Twenty One

Liam’s POVRichard spun to face her with that carefully calculated smile that he had been wearing ever since he walked into my office. I could see the look of recognition in his eyes – the same feeling I had experienced when he walked in. His lips parted open in response, taking a step forward to her.But, I did not let him continue.“Richard,” I spoke up sharply and calmly, my tone carrying a clear distaste for him to pause right where he stood. “We are in the middle of something.” Richard’s eyes glanced over to me, a look of defiance in them. “Actually,” he began, his eyes now fixed on her. “I was about to say how stunning she was at the ball. You make a fine partner, Miss Nina.”Nina’s eyebrows creased slightly as she held the insulated bag. “That was you?”Richard nodded with a soft smile and stretched his hand out for her to take. She took it before I acted and my blood boiled. My lips squeezed into a thin line. “I didn't know you worked here,” Nina started. “I wasn’t. Not unt

Twenty Two

Liam’s POVI found myself standing by the large window that looked out onto the back garden, swirling an icy glass of white wine despite the time not being past noon yet. The whole sequence of events – her heroic make-believe performance and her sudden show of kindness – kept looping around my head like some horrible song which I couldn’t get away from. She was pampered while I was stuck there, locked up in the oversized cage watching my carefully constructed world disintegrate.I had to strengthen my hold on everything and I would hit from the weak link. I put the glass down and sauntered through the door into the kitchen, swinging my hips a bit. Frank was arranging the fruit on a plate in the middle of the counter as if that were the most important job in the world. I crept towards him, letting the robes hang off one of my shoulders slightly and my voice changing to a honeyed tone. It worked for any man, made them trip over their own feet."Frank," I cooed, tracing my fingers along

Twenty Three

Liam’s POVThe warmth radiating off my cheeks was due to the way my sweater was twisted, thanks to him having grabbed it before, and now my face was burning up from the heat. Liam stared at me, his breath coming a bit faster than usual for someone standing there relaxed. His lips moved as though he were about to speak, then he stopped himself from speaking, and my weight moved from one foot to another, the thermal bag and remnants of the stew sitting forgotten on his desk.Silence lingered until I heard my phone ringing in my bag. Startled by the noise, I pulled my phone out and saw an unfamiliar number on the screen. Panic rose in my stomach as I quickly answered it. "Hello?""This is Saint Charles, City Hospital." The professional-sounding voice of a woman said over the line. "Am I speaking to Nina Hampton, Arthur Beckett's daughter?""Yes, that is me." I squeezed the phone tighter."Your father was admitted to our hospital thirty minutes ago. He is in critical condition following

Twenty Four

Liam’s POVI looked at my phone for what seemed like the tenth time in the last ten minutes. It was already glowing in the corner of my desk from my last touch on the screen. And I hadn't gotten any text from Nina. I had sent her a couple, about fifteen. She didn't have my number so I made a long introduction after contemplating for ages on how to sound proper and finally went with whatever came to mind. “Are you there yet? It's Liam by the way before you freak out.”What was I typing?“I finished the stew. It could do with a little bit of salt.”I was lying. The food was perfect but I couldn't tell her that. “Where are you?”My fingers hovered over the sticker, and stopped when I felt it was too much. Tired of waiting I pulled the phone towards me again, checking to see if she had read any of my texts. She hadn't.But then there is Anya. She was the first to always send messages, unwanted pictures. I never asked for a long list of messages with emojis. And she didn't today. For

Twenty Five

Liam's POVAnd I wasn’t going to waste time. I picked up my keys and went right back out to my car. I drove with one hand on the phone dialing Nina’s phone. She didn’t pick up. I tried again and again and got no answer. I called Gideon next. He picked and I spoke as fast as I could. "Find out which hospital has contacted Nina today and send me the location immediately.”I hung up and drove faster, going past the yellow traffic light. Gideon called a few minutes later, and recited the address to me while I typed the information into my car’s GPS system. I drove past a truck that had swerved at the last minute, the traffic light changed and he honked angrily while I focused on my aim. I parked as I got to the hospital entrance and killed the engine, got out and rushed inside, ignoring the cries of the receptionist chasing behind me. My feet hurried down the halls when I received Gideon's message showed clearly on my phone “Arthur is in Ward 10. ICU.”My eyes scanned the room when I a

All Chapters of Unintended Bride : Chapter 21 - Chapter 25

Twenty One

Twenty Two

Twenty Three

Twenty Four

Twenty Five