a mask of concerned sorrow. He was no longer Liam, the

ft. "I came as soon as I hea

him just hours ago had curdled into something cold and har

the room, his face etched with worry.

usion flickered across his face.

vanished, replaced by a possessive glint in his eyes

id, his voice laced with an authority th

ah. Her

She needs family, not... friends. I thi

his eyes asking for a signal. I gave him a

lling resolve settled over me. The pain was still there, a deep, h

... you told me if I ever needed anything, you'd be there. You ev

c. "Ava, I... yes. Of course. I meant it. But t

offer?" I asked, m

moment, searching my f

I ac

What? Ava, you're not thinking straig

re clearly in my life," I sa

ation in my eyes. He stepped out into the hallway to ma

lieve this... Ava... she sai

Liam. He must have been waiting

emanded, his "Ethan" persona f

block of ice. I met his fu

" I said, my voice dripp

hang in the a

er-in-law. Remem

his face was the first satis