Chapter 7 Unraveling

• Aria’s POV
• “William!”
• I whipped my head around at the sound of the shout, my heart leaping in my chest. My eyes went wide as I saw who had walked in—it was Liam’s assistant, looking just as shocked to see me as I was to see him.
• But it wasn’t just him that caught me off guard. Clinging to his leg, with tears streaming down his face, was the other little boy.
• I blinked, momentarily thrown. “William is your child?”
• The assistant froze, his eyes darting between me and the boy. He seemed as startled as I was.
• “I—uh, I’m so sorry,” he stammered, quickly bending down to pick up the crying child. He murmured something to William, who buried his face in his father’s shoulder, still sniffling.
• With an apologetic glance in my direction, the assistant hurriedly led the boy out of the room, their footsteps fading away.
• I stood there, my mind racing. A pang of guilt twisted in my chest. I’d always laughed off Joe’s habit of scouting for a dad, treating it like a silly game.
• But now, seeing William and his father, I realized just how deeply Joe must long for a father figure. And his real father… The thought made my stomach churn.
• Joe, ever the perceptive one, noticed the shift in my mood. He moved closer, his small hand slipping into mine.
• “It’s okay, Mom,” he said softly, his voice filled with reassurance. “William’s always bragging about how cool his dad is, but honestly, he seems pretty ordinary. The dad I picked out at the airport was way cooler—and way better looking!”
• I managed a smile, ruffling Joe’s hair. “Is that so?”
• “Yeah,” Joe said with a grin. “You’d like him, Mom. He’s just like you—always knows what to do.”
• As Joe’s words echoed in my mind, my thoughts drifted back to William and the assistant. Something about the way they interacted didn’t sit right with me.
• They didn’t seem like father and son—there was a formality between them, a distance that felt wrong.
• More like boss and subordinate, I mused, frowning slightly.
• —
• “This food is terrible,” Jackson grumbled, poking at his plate with a fork. His expression was a mix of disgust and frustration.
• I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound easing some of the tension I’d been feeling. “That’s the price you pay for winning a championship,” I teased.
• Jackson shot me a playful glare. “If I eat everything without complaint, you owe me a date.”
• I raised an eyebrow, my smile fading as I prepared to refuse.
• But before I could say anything, I noticed Liam approaching from across the room, his presence casting a shadow over my lighthearted exchange with Jackson.
• “Jackson, isn’t your training keeping you busy enough?” Liam’s voice was cold, cutting through the air like a blade.
• “You’re right, sir.” Jackson’s response was quick, almost instinctive.
• I turned to face Liam, my eyes narrowing in defiance. “You have no right to interfere in our personal lives.”
• His face darkened at my defiance, his jaw tightening with anger. Without another word, he spun on his heel and stormed off, his retreating form rigid with fury.
• Jackson watched him go, then turned back to me with a smirk. “You’ve got a knack for making the boss angry,” he teased, though there was a hint of caution in his voice. “Too bad I’m the one who always ends up paying the price.”
• I waved him off, eager to change the subject. “Don’t worry about it. He’ll get over it.”
• But the lightness of our earlier banter was gone, replaced by a tension that lingered in the air.
• Later that evening, as I sat in my office reviewing Jackson’s dietary and training plan, my phone buzzed with a message from Liam’s assistant. The words on the screen made my heart sink.
• “Please finalize and submit Jackson’s complete dietary and training plan by the end of the day.”
• I stared at the message, frustration simmering beneath the surface. Jackson, who had been looking forward to our date, gave me a sympathetic look.
• “Can I ask you something?” He said hesitantly. I nodded.
• “Did you do something to upset Liam in the past? He’s always been a little uptight, but around you he seems…. I don’t know, different.”
• I sighed, my thoughts heavy with memories I’d rather leave buried.
• “Leaving those divorce papers behind must have hurt his pride,” I thought bitterly. “Now he’s just taking every opportunity to get back at me.”
• As the evening wore on, I found myself outside Liam’s office, the completed report clutched in my hand. I knocked, but there was no answer.
• After a moment, I tried the door, but it was locked. With a sigh, I pulled out my phone and dialed the assistant’s number.
• “Liam’s not in his office,” I said when he picked up. “Where should I leave the report?”
• There was a pause before he spoke, his tone laced with helplessness. “I’m sorry, Ms. Aria, but you’ll need to contact Mr. Liam directly.”
• Frustration bubbled up as I ended the call. Not moments later, my phone buzzed again—this time with a message from Liam himself.
• I opened it, my eyes widening as I read the address he had sent me. It was familiar to me.
• It was our old marital home.
• My breath caught in my throat, a wave of unease washing over me. That place was filled with memories I’d tried so hard to forget—painful memories of a life I’d left behind.
• I tried messaging Liam back, but there was no response. Left with no other option, I reluctantly made my way to the address.
• When I arrived, my fingers hesitated over the door handle, the weight of my past pressing down on me.
• But to my surprise, the door opened with a soft click. I stepped inside, my eyes scanning the familiar surroundings.
• Nothing had changed. Everything was exactly as it had been five years ago, down to the smallest detail. The furniture, the decor—everything was just as I remembered it.
• My heart ached at the thought. Had Liam really not moved on? Had he not brought Sophia into this house, not erased the traces of our life together?
• I walked further in, each step echoing softly in the empty rooms. The living room still held the same cozy ambiance, the same photographs on the mantelpiece capturing moments of happiness.
• I moved towards the window, staring out at the overgrown garden, wondering if Liam had maintained it or if it was just as neglected as my own heart felt.
• As I turned to leave, I noticed a faint light coming from the upstairs hallway. My pulse quickened. Maybe Liam was here, waiting for me.
• Taking a deep breath, I began to ascend the staircase, the wooden steps creaking under my weight, each one bringing me closer to confronting the unresolved past.
• But with each step, my mind raced with doubts. What did Liam really want from me?
• Why bring me here, to a place so heavy with memories? The questions lingered, unanswered, as I reached the top of the stairs, the faint light beckoning me forward into the unknown.