4

Chapter 4

Aurora’s breath caught as the tension in the room thickened.

Edward Blackwood stood near the entrance, his chest heaving, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. His face was red with anger, his jaw locked so tightly it looked like he was seconds away from snapping.

Liam stood across from him, completely unbothered. His expression was calm, almost bored, as if the man in front of him wasn’t a threat.

But Aurora could see it. The storm brewing beneath the surface.

Liam wasn’t just waiting.

He was daring Edward to make a move.

Edward took a slow step forward, his eyes burning with rage. “You think you can just walk around this house and stab me in the back?”

Liam exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “I don’t stab people in the back, old man. I do it right in front of them.”

Aurora’s pulse spiked.

Edward’s face darkened.

“You ungrateful little—”

He moved fast.

Aurora barely had time to process it before Edward’s hand lashed out, aiming for Liam’s face.

But Liam caught his wrist mid-air.

The impact sent a sharp sound echoing through the massive room. Edward’s arm trembled under the force, his eyes widening slightly in shock.

Liam’s grip tightened.

“You don’t want to do that,” he said, voice eerily calm.

Aurora swallowed hard, watching as the air shifted.

Edward Blackwood had always been the most powerful person in the room. The one everyone feared. The one whose rage could destroy lives.

But now?

He wasn’t in control anymore.

Liam was.

His fingers dug into Edward’s wrist, pushing it away with a sharp jerk. Edward stumbled back, his pride cracking like glass.

His face twisted in humiliation.

“You little—”

“Careful,” Liam cut in, voice low and threatening. “Say something you can’t take back, and I’ll make sure you regret it.”

Aurora’s heart raced.

Liam wasn’t bluffing. She could see it in his eyes—the deadly promise behind his words.

Edward’s breathing was ragged, but he didn’t move again.

He just glared.

“This lawsuit won’t go anywhere,” he spat. “You’re nothing without my name. Without my money.”

Liam chuckled, shaking his head. “I don’t need your money. I just need the truth.”

Edward’s nostrils flared.

For the first time, he looked afraid.

He wouldn’t admit it. But Aurora could see it in the way his fingers twitched.

Liam had something on him. Something that was strong enough to shake him.

Aurora’s fingers tightened at her sides.

Edward let out a sharp exhale, then turned toward her suddenly.

“You,” he snapped.

Aurora froze.

His eyes raked over her, filled with something dark and accusing.

“You think just because your mother latched onto my fortune, you get to stand here and watch this like you belong in my house?”

Aurora’s throat tightened.

Before she could speak, Liam stepped forward.

“Watch your mouth,” he said, voice ice-cold.

Edward’s lips curled. “What? Did I hit a nerve?”

Liam didn’t blink. “I don’t care what you do to me. But if you ever talk to her like that again…”

He didn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t need to.

Edward understood the warning perfectly.

The room felt too small, too suffocating.

Then, without another word, Edward turned and stormed out.

The heavy slam of the door rattled the windows.

Aurora let out the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding.

The silence that followed was thick, tense.

She turned toward Liam, expecting him to say something.

But he didn’t.

He just stood there, staring at the door, his fists clenched.

Aurora swallowed. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Liam let out a short, humorless laugh. “Yeah? And why’s that?”

She frowned. “You don’t need to fight my battles for me.”

Liam’s jaw ticked.

“That wasn’t for you,” he muttered. “I just hate the sound of his voice.”

Aurora rolled her eyes. “Right. So the whole stepping-in thing? That was just… what? A coincidence?”

Liam exhaled sharply, finally turning to face her.

His eyes ran over her, slow and unreadable.

For a split second, she thought he was going to say something serious. Something real.

But then his lips curved into that stupid smirk.

“You look cute when you’re defensive, princess,” he mused.

Aurora wanted to strangle him.

She scowled. “And you look like an arrogant *ssh*l*. But I guess that’s just your face.”

Liam chuckled. “D*mn. That almost hurt.”

Aurora gritted her teeth. “You know what? I take it back. Next time Edward tries to hit you, I’ll just let him.”

Liam laughed, low and dark. “Oh, sweetheart. I’d love to see him try.”

Aurora turned on her heel, storming away.

She had better things to do than waste her energy on him.

But just as she reached the stairs, Liam’s voice followed her.

“You never answered my question,” he called.

She paused.

“What question?”

Liam leaned against the wall, arms crossed, watching her with lazy amusement.

“Why were you holding my envelope?”

Aurora’s stomach tightened.

For a moment, she debated lying. Making up some excuse.

But then she saw the way he was watching her.

Like he already knew the answer.

Like he was just waiting for her to admit it.

Aurora’s lips parted.

But before she could speak, Liam took a step closer, his eyes darkening.

“You’re not scared of me, are you?” he murmured.

Aurora’s breath caught.

The way he **lowered his voice, the way he moved closer, just slightly—**it was deliberate.

He was testing her again.

And she refused to fail.

She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze head-on. “I don’t get scared.”

Liam smirked. “Liar.”

Aurora refused to react.

He was trying to get under her skin. Trying to shake her.

She wouldn’t let him win.

“You should worry about yourself,” she said coolly. “Because I don’t think Edward’s done with you.”

Liam’s expression didn’t change.

But something flickered in his eyes.

Something dangerous.

Then he stepped back.

Aurora didn’t move until he turned and walked away, disappearing into the hallway.

Only then did she exhale, her heart still pounding.

Because for the first time, she had a terrifying realization.

She didn’t just hate Liam.

She was intrigued by him.

And that?

That was more dangerous than anything!