CHAPTER EIGHT
I thought the time when Liam had been ignoring me had been long… this definitely topped it. After Brigham had told Liam about Graham, Liam practically flew out of the car and towards the mansion, leaving me in the car to compose myself. After a good five minutes, I decided that I would be okay enough to go inside and see what had happened. I was horrified to see Evelyn sobbing over her bloody husband, seeing the bandages covering his wounds.
It looks like he had been beaten pretty badly, maybe even stabbed.
It made me sick to my stomach.
Who could do such a thing!?
And that’s all Liam could seem to think about.
Another week has passed, and I’ve barely seen him. I had no choice but to stay with Evelyn and Ava, to be protected since I was Liam’s ‘woman’, but I sure didn’t even feel like it. We nearly had sex that day, and now, it seems like we have taken a million steps back. One minute, I think he’s going to screw me against the wall, and then the next, he’s looking at me like he hates my guts. This bipolar attitude of his was going to drive me insane.
Contract or not, I wasn’t going to get treated like this.
Especially when the females have been acting like we’re having relationship problems.
“You don’t need to worry about me,” I told them quietly as we sat in the living room, seeing how miserable Evelyn looked which couldn’t be good for the baby, “Liam and I are just fine. I understand why he’s acting this way right now. His brother was badly injured.”
“I know.” Evelyn mumbled, sipping on her tea, “I just wish he would wake up for me. The doctor said all his injuries missed vital areas, so he’s not sure why Graham isn’t waking up. I’m afraid… I’m afraid that I’ll have to raise our children alone.”
My heart hurt for her, and I reached out to squeeze her hands, trying to comfort her, “don’t worry, you’re not alone in this. He will wake up, I’m sure of it.”
“How can you know?” Evelyn asked me, rubbing her swollen belly, “it worries me that there’s nothing I’m going to be able to do for him. I feel useless! You’re being the strong one, Mila, and you’re not even married into the family yet. I’m glad Liam is there to support you through this, and you him. He might not seem like it, but this is really messing him up as well.”
I knew she was telling the truth, having seen the way Liam has been acting. It was unfortunate because all her words reminded me that this was all a ruse to trick them. It hurt to even think of how they would feel if they found out…
“Mila!” I heard Liam call out to me, his voice gruff, “we need to talk!”
I looked up at Liam, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion as I saw that he was actually glaring at me. I rose to my feet, telling the girls that I would be back before I walked towards him. He stayed a good distance away, but I saw another man had walked up behind him, looking like a guard of some kind.
“What’s going on?” I asked softly, wondering why I had this unsettling feeling going on inside of me.
Liam drew in a deep breath, meeting my eyes, “our deal is done, Mila, you can go now.”
It was like a strike to the face, my eyes widening in surprise, “what? Why? Our time isn’t up.”
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be.” Liam hissed, practically dragging me out of the room, “you don’t have to worry about pretending to be my fiancee anymore. Hell, keep the money, the clothes, and even the ring. I have bigger concerns to deal with right now. This guard will take you home. Lose my number, okay?”
“That’s it?” I was baffled, confused as to why he was acting this way, “what about what happened?”
Liam’s eyes darkened just before he turned away from me, “just leave, Mila, don’t make me force you.”
My heart was aching with pain but I wasn’t going to argue with him. There would be no point. He made it clear how he feels, and that this was all just a contract. I just need to turn around and walk away…
It hurt a lot to do so.
Liam
I watched Mila being taken away, feeling this emptiness creeping inside of me but I knew I had done the right thing. As much as I wanted to keep her, to continue to have her by my side, it wasn’t safe. I was going to drag her into my messed-up world.
“Are you sure you know what you’re doing, Liam?” Evelyn asked me, “she is good for you.”
I turned away, not wanting her to see the sadness on my face, “it doesn’t matter. She’s better off without me, Evelyn. It would be best if she just forgot I existed.”
It didn’t matter what I wanted.
Just so long as she is okay.