“That was amazing. Did you cook it, Isabella?” I inquired.
“I did! I love cooking. Almost as much as Alec loves eating,” she said, giggling. I looked between the two, wondering how long they had been married. Normal couples were not this over the top, right?
“I used to love cooking, but it’s been a while,” I said, thinking back to taking care of my little brother.
“Don’t be shy; you’re welcome to come back anytime, and we can cook together,” she said, beaming a brilliant smile.
“That’s so generous,” I said, knowing Liam would probably never subject me to this again, let alone one on one time with them.
A woman I hadn’t seen before came in and took our plates one by one and wiped the table clean. I thanked her, but everyone else seemed unfazed and accustomed to this. A man dressed in an immaculate suit walked in and caught the attention of Alec.
“You’re needed in your study, sir,” he said.
Alec nodded. “Liam, join me please.”
“Oh my God, Autumn, I’ve been dying to show you the kitchen. Maybe it will make you want to take me up on my offer,” Isabella said. She was standing, and in an instant, she had my arm, pulling me to the doorway that their maid had disappeared through.
Liam’s face paled as he watched her drag me away. “Text me if you need me, Autumn. I won’t be long.”
I nodded and let Isabella pull me away from my safe place. Stunned was the only word I could formulate as I entered the huge, white, commercial kitchen.
“Um, impressive,” I said, letting a small laugh escape my lips.
“This was the only thing I requested to remodel when I moved in,” she said, twirling around the room. I should have hated her for making Liam bitter. I should have hated her for being so beautiful and a good cook and having good hair. But she was too nice to hate. Somewhere deep down inside, I felt she was trapped here in some way. I almost pitied her if my suspicions were correct.
“Is something going on out there?” I asked.
Her face fell. Suddenly her pretty kitchen was a million miles away, and all she could concentrate on was everything she didn’t want to think about.
“Business stuff. I guess with Liam quitting ball, Alec is trying to give him a new opportunity.”
“Opportunity?” My nose scrunched, confused.
She gripped the counter, letting her head fall, her hair created a curtain between us. Almost as if on cue she let out a deep breath, stood straight up, and composed herself.
“Autumn, the best advice I can give you in this life is to not ask questions,” she said.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t get too caught up on the bad stuff, Autumn. Focus on the parts that you love about the person you’re with.”
“And what happens when the bad outweighs the good?” I asked, crossing my arms.
“I have a feeling we aren’t talking about you and Liam.”
“Just in general.”
“What was your parents’ relationship like?” she asked, and I was taken aback.
“Was? How do you know it was in the past?” I demanded.
She looked horrified. “Please don’t say anything.”
“Did Alec look into me?”
She didn’t say anything—she didn’t need to. Her face said everything I needed to know. Just like that, everything made sense. The house, the secrets, why Liam had no relationship with him. It ran a lot deeper than I would ever know, and I’ was okay with that. The less I knew, the better.
“Something shady is going on here, and I won’t be a part of it. I hope Liam agrees,” I said. I busted through the door leading to the dining room. I ran into the foyer, following the same path I’d come in because I had no idea how to get out of this hell hole. I wasn’t sure what my plan was, but I just knew I needed fresh air.
Liam’s family was fucked. His dad was evil. His stepmom was stuck. And they had information about me. As I was walking out of the front door, I heard Liam. I’d never heard that tone coming from his mouth, and it scared the shit out of me.
“No! I’m done!” he shouted. I clung to the wall, hoping he didn’t see me.
“You have too much of your mother in you. You know she was leaving me before she got sick, right? Everyone wants my damn money, but everyone acts so high and mighty when they find out what I do!”
“I wish she had fucking left! She would’ve died happier than being here with you.”
“Come on, Liam. That’s not fair,” he pleaded. “You’ll change your mind.”
Liam’s face was unreadable as he spotted me, and he looked relieved in that instant. He held his hand out, wrapping mine in it. Alec grabbed his should, stopping him with one last plea.
“I’ll step back. Just please promise me you won’t cut me out of your life,” Alec said, looking between Liam and me. Liam nodded and pulled me from the house and into the safety of his car.
“I don’t want to know,” I said, and he nodded. “Unless you just need to talk about it.”
“He just wants to control me. He’s been cooking that up since I told him I wasn’t playing ball. I don’t know if it was a shock factor or if he really thought I was anything like him.”
I let him work it out in his head for a minute, wondering if I should let him vent more.
Twenty-Six
“That was…intense,” I said.
“That was exactly how I thought it would go,” he said through clenched teeth. He sent his fist flying into the steering wheel, leaving a dent. He looked at me with an apology, but I nodded. The truth was that I didn’t flinch over violence anymore.
He leaned his head into my neck, pleading and apologizing with each kiss he placed on my skin.
“Push your seat back,” I demanded.
