Chapter 10: Chapter 10
A week later!
Arriving at Liam’s home to embark on the incredibly complex journey of becoming his surrogate mother is a total blend of emotions and uncertainty. As I stand at the front door of his beautifully breathtaking mansion, a rippling magnitude of nostalgia is gushing all over me like a savage wave. Memories of our vibrant and passionate relationship flood my mind—the tears of the past, the laughter we have had in the past, including the one week we spent together in my house. All these beautiful moments we have shared seem like an uncertain dream now.
Liam opens the door for me with a hesitant facial gesture. We hadn't seen each other in years, and the passage of time has been compensated terrifically by the one week he stayed in my house. The inkling of the bliss we basked in for that one week leaves its mark on both our faces, conjuring faint awkward grins. Yet beneath his surface, a sparkle of excitement and trepidation reflected in his eyes. I captured that very well, and I did not miss a single detail of it. I knew him like a book, and the one week we have spent together has impacted me more than how I knew him.
A week that will haunt us until this deal is over. Because the grave sins that we committed are screaming hilariously at me, especially knowing that I am about to meet his wife. How will I face her knowing that I have been screwing her husband for the last week? I didn’t mean to. We both didn’t mean to. But the urge for the chemistry we once had couldn’t have been combated. The temptations were just beyond our control.
"Welcome.” Liam hoarsely gesticulated for me to enter.
As I stump my imprints into his home, a wave of unfamiliarity crashes over me as I ricochet my orbs around my new home—until this is over. The walls are top-notch and captivating, adorned with artwork, each piece telling a story that I weirdly yearn to uncover. Seemingly deep tales that capture my entire being, as if calling for me to uncover them all. It is as though I have stumbled into a new world—one that I desire to understand and embrace in a way that is altogether out of the bounds of why I am here. The feeling is wrong—so wrong—but it is so strong.
Liam leads me into the living room, and we settle on the couch after he settles my luggage on the floor. The air was laden with unspoken tension. I take a moment to brush the tension off and take a short cruise around the wall. A photo of a smiling couple catches my attention from the corner of my eye, summoning my whole attention. It is handsome Liam, standing beside a woman I didn't recognize, or rather, on whom I don’t dwell so much as an unwelcome surge of jealousy surges within me, I pushed it aside, realizing that my presence here meant something entirely different. I can't vindicate why I felt that, though. Sigh!
With a nervous glance, Liam breaks the awkward silence. "I understand that this is a lot to ask, and I appreciate you being here. It means the world to me." His simper is like a lantern to this house, and I fall victim to its bewitching allure as I broadly grin back.
My heart softens at the sincerity in his words, and I take a deep breath after realizing that grin is becoming too awkward, cloaking it off, my mind suddenly racing with thoughts and dubiety. Did I truly want to go through with this unconventional arrangement? Was I really ready to confront the emotional roller coaster that lay ahead? Questions dance in my mind, crowding my thoughts and making it arduous to reach a clear decision.
“Are you rethinking this?” Liam must have noticed my emotional turmoil, as his voice is doughy with concern.
"No, Liam.” I retort, my voice trembling just slightly as I battle to toss my turmoil aside for a moment. “I've thought long and hard about this. And I am here because I want to help you. I want to be a part of this incredible journey, despite the challenges it may bring." I state, and I can't help but feel the anxiety of what lies ahead, nor can I decipher the inkling of that notion.
His face blooms into a relieved smile as he reaches for my hand, offering comfort and unnerving assurance with his touch. It was a small gesture, but at that moment, it bridged the gap between us. We were no longer ex-lovers but two individuals united by a shared goal and something else unfamiliar. Something strong. Something formidable. Something strange. Something that echoes with an assortment of sentiments.
“Does your wife often come home this late?” My curiosity howls after catching sight of the ticking clock. It's ticking quarter nine. Shouldn't a devoted, loving wife be home at this time?
He sighs, smirking away the question in a manner that says, The hell I’ve been going through. Or like saying, 'You ain’t seen nothing’. And that piques my curiosity pretty badly. I know he told me that his marriage has been hell. I don’t remember him stating any happy memory of his marriage this past week, but I didn't know it was this bad. What kind of hell is this arranged marriage sh*t of his? No wonder he was so hungry for sex. It seemed as though he had been on dry land for ages. Poor soul!
“Come. Let me show you around.” He says this, dodging the question about his wife, and I know better than to insist. He seems overly burdened by this marriage.
The weight of my decision hung heavily in the air, intertwining with the unspoken promises and uncharted territories that lay ahead. This will be more than just a momentary connection or an act of goodwill—it will tie us together in a way that defies all expectations.