CHAPTER SIXTY NINE

Liam's heart rate spiked as he walked into the sitting room, stunned to find the very woman whose identity he had been clamoring for, chatting with Asher in their house. His jaw dropped as if the world had suddenly tilted on its axis.

Standing up with a warm smile, Pearl greeted him, but Liam's response was chilly at best, sending an icy chill through the room. Asher, caught in the crossfire, found himself quickly whisked away upstairs by a visibly agitated Liam, leaving Pearl alone to contemplate the reasons behind Liam's coldness.

"What is she doing here, and remember you haven't told me who she is?" Liam said, his face stern.

"Baby, like I told you earlier, Pearl is my old friend. I had wanted to tell you what had transpired between us, but you've been so busy lately."

Her words hung in the air as Liam absorbed their meaning, his expression a mix of confusion and suspicion.

"We had a terrible fight before graduation, which was why I reacted so poorly when I saw her." She lied, her