Chapter 34 Stay forever
Chapter 34 Stay forever
Liana's POV
The moment the car door clicked shut, Clara and the little girl finally out of sight, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “Right, it’s time to go home, Liam.”
Liam, however, didn’t move from his spot, clinging to Aiden’s leg. Aiden looked down at him, then over at me with a questioning glance. I offered a tight, reassuring smile that felt more like a grimace.
“Come on, buddy. Let’s head out,” Aiden said, gently prying Liam off. Liam still wouldn’t come to me, instead holding Aiden’s hand as they walked towards the sleek black sedan. I followed a step behind, the air thick with unspoken tension.
The drive home was a blur. My mind replayed the scene at the cafe over and over. Six years. It had been nearly six years, and I’d genuinely believed that Clara and Ethan were still that impossibly perfect, madly-in-love couple everyone envied. Ethan, my Ethan, had always told me he’d be better off with her, that she was everything I wasn’t. Yet, I’d just watched them bicker, openly, shamelessly, in a public coffee shop. Like a normal, flawed couple.
A strange, unfamiliar warmth spread through my chest. Happiness? Could it be? It felt… good. Truly good, to see them like that. After all they’d put me through, all the happiness they’d denied me, the torment they’d inflicted—it felt like karma was finally catching up. A small, wicked part of me reveled in their discord.
We finally pulled into the driveway, the familiar facade of my house a welcome sight. Liam was quiet as we entered, his small hand still clasped in Aiden’s. I knelt down, trying to meet his gaze.
“Liam, baby, can we talk for a second?” I asked, my voice softer than I thought possible.
He looked away, fiddling with the hem of his shirt. “Are you still mad?”
“No, sweetie, I’m not mad at you. Never at you.” I reached out, gently taking his shoulders. “I’m so, so sorry I yelled. That wasn’t fair to you. Mommy was just… scared.”
His blue eyes, so much like mine, finally met mine. “Scared of what?”
“That man, Liam. The one with the girl,” I explained, choosing my words carefully. “He’s a very bad person. And if you had gone up to that little girl without me, he… he might have hurt you. Or worse, he might have tried to take you away from me.” My voice trembled on the last words, the thought chilling me to the bone.
Liam’s eyes widened, a flicker of fear replacing his earlier petulance. He launched himself into my arms, holding me tightly. “I don’t want anyone to take me away, Mommy.”
I hugged him back, burying my face in his soft hair. “No one will, baby. I promise you. I’m going to keep you safe from that bad man, and from anyone else who tries to hurt you. We’re going to stay together, forever.”
He pulled back slightly, his little hand patting my cheek. “Forever?”
“Forever,” I confirmed, a fiercely protective resolve hardening my voice. My eyes flickered to Aiden, who was leaning against the doorframe, observing us with an unreadable expression.
Liam, seemingly reassured, suddenly looked past me at Aiden. “Is Aiden going to stay with us forever too?”
My heart skipped a beat. Aiden was right there, his laptop now open on the coffee table, though I knew without a doubt his attention was on us. He wasn’t even pretending to work. I needed to divert.
“Oh, honey, it’s getting really late,” I said, gently guiding Liam to stand. “Time for bed, don’t you think? Big day tomorrow at school.”
Liam frowned slightly, clearly not satisfied with the change of subject, but he allowed me to lead him towards his room. I glanced back at Aiden, who had already returned to his screen, his jaw set. The conversation about Aiden could wait. For now, Liam’s security, both physical and emotional, was my single, unwavering focus.