Chapter 132 My Biggest Mistake
Liam's POV
"Liam, what do you think you are doing?" My father's voice stopped me mid step as I was about to climb the stairs.
I froze. I didn't even realize he was already home. Or worse, that he had been awake long enough to wait for me.
Slowly, I turned around to face him. He was standing in the living room, his posture stiff, his expression unreadable at first glance. But the moment our eyes met, I saw his anger clearly. He looked cold,
"Do you really think I don't know where you've been... or what you've been doing?" he continued, his voice low but sharp enough to make my legs slightly trembled.
Each word felt deliberate, like he had been waiting for this moment. He stepped closer, never once breaking eye contact.
"I already warned you, Liam." I clenched my jaw but said nothing. Because I knew exactly what he was talking about. And he knew that I knew.
"Yet you still chose to disobey me," he went on, his voice rising slightly, the anger in it no longer hidden. "You continued seeing that girl."
The way he said it made something inside me snap.
"That so called social climber," he added with clear disgust.
My fists tightened at my sides.
"Don't test my patience, son," he said firmly. "You know exactly what you're doing." His gaze darkened as he looked at me from head to toe, as if measuring how far I had gone against him.
"How could you sleep in that apartment?" he demanded. "After everything I've given you. After the life I built for you." His voice hardened even more.
"I gave you comfort, security, and everything you could ever need. And yet you chose to stay in that... place?"
There was a pause.
“All because of a girl?" The disappointment in his voice hit harder than the anger. Then his lips curled slightly, not in amusement, but in something colder.
"You really thought I wouldn't find out?" he said quietly. "I have people everywhere, Liam. You should know that by now." A chill ran down my spine.
"And you," he added, his voice dropping into something more dangerous, "left me with no choice."
““Leave that Villaruiz girl… or I will end it for you.”
My father’s voice was calm, but the threat behind it was clear. It wasn’t a suggestion, but an order. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze even as my chest tightened.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” I said, my voice steady despite everything. “I can’t. I love her.” For a second, there was silence. Then he laughed. Not because it was funny, but because he found it ridiculous.
“Love?” he repeated, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Do you even know what love means, Liam?”
His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, like I was a child saying something foolish.
“You’re too young to be declaring something like that,” he continued. “And more importantly, love has no place in your life if you are going to run my empire someday.”
He took another step closer, his presence overwhelming. I wanted to tell him I didn’t want any of this, that I never asked to be his successor. It hurt knowing I had no choice… because I was his only son left.
“Wake up, Liam,” he said sharply, his voice cutting through me. “Stop being blinded by feelings you don’t even understand.”
My jaw tightened, but I stayed silent.
“Girls like her don’t belong in our world,” he went on, his tone colder now. “Her kind… they only come close to people like us for one reason.”
I felt my fists clench at my sides. “For money,” he said bluntly. “For status and security.”
“That’s not true,” I said through gritted teeth, but he ignored me.
“You think she loves you?” he continued, his gaze hard and unforgiving. “You think she’s different?”
He shook his head. “She will be your biggest mistake.”
My chest tightened.
“And when the time comes,” he added, his voice low and final, “she won’t be your strength, Liam… she will be your cross to carry.”
His words hit deeper than anything else he had said.
“You cannot afford to be weak.” He continued.
I forced myself to meet his gaze.
“Dad… loving Mia doesn’t make me weak,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “It just means I’m being honest with myself.” He scoffed, clearly unimpressed.
“I don’t need your honesty, Liam,” he replied coldly. “What I need is your cooperation.” My stomach dropped.
“I want you to be an obedient son,” he continued. “And that means doing what is expected of you.”
There was no warmth in his voice now. No room for discussion.
“You will be with Stacy,” he said firmly. “Whether you like it or not.” Each word felt like a chain being locked around me.
“That is final.” He added. I felt my throat tighten, but I refused to stay silent.
“Dad… please,” I said, the word leaving my lips before I could stop it. “I’ve never asked you for anything.”
And it was true. All my life, I followed everything he wanted. I did everything he asked. But this time I couldn’t. He looked at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
Then he spoke. “Liam, you can ask me for anything,” he said. “Anything at all.” For a split second, hope flickered inside me. Then he destroyed it.
“Just not that girl.” The finality in his voice was absolute. He turned his back on me without another word and walked away, leaving me standing there at the bottom of the stairs. I felt so alone and powerless.
And for the first time in my life, it truly sank in that choosing what I wanted might cost me everything.
My family, my future, and everything I had ever known. I stood there for a moment, frozen at the bottom of the stairs, trying to steady my breathing. Then, instead of going up to my room, I turned away and headed straight for the kitchen. I needed something, even just a glass of water.
The moment I stepped inside, the warm scent of freshly baked cookies filled the air. My mom loved baking. It was her way of keeping the house calm, of pretending everything was normal. But nothing felt normal anymore.
“Liam, are you okay?” Her voice was gentle filled with concern. I walked toward the counter, gripping the edge of it as if it was the only thing keeping me standing.
“No, Mom,” I admitted quietly. “I’m not okay.”
There was a brief silence. Then she sighed. “Son… don’t make your father angry,” she said softly.
I let out a bitter breath, shaking my head.
“Mom… I love her,” I said, my voice breaking despite my effort to stay composed.
She paused for a moment, then handed me a glass of water. When I looked at her, her eyes were filled with sympathy. And that only made it worse.
“I know, Liam,” she said gently. “I know you do.” For a second, I thought she understood.
“But that girl will only ruin your relationship with your father,” she continued. “And as your mother, that breaks my heart.” I clenched my jaw.
“If you care about me,” she added softly, “you should listen to your father.” I shook my head immediately.
“Mom… is it really wrong to be with Mia?” I asked, my voice filled with frustration and pain. “She hasn’t done anything to us. She’s kind. She’s… she’s not what you think.”
I searched her face, hoping she would see what I saw in Mia. Hoping she would understand.
“I know,” she said quietly. “But her background… it’s not the same as ours.” My chest tightened.
“It will affect our family name,” she continued. “People will talk. And you will be the one who suffers in the end.”
Her voice softened, almost pleading now. “You should end it while you still can, Liam. I don’t want to see you suffer more.”
That was it. I slowly turned away from her, my grip on the glass tightening. It hurt more than anything my father said. Because this time… it was my mother.
And she didn’t even try to listen.