Isabelle’s heart beat a little faster. It was only natural? She had known Liam for barely a month, and here he was, taking time off work to spend with her. The contract marriage, the one that was supposed to be a purely business arrangement was slowly morphing into something else entirely. Something unexpected, something warmer, and something that felt eerily familiar and intoxicatingly new.
Their peaceful morning was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. Liam rose to answer it his expression turning serious. Isabelle watched him as he opened the door, revealing two police officers in uniform.
“Mr. Callahan?” one of the officers asked, extending a hand.
“Yes, that’s me,” Liam replied, shaking the officer’s hand.
“Officer Davies, and this is Officer Miller.” the officer said, gesturing to his colleague. “We are here about the incident last night.”
“I see,” Liam replied with his gaze flickering towards Isabelle.
“We came to take your statement.” Officer Davies explained, stepping into the apartment with his eyes scanning the interior. “We know you fought the men who attacked you, and we need a description.”
“Oh, that’s alright, officers,” Liam said with his tone polite but firm. “It’s not a big deal. I’d rather not waste your time.”
Isabelle quickly interjected, “No, Liam, please. Let them take your statement. The leader of the group sounded very dangerous. They could come after you for revenge.” She said with her voice laced with concern.
“I’m fine, Isabelle,” Liam said, his voice dismissive. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Liam, please!” she insisted, her voice rising slightly. “It’s not safe, especially after what happened last night.”
Liam sighed his gaze softening as he met Isabelle’s pleading eyes. He knew he couldn’t argue with her. She was right, and he couldn’t bear the thought of anything happening to her. “Alright, alright.” he conceded.
Isabelle nodded, her heart thumping against her ribs. She wasn’t sure what this sudden change in Liam was, but she liked it. The Liam who was willing to take a risk for her, a Liam who was fiercely protective and genuinely cared about her well-being, was a far cry from the distant and emotionless man she had initially met.
“Thank you, Mr. Callahan.” Officer Davies said with his gaze appreciative. “Your cooperation is very helpful in this investigation.”
Liam ushered the officers into the living room, gesturing them towards the sofa. Isabelle followed closely behind with her hand resting lightly on Liam’s arm. He squeezed her hand reassuringly with his gaze meeting hers for a moment before he turned back to the officers.
“So, what happened?” Officer Davies asked, settling into the sofa. “Can you describe the men who attacked you?”
Liam took a deep breath with his mind replaying the events of the previous night. He recounted the incident in detail, describing the physical features of the three thugs, their rough clothes, and their menacing demeanor. He described the leader, the man who had launched the initial attack with particular clarity. His sharp eyes, the jagged scar that ran across his jaw, and the cruel smirk that twisted his lips.
Officer Davies listened intently with his pen scribbling furiously on a notepad. He asked Liam a series of questions, trying to glean as much information as possible. Finally, he pulled out a sketchpad and a pencil.
“Can you describe the leader’s face again?” he asked. “In detail, please.”
Liam, guided by Officer Davies, described the man’s features, the shape of his eyes, the curve of his nose, and the slight crookedness of his teeth. As the officer sketched, the image of the thug, a snarling beast with a dangerous glint in his eyes, slowly took shape on the page.
“That’s him!” Liam said, his voice tight with a mixture of anger and fear.
“We’ll be in touch, Mr. Callahan.” Officer Davies said, his gaze is serious. “We’ll let you know as soon as we have any leads.”
The officers stood, thanking Liam for his cooperation, and left the apartment. Isabelle watched them go, a wave of relief washing over her as the door closed.
“It’s alright, Isabelle,” Liam said, his voice soft. “They’ll find them.”
“I hope so,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
They returned to the kitchen, the aroma of bacon and maple syrup still lingering in the air. They sat down, both of them quiet, the silence filled with unspoken thoughts.
“We should go see Gina,” Liam said suddenly, breaking the silence.
Isabelle stiffened, her hand instinctively reaching for her coffee cup. “I’m not really up for it,” she said, her voice hesitant. “I’m tired. Maybe tomorrow?”
“No,” Liam said, his tone firm. “We need to go. She’s worried about you.”
“She’s… worried about me? Really?” Isabelle asked a sardonic edge to her voice. “I think you might be mistaken.”
Liam’s gaze softened. “I know she has good intentions, Isabelle. She loves you.”
“She loves me?” Isabelle scoffed. “Or does she just love the idea of me marrying you?”
Liam frowned, his gaze intense. “I don’t know what her motivations are, Isabelle. But I know that you are a part of her life, and she wants what’s best for you.”
“Maybe I don’t want what’s best for me.” Isabelle retorted, her voice rising and her anger simmering just beneath the surface.
Liam reached out and gently took her hand with his touch warm and reassuring. “Look, Isabelle, I know this whole situation is a mess. But we’re in this together, okay? We’ll get through this, together. But we have to start somewhere, and that starts with seeing Gina.”
Isabelle’s gaze met his, the anger slowly dissipating, replaced by a sense of weariness. She knew that Liam was right. This whole mess, this contrived marriage, this web of lies and manipulation, all started with her mother. But what was there to gain by confronting her? Would it change anything?
“Fine.” she sighed, her voice drained. “We can go.”
Liam’s face brightened. “Good,” he said, his voice filled with relief. “I’ll go get dressed.” He stood up, his eyes bright with anticipation. “You get ready too, alright? We’ll leave in ten minutes.”
Isabelle watched him as he left the kitchen, the sound of his footsteps fading down the hallway. She stared down at her coffee cup, her mind racing. She was angry and disappointed, and yet, there was a sliver of something else there, something that made her chest tighten and her breath catch in her throat. It was a strange, unexpected feeling, a sense of hope, a flicker of something that felt almost like… love…