Chapter 63: Chapter 63

Guilt and shame must be soaking them up again. This woman must be mentally slapping herself for opening that topic up. And Liam is not portraying any tinge of regret for slapping the bitter truth on his mother. Well, I do not blame him one bit. I can’t even imagine how I would react if my own parents were to do something as absurd as this. I would never be able to forgive them.

“If we are done here, I would kindly like to ask you to leave. I will let you know if at all I need anything.” Liam says calmly, shoving his arms in his pockets.

“Please, son. Don’t be like this. You need us on this. Don’t push us away.” His mother pleads, seeming remorseful.

They say that a mother’s weakness is her children, and she is pointing out nothing less than that. She must be hurting to even think of the rift between her son and them. I know it stings, but can I blame Liam for punishing them this way?

No!

I mean. Who wouldn’t be mad after everything? No one. He is even better, and they should thank him for showing a little bit of concern for them.

“I am trying my very best to hold back my anger for you both. Don’t push me, mother! Just leave, please!” Liam says.

At this point, his mother knows better than to push her luck any further. She nods in defeat and agreement. “Okay. Be careful, son. We love you.” She says as she starts her way out, and Liam just forces his head to move in a slight nod that would have been better than not coming out.

“You both take care. Don’t hesitate to call us in case of anything, Liam.” His father says, giving a semi-slap tap on the shoulder, and catches up with his wife as they head out.

Watching them as they defeatedly stroll out, bathed in shame and regret, makes me develop a soft spot for them. I feel for them. I know this is all their mess. I know they merit the cold shoulder that Liam is giving them. But I think I am developing strong motherly instincts. I feel for his mother so much. She looks awfully regretful and hurt.

I did not realize Liam was walking to my back until I felt his loving arms wrapping around my belly from behind, his chin resting on my shoulder. Like I always do, I shut my eyes as he suckles my neck. I savor his warmth and close my arms around his as he caresses my belly bump. “Are my two beautiful babies okay?” He groans at my neck, burying his face there and bleeding his hot pheromones on me.

“I believe we are. We will always be okay with you around.” I whisper back, turning around in his embrace and facing him as he stands upright. “And you? Are you okay?” I ask, lifting my hands to cup his jaws.

He does not look so well. He must also be finding it rough with everything that is going on. I know it is also not that easy for him to treat his parents that way. Managing all these messes must be weighing him down to a great extent.

“I am okay as long as my world is intact.” He leans in and kisses me gently before meeting my eyes with his once again. “You. You and our baby are what matter most.” He says this, soothing my back.

Sweet, right? How can I not feel intoxicated when he sounds so sincere, so loving, so gentle, so enchanting and alluring? So sweet.

“And your parents? Don’t you think you were a bit too hard on them?” I ask gently.

He emits a bitter smirk. “Naah! What they did to me is unforgivable. I would never do this to my child for anything. I would rather close down the damn empire than subject my own child to this hell of misery. They will come around anyway. We cannot be like this for long. I just need some space from them.” He says.

He is indeed furious at them for what they did, which is so right. But then... “What if this all went well, Liam? What if you and Mitch got along well and your marriage turned out so well? What if you both had truly fallen in love with each other? Would you have had anything to blame your parents for?” I curiously ask:

He smirks again. “That would be a miracle given that we were practically forced into this.” He says.

“But still, miracles do happen.” I say.

“How would I have fallen in love if I was forced to leave behind the one person that I loved so much? That can never happen to anyone. And even if it were to happen, nothing whatsoever in this world can right this arranged absurdity. No one should be robbed of the right to search for their own true love and marry the one they choose for themselves.” He states.

And I agree. I had never thought of loving someone else since he left. I could not picture myself standing in front of another man and uttering the three words. I would have perhaps choked on them or bit my tongue before they could even leave my lips. And completely loving someone else, surrendering wholly to another man was something that hit me with a sense of disgust. At some point, I knew I would need to move on, but that picture was always so vague. I never got a clear picture or sense of loving another man.

And now I know just why—because the love of my life, my better half, the winner of my heart and soul, and everything that makes the whole of me, had been robbed of me. How could I have loved someone else? How could I begin to love again?

“You seem deeply engrossed in thoughts. What are you thinking about?” Liam asks, lifting my chin up.

I shingled my thoughts and coerced a smile. “Just wondering how all this will end, Liam. Will your parents, especially your mother, ever like me for you? What if she never does?” I ask.

He kisses my forehead and aligns our faces. “We will worry about things as they come. For now, we both had a rough time. We are both stressed out. We need to soothe ourselves and calm ourselves, don’t you think?” He asks in a condescending way that leaves me grinning like an idiot.

“Ooh, yeah? How?” I implore.

“Let’s get upstairs, then I will show you how.” He says this as he sweeps me off the floor.

He is crazy! Totally crazy. “Hey! It is a broad Saturday daytime. What if that bitch comes back and finds us in there?” I ask him as he starts up the stairs.

“Then let her come. Maybe it is time we corroborate her stupid hunches, right, don’t you think? Let us not keep her speculating any further. The poor bitch might run mad from too many suspicions.”

Huh? We what? What is he suggesting?

“And then what, Liam?” I ask.

“And then, we end all this!” He asks, blocking my curiosity with a mischievous wink. Now even I think I am damn clueless about his plan.