chapter 37

One Step Forward.....

The kiss changed everything.

And absolutely nothing.

At least that was what Judith told herself the next morning.

She woke up.

Brushed her teeth.

Answered emails.

Had breakfast.

Pretended she hadn't spent half the night replaying the moment in her head.

The way Liam had looked at her.

The way he'd said her name.

The way the kiss had felt less like a beginning and more like coming home.

It was deeply inconvenient.

"You look suspiciously happy."

Ava's voice came through the phone.

Judith nearly choked on her coffee.

"What?"

"I know that silence."

"You don't know any silence."

"I know your silence."

Judith groaned.

Ava gasped dramatically.

"Oh my God."

"What?"

"You kissed him."

The coffee nearly went down the wrong pipe.

"How did you—"

Ava screamed.

Actually screamed.

"I KNEW IT."

Judith immediately pulled the phone away from her ear.

"You are unbelievable."

"You kissed him."

"You don't know that."

"The denial confirms it."

Judith ended the call.

Ava called back immediately.

Judith ignored it.

Three more calls followed.

She blocked her temporarily for peace.

Across the city, Liam wasn't doing much better.

Victoria found him smiling at absolutely nothing during a meeting.

That alone was enough to concern her.

Her son was many things.

Smiling at empty space was not one of them.

"What happened?"

Liam looked up.

"Nothing."

Victoria narrowed her eyes.

"Judith."

The answer came too quickly.

"Judith what?"

Victoria smiled.

There it was.....confirmation.

Her son had never stood a chance.

Later that afternoon, Judith attended another checkup.

This time alone.

Or so she thought.

She was halfway through the appointment when someone knocked on the door.

The doctor looked up.

"Come in."

Liam entered carrying flowers.

Judith stared.

The doctor stared.

Even Liam looked slightly embarrassed.

"You're late."

"I know."

"Why are you carrying flowers?"

Liam glanced at the bouquet.

"I panicked."

The doctor laughed.

Judith tried not to but failed without much effort.

For the rest of the appointment, the atmosphere felt different.

Not awkward.

Just... softer.

Every glance lingered.

Every smile felt more intimate.

The kiss sat quietly between them.

Unspoken.

Yet impossible to ignore.

When the appointment ended, they walked toward the parking lot together.

Neither seemed in a hurry to leave.

Finally Liam stopped.

"About the other night."

Judith's heartbeat immediately betrayed her.

"What about it?"

Liam smiled.

"You know exactly what."

Unfortunately, she did and very much did for that matter.

For several moments neither spoke.

Then Liam stepped closer.

Not enough to invade her space.

Just enough to make her aware of him.

"Do you regret it?"

The question was quiet and careful.

Judith looked at him.

Really looked at him.

The man she'd married.

The man she'd divorced.

The man who somehow became both a stranger and the most familiar person in her life.

"No."

The answer came easily.

Because it was true.

She didn't regret it.

Not even a little.

Relief flashed across Liam's face.

Gone almost immediately.

But she saw it.

"Good."

His voice sounded lower than usual.

"Because neither do I."

Silence settled between them again.

Comfortable silence.

The kind that had once been impossible.

Then Liam surprised her.

"I'm not going to pressure you."

Judith blinked.

"What?"

"I'm serious."

His expression became thoughtful.

"We kissed."

"Yes."

"I love you."

Judith's breath caught.

Liam continued before she could react.

"And I want another chance."

The honesty hit harder than any grand declaration could have.

Because there was no performance.

No manipulation.

No desperation.

Just truth.

"But I'm not rushing you."

For a moment, neither moved.

Then Judith asked softly,

"Why?"

Liam smiled.

A small one.

"Because the last time I had your love, I took it for granted."

The words landed directly in her chest.

"This time, I want to earn it."

Judith looked away.

Mostly because her eyes suddenly felt suspiciously warm.

And because hearing exactly what she'd needed years ago felt unfair.

Beautiful.

But unfair.

Before she could answer, another voice interrupted.

"Well."

Both turned.

Ethan Blackwood stood several feet away.

Looking remarkably calm.

Which was usually a bad sign.

His gaze moved between them.

The flowers.

The expressions.

The distance that wasn't quite distance anymore.

And understanding settled instantly.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then Ethan smiled.

Not bitterly.

Not angrily.

Just sadly.

"I suppose I'm late."

The words hit harder than Judith expected.

Because Ethan wasn't a villain.

Never had been.

He had loved her honestly.

Supported her quietly.

Stayed when things were difficult.

And now he was watching her fall in love with someone else.

Again.

For the first time, Judith realized that hearts weren't the only things at risk of breaking.