Liam’s eyes blazed with fierce intensity, his jaw clenched in suppressed rage, a balled fist by his side while the other hand held Isabelle’s tightly as if to protect her from the supposed enemy standing before them. The whole happy feeling he had gathered throughout the day dispersed the moment his eyes rested on the man who had always coveted his fiancee.
“Max.. why are you stalking us?… What are you up to this time?” Liam berated the man before him, his last thread of patience threatening to snap, his gaze flashing with intense fury. “You should leave now”
“What makes you think I’m stalking you?… I was just passing by and saw you guys walking out of that gourmet food store” Max snorted, trying to defend himself. “I see you both have gotten over the recent scandal. I’m quite interested in how you were able to do that… Please, enlighten me”
Liam’s expression darkened, a stormy sea of emotions churning beneath the surface, irritated by the carefree voice of his cousin. His voice dripped with icy venom as he spoke, “You should learn to mind your business, Max… My relationship with my fiancee is between the both of us and we are not expecting a third party”
Max chuckled amusingly, a playful smirk curving on his lips as he darted his gaze over to Isabelle’s spot. “I wasn’t asking you, Liam. I was asking Isabelle… How did you get the cold-hearted and prideful cousin of mine to forgive you?…. Or is it… Oh! Don’t tell me he doesn’t know the whole truth yet… You should…..”
“That’s enough, Max” Isabelle interjected with a defiant expression on her face, her heart thumping hard at the thought of the consequences, if Max was to reveal anything. She was already having a blissful time with Liam and wasn’t ready to end it yet. “Liam already told you to stop meddling in our affairs…”
“Come on, Isabelle. Don’t be like that… We have a long history together, a memorable one at that” Max chided her, a threatening glint in his eyes as he stared deeply at her. “You shouldn’t throw it away like that”
Liam’s heart had turned cold hearing Max’s words. His tech guy had already mentioned the possibility of the both of them keeping a dangerous secret. He wanted to investigate but he also believed that gaining Isabelle’s trust would make her reveal the truth willingly. “Max, leave now”
“Or what, Liam?” Max asked, a challenging tone in his voice, his gaze containing much animosity. “Don’t you want to know to hear the story that led to the deep connection between me and Isabelle?… I could tell you if you want”
“I have no deep connection with you. Whatever happened was a mistake” Isabelle blurted out in defense, a guilty expression on her face as she glanced at Li who stared back at her with a darkened expression. She knew she had to tell him before Max did the honor, thereby ruining things for her. “You should choose your words carefully”
“Your fierce nature was what attracted me to you in the first place. You are supposed to be with me” Max complimented her, his gaze roaming about her endlessly, causing Liam to advance with a clenched fist.
“Get your filthy eyes off her” he roared, moving further until he felt a soft grip on his shirt, trying to stop him from moving. He turned to see Isabelle’s pleading gaze, “let go of me”
“Please, he isn’t worth it.. let’s just leave. That is exactly what he wants, for you to lose your cool. Don’t give him that privilege” Isabelle uttered with a convincing tone, tightening her grip on his shirt. “Let’s just go”
Liam’s anger dissipated a little at Isabelle’s teary eyes. He halted in his tracks to deliver a final warning to his cousin. “Stay away from my fiancee, Max. Don’t push me to the wall”
“I don’t think there’s anything you can do to threaten me,” Max said, his tone indifferent as he turned to leave but the next words that came from Liam’s mouth caused him to freeze on the spot.
“If you refuse to listen, I’ll get the family lawyer to exclude your name from the family tree. Your inheritance will be transferred to me permanently” Liam declared, his tone filled with resolution as he pulled Isabelle towards his car, not minding the person he had left stunned.
Max had expected any form of threats but never in his whole life did he expect to be threatened with his family inheritance. Even if his relationship with the Callahan family wasn’t that deep, his aunt, Liam’s mother, had left something for him to lean on, on behalf of his mother. To what length would Liam go to keep his fiancee?…. What if he figures out the truth of their intimacy?… He needed to speak with his accomplice.
****
Anastasia stood with her mouth agape, stunned by the plan her boss’s mother, Rose, had choreographed to get rid of their common enemy, Isabelle. She couldn’t find the right words to respond with.
“Um.. are you sure it’s going to work?… I hope Mr. Callahan won’t find out” Anastasia stuttered, her body quivering in fear at the thought of the truth being revealed. But she also wanted to get involved with it, no matter the cost.
“If you still have your doubts, then we should forget about it. We never discussed anything” Rose uttered with a hurtful expression. “You can leave”
“No no. I’m in. Let’s do it” Anastasia hurriedly agreed, her resolve unwavering, causing a smile to appear on Rose’s face. If only she knew the penalty for the atrocity she was about to commit. Rose had made a plan B, if things didn’t go well, she was going to make Anastasia take the blame and proceed with her next plan.
“I think those two are back,” Rose said, straining her ears to be sure of the hooting car she had heard, she quickly closed her curtains and turned to Anastasia. “You should leave now. I can’t afford to cause any suspicions”
“Alright, madame Rose” Anastasia bowed and briskly walked out of the room, preparing her mind for the plan she was to carry out. She walked over to the living room just in time to see her boss and the woman she loathed come into the house.
“Welcome home, Mr Callahan” she greeted with a venomous smile on her lips.