Chapter 42
Clupter 41 Amore Mio
“Mommy, I’m hungry, I want your special mac and cheese. Will you co
you cook it for me once we go home?”
I gently caressed Rylie’s hair and nodded. “Of course, baby”
She beamed joyfully and hummed her favorite Disney song, her excitement about going home evident in how her little feet kicked happily. “Will you eat with us, Uncle Liam!” Rylie asked, looking up at Liam Anderson from the wheelchair she was in
“Do you want me to?” he asked, with a smile on his lips.
“I do! I do!”
Liam glanced at me, about to say something, but the elevator doors slid open at the basement level where my car was parked before he could. “Where’s Uncle Gavin Ryker asked, looking around as if expecting him to pop out from behind one of the cars
Ryker was used to Gavin picking us up whenever we were in the hospital.
“Right, where’s Daddy? How come he wasn’t here to see me, Mommy?” Rylic, who had been too busy with Liam to notice Gavin’s absence earlier, suddenly remembered my friend
She pouted, disappointment flickering in her eyes. From the corner of my eye, I saw how Liam’s gentle expression shifted, his jaw tightening ever so slightly.
He didn’t like hearing my children looking for Gavin.
“He had something important to take care of,” I replied, unlocking my car.
“More important than me?”
I bent down in front of Bylir, brushing a strand of hair from her face and cupping her cheek. That’s not what I meant, sweetheart. You know Daddy Gavin would love to be here, but he couldn’t leave work. But that doesn’t mean it’s more important than you.”
“Rylic, I’m sure Uncle Gavin will be at our house later, reading, your bedtime stories, Ryker said, helping me reassure his twin sister. Rylie sighed but eventually nodded, seeming somewhat satisfied. Then, as if flipping a switch, her face brightened again.
“Okay! But won’t you come home with us, Uncle Liam? You s
should try Mommy’s mac and cheese!”
He can’t eat that, Rylic Liam Anderson doesn’t like cheese. He hates it.
Liam smiled and gently caressed Rylie’s hair before glancing at me.
Kylar seemed to notice and turned to me as well. “Can he come with us, Mommy! Of course,
* he can, right? He’s your boss now! We should be nice to him,” she reasoned, her eyes gleaming with expectation.
“Kylie, since he’s my boss, I’m sure he’s busy and has things to do. Let’s
“I don’t have anything to do today, though,” 1 jam cut me off smoothly.
not
disturbi him—”
“Hear that, Mommy! He cau come with us?
In the end, I unvited Liam Anderson to come home with us. I
- us. He even offered to drive, and to my frustration, I let him
Something I never would have imagined myself doing a few days ago
But right the plan, Mia
The plan I had finally decided on after that talk wuh Camille Davis.
I glanced at the rearview mirror, watching my children. Rylie was talking animateilly about our house and how excited she was to show Liam ber rporn. Ryker, on the other hand, sat quietly, his expressions unreadable.
Chapter 12
I’m sorry, Ryker and Rylie… We should have just run away. I should never have let this man get close to us.
FsuLinger. He’s a monster.
But I had to face him. I had to play his game.
And I had to win.
I want revenge. Desperately,
“You want more, Uncle Liam?”
Before Liam could respond, Rylie eagerly scooped another spoonful of mac and cheese onto his plate.
I didn’t stop her. Instead, I watched as Liam Anderson took another bite of a dish I knew he didn’t like.
I could already imagine him rushing to the nearest sink–or maybe the bushes outside–once he left my house, spitting out everything he’d forced himself to eat.
Do you like Mommy’s mac and cheese? It’s the best, right?” Ry
Rylie asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Yeah, it is. You’re a good cook, Mia, Liam said with an easy smile.
I returned his smile, masking my amusement. Thank you, Liam. Do you
you want me to pack you some more?”
His snurk faltered for just a second. “Oh, this is already enough. You should save some for Rylie and Ryker.”
Im sure Mommy can cook more to share with you, Uncle Liam,” Rylie chirped.
I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing when Liam’s face paled slightly.
Tim done. Mommy. Can I go upstairs and use my iPad? Ryker asked, pushing his plate away.
“Sure, but don’t forget our screen time rules”
“Two hours‘ It’s the weekend. Mommy. Please?”
I sighed, ruffling his hair. “Okay.”
- ny. Can I play with Ryker!”
Kylie put down her spoon. I’m done too, Mommy. Can I
Ryker groaned but didn’t argue.
Just don’t tight, okay?”
Rylie modded, beaming. Then, she turned to Liam. “Play with us, Uncle Liam!”
“No, baby,” I interjected before Liam could answer. “He’s still eating, and he has to go home now. We’ve already taken up enough of his time.”
Rylic pouted momentarily, I braced myself for one of her dramatic tantrums. But instead, she did something that made my heart ache.
1
She walked over to Liam, grabbed a napkin, and tiptoed, reaching up toward his face.
Liam blinked in surprise but leaned down, allowing her to wipe the corner of his lips.
“Thank you, Kylie,” he murmured.
I dropped my gaže to my plate, unwilling to see the look on his face. I hated this. I hated that it made me feel something. But no matter how much I tried to ignore it, the ache ut my heart refused to disappear.
Kylie giggled and then, withiant hesitation, kissed Liam’s check
“Thank you too, Uncle Liam. I hope you can visit me again and read us some books?
“Sure, Kylie. I will” Liam said, his gaze uoltening as he caressed my daughter’s
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Chapter 42
“Take care. Uncle Liam, Ryker added before taking Rylie’s hand and leading her upstairs.
A brief silence settled between us as I started gathering the plates.
“You did a good jobs raising them, Mia” Liam said. “Ryker, at his young age, seems responsible and mature, while Rylle is like a ball of full
of energy
Instead of responding, I stood up and continued clearing the table,
I reached for his plate, but his hand closed around mine before I could take it. A udden jolt of electricity shot through me
sprickly composed myself and gently pulled away.
“I’m still eating. Mia.“
“You shouldn’t force yourself to eat something you don’t like. Liam, I replied,
Liam, I replied, crossing my arms.
His gaze sharpened. “How do you know I don’t like it?”
Here we go again
I smirked. “It’s obvious you were forcing yourself.
Liam leaned back, studying me with that unreadable expression of his. “You know me that well, huh?”
I shook my head, already sensing where this conversation was going “You’re at it again, Liam. What now? Since I noticed you don’t like mar and cheese, you’re going to say I’m really your ex–wife?”
He didn’t say a word—he just kept staring at me.
“You should get going. I know you’re busy. Thank you for today”
I turned my back on him, but after only a few steps, I felt his hand on my arm, sliding down to my wrist, holding me there.
His warm breath brushed against my nape.
“What are you doing—”
“Aren’t you really her?” His voice was low, almost a whisper, but the weight of those words pressed into me like a plea.
I swallowed hard as his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close.
“Please, amore mio His voice cracked slightly. His grip tightened as if afraid I’d slip away. “I miss you.…….”
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