Chapter 178: We Need To Talk

Liam's POV

"Take everything down."

The two men across from my desk glanced at the phone I had pushed toward them. Headlines announcing my supposed engagement to Glydel Garcia filled the screen, some already calling it the wedding of the year.

There wasn't going to be a fucking wedding. At least not between Glydel and me.

"Contact every major publication and get these stories removed."

"Sir, it's already spreading. We'll do what we can, but removing everything may be impossible."

"Then do what you can and find out who released it."

"We already did. The statement came from your father's office."

My jaw tightened. Of course. Dad had announced my engagement to the entire country before I'd even figured out what the hell I was supposed to do.

"Keep working on it."

They nodded and left. I leaned back and rubbed a hand over my face. I had barely slept after leaving Josh's place, spending hours calling and messaging Mia without a single response. I couldn't blame her. She had heard me agree to marry another woman, and no explanation could change that.

My office door opened, and Anabel stepped inside. "Sir, everyone is waiting for your nine o'clock meeting."

"Cancel it. Everything today and tomorrow."

Her eyebrows rose. "Including the quarterly executive review and the Singapore investors?"

"Everything."

She nodded. "I'll handle it."

"And if the press calls, no one confirms an engagement or wedding."

"Understood."

Once she left, I checked my phone again. Nothing. My last message to Mia remained unanswered.

Please talk to me.

I wanted to drive to Josh's house or wait for her at the office, but I didn't even know where she was, and it hurt. After she'd asked me to leave last night, showing up uninvited would only push her further away.

As much as I hated it, I had to give her the space she wanted.

My phone rang before I could put it down.

Albert.

"What?"

"Sir, your parents returned to their house this morning. Your father's private nurse went with them, and his doctor visited earlier."

My anger immediately collided with worry. "I'm going there."

I grabbed my keys and left.

The drive did nothing to calm me. The headlines were infuriating, but none of them hurt as much as remembering Mia telling me to marry Glydel. She hadn't said it because she stopped loving me. She knew Dad was dying and didn't want me carrying the guilt of denying his final wish.

Somehow, that made it worse.

When I arrived at my parents' house, I found Mom sitting beside Dad in the living room, his private nurse nearby.

Dad smiled when he saw me. "Liam. You should be at the office."

"I was. Albert told me you came home, so I wanted to check on you."

"I'm fine."

He clearly wasn't. He was pale, and now that I knew the truth, the exhaustion on his face was impossible to miss.

I turned to Mom. "Can I speak to you privately?"

Something in my expression must have warned her because she followed me into the study. I closed the door carefully, making sure Dad couldn't hear us before facing her.

"What the hell were you both thinking?"

"Liam."

"I'm talking to you in here because Dad doesn't need to hear me angry, so tell me why my supposed engagement to Glydel is all over the internet."

"Your father ordered the announcement."

"I know. My men traced it back to his office. But you knew about it."

Mom sighed. "Yes."

"And you didn't stop him?"

"What did you expect me to do? Your father was excited. After everything we learned about his condition, seeing you finally married gave him something to look forward to."

I stared at her in disbelief. "Mom, I'm already engaged to Mia. You knew I invited her last night because I wanted to tell Dad we were getting married and ask for his blessing."

"Your father believes Glydel is the right woman for you."

"I don't care who he thinks is right for me. It's my life, and I love Mia."

"Keep your voice down."

I glanced toward the closed door and lowered my voice. No matter how angry I was, I refused to risk upsetting Dad.

"Your father is dying, Liam," Mom continued. "Seeing you settled and married is his final wish."

"I know. That's why I said yes. One minute I thought he was recovering, and the next he was telling me he might have months left and asking me to marry Glydel. I was in shock. I wanted to make him happy, and now I might lose Mia because of it."

Mom studied me. "What happened with Mia?"

"She heard everything."

Her expression barely changed. "Then perhaps it's better that she knows now. I know you love her, but your father has made his wishes clear. Glydel is the woman he wants you to marry, and I happen to agree with him."

I clenched my jaw. Mom had never hidden her preference for Glydel, but hearing it now only made my anger worse.

"This isn't about what you or Dad want. I love Mia, and I asked her to marry me."

"And now circumstances have changed."

"That's all you have to say?"

"What do you expect me to say? That your father should abandon what may be his final wish because Mia is upset?"

"She knows Dad is dying and understands why I said yes."

"Then she understands the position you're in. Perhaps she'll also accept that there are things bigger than the two of you."

I shook my head. "You really don't care what this is doing to her."

"My concern right now is your father and this family. I'm not going to apologize for that."

Of course she wasn't.

"I'm furious with Dad, but I can't even tell him because I'm terrified the stress could make his condition worse. Yesterday, I thought he was recovering. Now I know I could lose him in months while everything I planned with Mia is falling apart."

"Then perhaps you should stop fighting your father's wishes and think about why he chose Glydel."

"I know Glydel, and I don't love her."

"Love isn't everything."

"It is when you're asking me to spend the rest of my life with someone."

Mom sighed. "You already gave your father your answer."

"Because he told me he was dying."

"And that hasn't changed."

The words hit exactly where she intended them to. No matter how angry I was, Dad was still dying, and I couldn't ignore that.

"I ordered my men to take down the engagement stories."

Her eyes widened. "You did what?"

"I'm not letting the entire world believe I'm marrying Glydel when I haven't decided what happens next."

"You said yes, Liam."

"I said yes in the worst moment of my life. That doesn't give anyone permission to plan my future without me."

"When your father finds out—"

"He won't. Don't tell him. He doesn't need the stress, and I'm not risking his health over this."

Mom clearly didn't approve, but after a moment, she nodded.

When we returned to the living room, Dad looked between us. "Everything all right?"

"Everything's fine."

It was a lie, but one I was willing to tell for him. I rested a hand briefly on his shoulder.

"Get some rest, Dad."

"You're leaving already?"

"I have things to handle."

He nodded, and I headed outside.

If Dad had been healthy, I would have told him exactly what I thought and made it clear that no one, not even him, got to decide who I married. But he wasn't healthy. He was dying, and that changed everything.

I had just reached my car when my phone rang. Expecting another update from my men, I pulled it from my pocket and froze.

Mia.

Hope hit me so hard my heart slammed against my chest. After ignoring every call and message I had sent, she was finally calling. Maybe she had reconsidered what she'd said last night. Maybe she was finally ready to listen.

I answered immediately. "Mia. Thank God. I've been trying to call you. I—"

"We need to talk."

I froze.

Her voice was colder than ice, weakening my hope instantly.

"Okay. Where are you? I'll come to you."

A brief silence followed.

"Mia?"

"I'll message you."

The call ended before I could say anything else.

I slowly lowered my phone. For hours, I had wanted nothing more than to hear her voice, hoping she would give me another chance to explain. For one brief second when I saw her name, I had believed that chance had come.

Instead, she had given me four words.

There had been no warmth or reassurance in her voice, and somehow, I already knew those words were about to change everything.

Whatever Mia wanted to tell me, I had a terrible feeling it wasn't the second chance I was hoping for.