AARON'S POV I never imagined the day would come when I would question the very choices that brought me here. For everything I did with Viv, I just realized it wasn't worth it. But standing there, in that room of too many truths and unforgiving silences, I saw clearly. Too clearly. And it hurt.Viv, seated like a queen gone mad, crunched on chips while smiling like she hadn’t destroyed a fraction of my life. Kaelon stood near her, arms crossed, eyes sharp, unrelenting. Liv…God, Liv. Her silence was louder than anything else in that room, her eyes wary but strong. And my mother… My mother was here too. The very root of all this chaos.“You,” I said, my voice thick with disbelief, my eyes locked on Martha. She looked startled, like she hadn’t expected the blame to land on her shoulders. But where else could it go? I pointed at her, my finger trembling with fury. “You caused all of this!”“Aaron,” she whispered. “Please, don’t…”“No!” I snapped. “Don’t even try. Why did you have to le
LIV'S POV Kaelon stood silently near the railing, a dark shadow under the afternoon sun, the wind tugging at his coat as if daring him to lash out. But he remained eerily composed. I knew that stillness, I had learned it. It was the way Kaelon always got when he was trying to hold in an eruption. I could sense the burn of his fury just beneath the surface.And in that moment, I realized something. He had known. Maybe not everything, but something. Something about Viv's sudden disappearance, about how she'd reappeared with a conveniently timed pregnancy. He'd kept her out of sight, away from the mess she'd made. It wasn’t to protect her—not really. It was to contain the chaos. Kaelon had been managing this entire narrative like a seasoned strategist.He turned, his gaze landing on Martha, sharp and deliberate."Martha," he said coldly. "Please, repeat what you said to Liv in her office."Martha stiffened in her seat, visibly recoiling from the sudden attention. Her lips thinned, bu
KAELON'S POV Aaron straightened, as though my presence might change the weight of his words. Liv stood tense, arms crossed defensively across her chest."What made you even feel you could cause chaos in my office complex?" I barked, my voice cutting through the air like a whip.Martha stepped forward, chin raised with faux elegance. "This... woman has bewitched my son. And now, evidently, she’s ensnared you too."I stared at her. Bewitched? Had we time traveled back to some medieval era? "Are you seriously accusing her of witchcraft even to my face?""Don’t you dare mock me, Kaelon! I know what I see. Aaron has changed completely. And now just take a look at you…"Aaron threw his hands up. "Oh, now you care about what my father does? Since when did you give a damn about Dad's decisions?""Aaron!" Martha shrieked.Liv's voice finally broke through. "I can't believe this is happening. Is this some kind of intervention? Because if so, it's laughably pathetic."Aaron turned to her, his f
KAELON'S POV The morning sun streamed through the tall windows of my office, casting golden rays over the black marble desk. I leaned back in my chair, a rare smile pulling at the corners of my lips. My fingers drummed against the armrest in rhythm with the thoughts dancing through my mind.Liv.It was strange how quickly her presence had become a soothing balm in the chaos of my world. Last night, we’d enjoyed every bit of it, well not until I left to attend to Viv. I could still hear her voice, soft and raspy from sleep, humming through my chest like a song stuck on repeat."Sir," Louisa's voice broke into my thoughts, gentle and professional, as always.I turned my chair slightly, adjusting my cufflinks. "Yes, Louisa?"She stepped inside, a tablet clutched to her chest. "The board members are here for the nine-thirty meeting. Shall I bring them in?"I nodded. "Let them in. And once we begin, I want no disturbances."She hesitated slightly.I almost added, except if it involves
LIV'S POV I sat at my desk, fingers frozen on the keyboard, the blinking cursor taunting me with its rhythmic flashes. The blank screen stared back like it knew I was a fraud. The designs that usually poured out of me effortlessly now refused to come. My head was cluttered. Not with deadlines or aesthetics, but with one name and it was Viv.Where the fuck was she?Even though a part of me wanted to scream that she deserved it, the bigger part I tried to ignore, was worried. She was close to her due date, and I couldn't shake the image of her alone and possibly in pain. It haunted me.I sighed, running my fingers through my hair and leaning back into the leather of my chair. Maybe a coffee break would help. Or a walk.Just as I was about to rise, the door creaked open."Miss Bennett?" a voice drawled.I blinked, confused. The receptionist hadn't buzzed. No one announced a visitor. But there she was. Martha, Aaron's mother. Standing in my office like she owned the place.I rose slo
AARON'S POV I had been sitting there for what felt like an hour, though the clock told me it had barely been fifteen minutes. My legs were crossed, hands clasped together on my lap, as I stared at the bland, overly polished table in the small, private conference room inside Preston Group. A stainless steel pitcher of untouched water sat at the center, flanked by two empty glasses. I had poured nothing. I wasn’t here to be comfortable. I was here for answers.Then the door creaked open. My gaze snapped up.Mr. Preston stepped in first, suit as crisp as always, though the lines around his mouth looked deeper today, more worn. Right behind him was Clara Preston, Liv’s biological mother. Her face was pale, her hands wrung together as she gave me a strained smile."Aaron," Mr. Preston said, nodding politely."Good morning," Clara added, though her voice trembled slightly.I stood, just out of habit, and returned the greeting with a curt nod. "Mr. Preston. Mrs. Preston. Please sit."The