running into each other.
My hands subconsciously moved to my stomach.
His eyes followed the movement before returning to my face.
A muscle tightened in his jaw.
Does he know?
Before I regained consciousness after trying to escape, he was gone. No explanation. No goodbye.
Just gone.
Was he told? By the doctor?
I hadn’t thought about it then, but now it seemed very possible that he knew about the baby.
I cleared my throat and stood.
Yeah. Time to leave.
“I have to go,” I muttered.
He watched my face carefully as he stood, almost cautiously. His gaze dropped briefly to my stomach before lifting again.
“Yeah. Um… how are you? Since the accident?” he asked.
I pursed my lips. I was getting uncomfortable.
“I’m good.” I took a small step backward.
Was that why he’d been keeping tabs on me? Because he knew I was pregnant?
“Stop doing that,” he said.
I raised a brow. “Stop doing what?”
He ran a hand down his face.
“Stop looking at me like I’m going to hurt you or something.”
I dropped my gaze briefly before tilting my head.
“I…” He exhaled. “I know you’re pregnant.”
My body went into protection mode immediately. Just the confirmation I needed.
“Oh,” I murmured, taking another small step back.
“Maya, stop.”
“What? I’m not doing anything,” I whispered, my heart racing as different thoughts ran through my mind.
This could go very wrong.
“Look, I’m okay with you starting a family with someone else. I won’t judge you for it,” he said calmly.
I blinked. What?
“Besides… I wasn’t there for you,” his voice softened. He inhaled deeply. “I just want us to talk.”
Wait.
He thought I was pregnant for someone else?
“Since when did you know?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“At the hospital,” he said, looking defeated. My heart softened at the sight.
“I just… I had to leave.”
That explained everything. Why he wasn’t there when I woke up. Why Maria said Shay had told him off.
He believed I was carrying another man’s child.
Which was… good? Safe? I didn’t know.
I nodded slowly. “Okay.”
“Maya,” he stepped forward, reaching out before stopping himself at the last second.
His eyes softened with guilt.
“I’m sorry for how I ended things. You didn’t deserve that.”
I swallowed, my chest tightening.
“It’s okay. I’ve gotten over it,” I said quietly, meeting his gaze. “It wasn’t real anyway.” Maybe I said it to lessen the blow. Maybe to protect myself.
Genuine hurt crossed his face.
“It was. To me.”
His words made my heart sank. So it hadn’t just been me.
He let out a rough breath, a humorless chuckle escaping him as he turned away and ran a hand through his hair.
“I loved you,” he said. The words hit like a bomb.
My eyes burned instantly as he turned back to face me.
“I still do. But you…” His voice faltered, his throat bobbing. “I did you dirty.”
“Why did you do it?” I managed to ask before my throat closed completely. It felt like something heavy was lodged there.
His expression tightened as he lowered his head.
God, this was breaking my heart all over again.
“I was trying to protect you,” he whispered and I felt a warm tear slid down my cheek.
Protect me?
“From what? What did I need protection from?” I asked. I needed answers. I needed a reason for everything he’d done.
He sat down on the couch, burying his face in his hands.
“Liam, I need to know,” I said, but he remained still. Silent.
The silence stretched, and realization slowly settled in.
This wasn’t going to fix anything.
Whatever he says wouldn’t erase the months of pain, isolation, and rebuilding I’d gone through.
I had abandoned my life because of him.
This couldn’t just fix it.
I sniffed, wiping my eyes with the back of my palms for what felt like the tenth time today.
“This… isn’t going to fix anything,” I muttered.
The chronicles of my life.
“Have a splendid day,” I said softly before turning toward the door.
“I was blackmailed.”
His voice stopped me mid-step. “With files… information about you,” he added.
I turned around immediately.
He was standing now, eyes red, looking helpless.
“My mum…” He shook his head. “Lauren,” he corrected. “She and Abigail had information about you. If it got leaked to the press, it would ruin your life. Not figuratively. Literally.”
I frowned.
What?
“They threatened me. They said they wouldn’t release the files if I married Abigail and stayed away from you.”
“I did it to protect you. I know it doesn’t justify ghosting you or everything that followed, but I…”
My interest was piqued at this point.
“What information?” I asked. “How bad is it?”
Honestly, I didn’t think anything could surprise me anymore. I’d learned the biggest truth about my life only hours ago.
Nothing could top that.
He pressed his lips together. “Bad. Very bad.”
I nodded slowly.
Okay.
Maybe I could still be surprised after all.