All Chapters of STEP ASIDE EX-HUSBAND: THE RISE OF LIANA: Chapter 111 - Chapter 120

Dominic’s POVEach footstep sounded louder than it should, like the building itself was teasing me with its echo. The tension that had been building inside me all morning now rolled dangerously just beneath the surface, crawling through my neck and coiling down my spine.I could still feel Stanley’s voice in my bones calm, cold and confident. Like a man who’d already won.And Liana … Liana hadn’t looked away once. Not when she stood her ground. Not when she spoke my name like it tasted like ash, not even when I tried to meet her gaze with whatever trace of guilt I thought would matter. She didn’t flinch. Her eyes were steady and filled with something more dangerous than fury.Conviction. And that… that made something twist, deep in my gut.“We need to talk,” I said curtly to my legal team the moment the doors closed behind us.My barrister who was once the sharpest legal mind I knew, shuffled beside me like a man dodging landmines. “We’ll regroup at my office. Let the others head ou

Liana's PovThe automatic doors of the hospital swooshed wide as we stepped out, the warm summer air shining on my face. The sun bathed the parking lot in golden light making me squint after the hospital's clinical low illumination.This time, though, the brightness wasn't an issue, It felt like a benediction.Stanley had gone to get the car around while my mum was holding Cam's stuff… a small bag with her things, a worn-out coloring book, and her fox. Cam gripped my hand hard with her own hand smaller but somehow tighter than I remembered.The car stopped in front of us and Stanley jumped out, his strides deliberate but noiseless. He swung open the back door for us and then moved around to the boot to stuff the bag.Cam sat beside me on the backseat, clutching her plush fox like a shield. My mom sat next to her, smoothing her scarf and tapping Cam's knee reassuringly. I was sitting by the window, watching the hospital grow smaller in the side mirror as we pulled away.Stanley toyed w

Liana's PovThe silence in the house was more heavy at night. Cam had fallen asleep earlier after dinner, her fox held tight under one arm, a soft rice smudge remaining on her cheek. I couldn't quite get myself to clean it off… not yet. She was too peaceful.I was scrubbing mugs in the kitchen sink when Mum slid in quietly, the edge of her wrapper sliding over the tiled floor."She's out like a light," she murmured, wringing her hands with a tea towel.I nodded. "She was tired. Hospital really stressed her."Mum leaned against the counter, watching me with a look I was far too used to. That look meant that an argument was coming and it was one I was not going to enjoy."I've been thinking." she began slowly.I let out a groan, bracing myself. "That never means anything good.""I think you should talk to her," she said.I stared at her, confused. "What do you mean?"She gave me a stern glare. "About the case. About what is going on. Not all of it, Liana, but enough so she understands."

Liana's PovThe rain had stopped, but the streets still glistened with water, there were puddles around, some marked with lines that looked like rainbows. Growing up, we were told that it was as a result of oil being on the floor before the rain. The windshield wipers moved lazily now, not because we necessarily needed it but Stanley left it working, squeaking faintly as they moved. I sat in the passenger seat, staring at the road ahead but not really seeing it. My mind was too busy circling the same thoughts over and over, looping back on itself like an old film reel with a scene it refused to move past.“Almost there,” Stanley said, his voice low. It startled me for a second; we’d been in near total silence since leaving the safe house. I glanced at him because I needed the distraction of another face. His hands rested steady on the steering wheel, but there was a kind of tension in his shoulders that told me he understood exactly what we were driving toward.“Thanks,” I murmured, t

Lianna’s POVThe kiss lingered, it was slow like neither of us wanted to break whatever fragile spell had just wrapped itself around us. His hand slid to the side of my neck, warm and steady, the rough pad of his thumb brushing the edge of my jaw. My breath caught. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been holding myself back until that moment…. how much I’d been pretending not to want this.When he pulled back just enough to look at me, his gaze searched mine, like he was giving me a chance to stop this before it went any further. I didn’t. I leaned in again, and this time, the kiss deepened. His other hand found my waist, drawing me closer until I could feel the steady beat of his heart against mine. The coffee table pressed into my hip as we shifted, laughter slipping between us when our knees bumped.“Upstairs,” he murmured against my lips, his voice low, almost hesitant.“Serena” I mouthed and he sighed. “Let's use the room here then.” He said pointing to the guest room. We left the w