Begin Again

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Eden and her friends go to a club to help Eden get over a breakup. Eden loses her patience when people try to cut in line.

Eden loses her patience after a long wait in line and stress from her recent breakup, and confronts some people trying to cut in line.

After breaking up with Laura, Liam finds that he can no longer be intimate with other women either and destroys some of Eden's clothes in frustration.

Chapter 1 Crush

Words Count: 2082 | Released on:19/06/2021


"Can someone please tell me why I left our perfectly comfortable couch to freeze my ass off
here?" Eden McBride glared at her three friends waiting patiently in the queue with her.
It's been over an hour, but the long line snaking its way around the block had barely moved.
Out of all the hangouts in Rock Castle, they had to choose Crush, one of the most challenging
clubs to get into, especially on the one weekend when the hottest DJ in town makes an
appearance.
"To help you get over the man whose name we won't mention!" Sienna, her best friend since
primary school, said in a hushed tone. The clear plastic beads dangling on the ends of her long
ombre braids chinked as she turned her head to match her death glare.
On her 'bad' days, Sienna was cute. But on a good day, like tonight, she was smoking hot. The
guys milling about, desperate to get inside like they were, clearly thought so too. They could
barely peel their eyes from her.
"Yeah, Eden, we've given you enough time to mope," Lydia chimed in as she snapped a quick
selfie and posted it on her Instagram. Within seconds her phone pinged incessantly with
notifications from millions of adoring fans. Lydia is a mega-successful YouTuber whose makeup
videos have catapulted her to a goddess-like status on the internet.
"The sooner you get back on the bike, the better," Cassandra added, flicking her long blond hair
over her shoulder as she pulled up the collar of her signature leather jacket. In the five or six
years Eden's known her, she's never seen her in a dress. Not even once. For a self-proclaimed
tomboy, Cassandra was effortlessly chic, and with her tall slim physique and delicate features,
she could pull off any look.
In their crew, Eden was the plainest, and she was okay with that. Her skin was so pale she could
never get a tan no matter how long she stayed in the sun. She tried colouring her long mousey
brown hair a few times, but the constant retouching got old real quick. Her most striking feature
was her slanted, brown eyes. Pity, she had to hide them behind thick-lensed glasses because she
was almost as blind as a bat without them.
"He's moved on. You should do the same!" Lydia chimed in brutally. Subtlety was not her strong
suit.
Eden sighed and rolled her eyes. Her friends meant well. But, she was okay with spending her
days and nights in front of the TV binging on carbs and terrible reality shows. She was cool with
not brushing her hair or changing her clothes for days on end. She was happy to cry herself to
sleep and wake up with a puffy face and swollen eyes. But she didn't want to be rushed through
her grief.
How could six weeks be enough to get over a lifetime of memories, of four years of happy
moments and hopeful dreams, dashed in an instant?
"If this stupid line doesn't move in the next two minutes, I'm leaving," she said and pulled her
trench tighter, glad she had the foresight to wear it even when her friends wanted her to ditch it
because it was 'ruining her whole aesthetic'.
A Lamborghini screeched in front of the entrance, followed by a Ferrari and a Porsche. A group
of men, as tall as the surrounding office towers and good looking enough to have walked straight
out of a fashion magazine, jumped out of the three cars, threw their car keys at the valets, and
made their way to the door.
Perhaps it was the long line that seemed to be going nowhere fast or the stress of the past few
weeks, but when Eden saw the six towers trying to bypass the queue, she lost all her patience.
Without thinking, she left her place and stormed to the entrance, her friends trailing behind her.
She tapped the very tall ginger, trying to smooth talk his way into the club, on the shoulder. He
turned to look at her, his thick eyebrows fusing in a questioning frown.
Eden paused, her lungs struggling to keep up with her thoughts and take in simple breaths. With
hair so bright like flames, she expected his eyes to be green. Not this denim blue. She could feel
herself struggle against their pull.
"Eden, don't cause a scene," Sienna gritted her teeth and tugged at her arm.
But, Eden saw no reason to be polite. Not when she was almost frozen solid she could barely feel
her ass.
She stretched to her full height as she tried to match the man's towering size. But even in her
Jimmy Choo stilettos, she still had to look up at him.
"Can I help you?" He asked in a voice meant to melt the panties off of any woman within a
kilometre radius.
As if he wasn't already deadly enough, he had a cleft too. The fact that it wasn't so prominent and
only seemed to show itself when he spoke or smiled, which was all he did in the last fifty
seconds, made it all the more devastating.
"I don't need your help," Eden said icily, hating him a little. He had no right to be so attractive.
"Okay, then!" He shrugged, showing off two rows of perfectly straight teeth as he smiled. They
were so white she thought they might be veneers. They had to be. There was no way anyone
would have such great teeth unless they had an excellent dentist.
"If you are done gawking at me–"
Eden held up her hand, irritated with herself for noticing all these things about him and hating
him a little more for his presumptuous arrogance.
"Do you see all these people?" She glared at him and pointed at the endless line. "They've been
waiting for over an hour. You can't just come here and skip the queue."
"Are you going to stop me, Princess?" His rust-coloured eyebrows shot up, his eyes sparkling
with amusement and his Calvin Klein underwear model friends sniggered. Eden wanted so much
to wipe the smirk off his face with her puny little fists. But she was an educated person. She
didn't have to use her hands to prove her point. Words were just as powerfu
l.
"If you have any decency, you'll do the right thing and wait in line like everyone else."
She said, blinking furiously behind her black-framed glasses.
A hush fell over the small crowd gathered around them. Eden's friends kept tugging
and pulling at her. But she was so over everything, including this night, and she
refused to be intimidated by Red as he leaned down to stare at her at eye level
condescendingly.
"I guess I'm not a decent person now, am I?" He blew a cold minty breath on her face
and shrugged, returning his attention to the bouncer.
He flashed a few notes at the burly man, gathered up his crew, and waved at her
group. "They are with us!"
Before Eden could even process his announcement, they were already inside the club,
wading through a swarm of sweaty heaving bodies swaying to the music.
It took her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the dim lighting. Up ahead, she saw the
man she just tussled with head to a VIP booth.
Was she supposed to thank him for getting them in? No way, she shook her head.
Now that she was inside, she was glad her toes and ass were not so numb anymore,
but she had no issue waiting her turn like everyone else.
"Oh, St. Eden, we are forever in your debt. Drinks are on us tonight!" Cassandra
bowed and brought her hands up in a prayer-like gesture.
Lydia giggled and gushed. "Yeah, you took one for the team! I mean, I would never
have dared to approach Liam."
"That's his name?" Eden asked, barely paying attention to her friends' chatter. 'Red'
suited him better in her opinion.
She craned her neck, scanning the room for free seats. But other than a few empty
stools at the bar, there was no sitting room anywhere, and she desperately wanted to
sit down. As cute as her shoes were, especially when paired with her black midi dress,
her feet were seriously killing her.
"Liam's like royalty around here. You must have heard about him," Sienna rattled
away. "He's a motorsport driver, throws the craziest parties, and he has a three-month
rule. He never dates anyone longer than three months."
"What a charming guy!" Eden nodded absently, but she's never heard of him. Not
surprising since she never paid attention to Rock Union's social scene.
Her eyes lit up when she saw some empty stools at the bar. It wasn't prime real estate,
especially since all the already inebriated idiots seemed to gravitate there, but she had
to rest her feet.
"Let's go," she grabbed Sienna's hand, and they pushed their way through the crowd,
Cassandra and Lydia close behind them.
"First round's on me!" Lydia yelled over the music as she tried to catch the bartender's
attention.
They kicked off their evening with a round of shooters and some gossip and followed
it up with cocktails and more scandalous stories. Lydia was sleeping with one of the
lighting guys from her filming crew, and she had no issue describing all his throbbing,
turgid parts for anyone who would listen.
Halfway through her first cocktail, Eden's mood improved some, and she started to
think maybe coming out here wasn't such a bad idea.
The DJ switched to a fast-paced tune. Lydia and Cassandra screamed something about
it being their favourite jam. Shrieking their heads off, they ran to the dance floor.
Eden watched them jump and bob to the music, a tipsy smile on her face.
"OMG!" Sienna said, her eyes filled with horror. "This is not happening!"
Eden's heart shattered all over again when her gaze clashed with Simon's across the
room. Olive, their former friend, dressed in a skintight metallic dress, hung on his arm
like a man purse.
"I didn't know they'll be here," Sienna said.
Eden nodded. "I'm okay."
But she wasn't.
Her heart was still so bloody and raw over her broken engagement. It wasn't so much
the breakup she was struggling with, though. It was the cowardly way Simon chose to
end their year-long engagement over a text message. He didn't just leave her with a
broken heart, but also the admin of cancelling the wedding and fighting for refunds.
She watched them now make their way through the room, carefree and in love like
they never left her broken and bruised.
In the first two weeks post their breakup, she was in numb disbelief and too busy
trying to explain to her parents and everyone around her why her intuition was so off
the mark about Simon. The worst, though, was calling all hundred guests to let them
know it was okay to use their wedding invitations as toilet paper because there wasn't
going to be a wedding.
She spent the four weeks after, floating between disbelief, crushing sadness, and rage.
She went through all the stages of grief in those weeks.
Now, as she watched the two people she'd trusted with her life, laugh and have fun,
Eden realised she was still somewhere between anger and acceptance.
"Should we go somewhere else?" Sienna asked.
Eden shook her head. She did nothing wrong except trust the two of them with her
heart. If anyone should leave, it was Simon and his cheating heart.
"Come on, let's show him you don't need him!" Sienna consoled her as they downed
the shots lined up on the smooth, marble top. "You've moped long enough for him!"
She was right. Six weeks was way too long to sit and cry for a man who had no
intention of coming back, Eden thought as she guzzled kamikaze shots, one after the
other, in quick succession.
Her heart, hellishly numb now, was thankful. But, her liver screamed at her to stop as
the vodka hit her hard.
Sienna tried to warn her to pace herself, but Eden was way past the point of being
reasonable. She wanted to get shitfaced.
"I'm going to dance," she hiccuped her way from the bar to the dance floor,
determined to pick a random stranger to dance with. She wasn't fussy. Anyone would
do.

Chapter 2 Make Me Forget


Words Count: 1522 | Released on:19/06/2021
Liam was the lucky random stranger.
Eden didn't care that another woman, a Barbie look-alike, dressed in the tightest, shortest,
blackest latex dress she had ever seen, was trying to call dibs on him.
"He's with me," she slurred as she propped herself between the two.
Barbie looked ready to murder her with her glacial stare, as she sized her up, her collagen-
pumped lips curling with distaste.
"Yeah," Liam chuckled, his cheeks and ears matched his flame hair. "I'm with her!"
"Your loss," Barbie flicked her long blond extensions over her shoulder and pranced off,
vanishing in the herd of vacant-eyed zombies swaying to the music.
"Thanks," Liam said with a smile. "You saved my life."
"I guess we're even now," Eden said softly. "Thanks for getting us in."
She wasn't planning to thank him. But, he did save her from the cold earlier.
"I guess being indecent helps sometimes?" He chuckled, and she liked him a little then.
A slow jam came on and out of the corner of her eye she saw Simon and Olive slink their way to
the dance floor. She panicked and threw herself in Liam's arms.
"Just pretend you're my boyfriend, okay?" She smiled up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears
she was struggling to contain. "Pretend you're madly in love with me."
"Whatever you want, Princess!" Liam pulled her close, his arms wrapped around her waist
possessively. Eden, acutely aware of his every movement as they moved to the music, tried to
ignore the tingling awareness rushing through her body at his touch. 'Tried' being the operative
word.
She read somewhere you can tell a lot about a person from the way they dance. It was true. What
she may have assumed to be arrogance earlier, was simply confidence on Liam's part.
"Am I a good boyfriend?" He lowered his head, their foreheads touching lightly. Her brain
screamed at her not to get excited as his five o'clock shadow grazed her cheek, sending her
quivering despite the warmth in the room.
"If your day job doesn't work out, you can always sign up with Rent-A-Boyfriend," Eden assured
him as she hung her arms around his neck, taking him in.
With his thick wavy red hair, Liam reminded her of Will Halstead from Chicago Med, one of her
favourite TV shows. He was too damn fine for his own good. And if she carried on clinging to
him, it was only a matter of time before she jumped straight from the pan and into the fire.
"Is there such a thing?" His eyebrows shot up, and his face lit up with curiosity.
"I don't know," she laughed, throwing her head back. "I've never needed their services before."
Until now, she thought sadly. Until today.
They swayed in silence for a minute, maybe three. Eden was happy to be in his arms, even when
the song ended, and another tune came on, she carried on moving, and Liam didn't seem to be in
any hurry to let her go.
"Other than dancing with random strangers, why are you here tonight?" She asked, suddenly
curious about him.
Crush was an okay nightclub for mere mortals like her. But she imagined filthy-rich gods like
him have private clubs, where only black cards and eight-figure bank balances allowed you
access.
Liam looked like an eight-figure bank balance type of guy. From his woodsy cologne tinged with
the faint whiff of expensive bourbon, to the dark slim-fit jeans he paired with a denim button-
down shirt and custom made sneakers. They had to be because she's never seen them on anyone
before.
"Celebrating my last night of freedom," he murmured.
Of course, Eden thought. It explained his entourage of Calvin Klein models. It was his bachelor
party. She instantly felt terrible for being rude to him earlier. If she was celebrating her last night
as a single woman, she wouldn't want to waste half of it waiting in the queue.
"Are you happy?" She asked on his chest. "Should I congratulate you?"
Liam laughed in her hair. "Not really. But it is what it is. How about you?"
"I'm here to forget," she looked up, her heart jumping to her throat when she caught the intense
look in his eyes. If he carried on staring at her like that, like she's the only woman in the room,
she might forget her heartbreak and sadness.
"Forget what?" He asked, searching her face as if the meaning behind her words was written
there.
"Everythi
ng," Eden smiled tearfully. "Make me forget, please?"
She didn't know what she was asking for until Liam gently lifted her chin and his mouth
descended on hers in a fiery kiss. For a breathless few minutes, all she was aware of was this
moment, his arms around her waist, pressing her close to him as he drove her to the brink of
insanity with his tongue and lips.
She leaned in, craving more of him, wanting all the warmth from his body. He had a swimmer's
body. Firm and taut in all the right places. And she liked it.
She could see herself with him.
He'd make a good rebound guy.
"Did you forget?" Liam asked, his voice hoarse, his ocean eyes stormy with yearning when they
came up for air.
"Almost," Eden replied breathlessly. He excited and scared her all at once because she knew she
was about to make what was undoubtedly her biggest mistake yet. But having spent the first
twenty-four years of her life colouring within the lines with nothing to show for it except a
broken engagement, for once she wanted to be a little reckless.
Liam grabbed her hand and led her out of Crush. She quickly texted her friend's while they
waited for the valet to bring his Lamborghini around.
He held the passenger door for her and helped her with the seatbelt. Scared and oddly
exhilarated, her body buzzed with anticipation for what lay ahead. She vaguely made out the
familiar streets as they zoomed through Rock Castle and headed to a private estate, safely tucked
away from commoners like her, behind boom gates and an army of guards stationed at the
security booth.
They drove through a long winding road, stopping in front of a massive, steel black gate which
yawned open when Liam hit a button on a small remote attached to a set of keys.
Eden gawked at the contemporary house perched on the hill, illuminated by the ground lights
lining the driveway. The all-white structure, with its smooth classic lines and minimalist accents,
looked like it was straight out of an architectural magazine.
A butler and a line of servants dressed in their crisp black and white uniforms, came out to greet
them.
"Mr Anderson, should we prepare dinner, Sir?"
Liam waved him off. "You can take the rest of the night off, Dave. Thank you."
The front door had barely shut when Liam reached for her.
His kisses were unrestrained, unreserved and more urgent this time. He picked her up, her legs
wrapping around his waist as he carried her up the glass staircase, through a long hallway and
finally placing her on the gigantic platform bed with sheets as white as snow, and as smooth as
silk to the touch.
"Do you still want to forget?" Liam asked as he dropped light kisses on her neck and slowly
undressed her.
"Yes," Eden whimpered feverishly as she clumsily removed his clothes. She wanted to forget the
last six weeks and thaw the ice around her heart so bad.
For hours, Liam did just that. He made her forget with his hands, cry out with his tongue, and
tremble and shudder in his embrace with his body.
If he wasn't a stranger, she met at a club, if he wasn't her rebound and she wasn't his last night of
freedom, their fiery encounter would have been so perfect for her first time.
"Did you forget?" Liam asked much later as they lay panting in each other's arms, their bodies
sleek with sweat.
"Yes," she murmured, her tears falling on his chest. She wished there was such a thing as Rent-
A-Boyfriend. She would ask for Liam all the time.
He leaned over her and kissed her so gently as he took her, more languidly this time. His bold
thrusts and searing caresses sent her world crashing all around her.
"God, you are beautiful, Princess," Liam growled, and shuddered into her.
Eden desperately clung to him as another tremendous wave of pleasure hit her like a hurricane,
leaving nothing but total devastation behind.
"Are you okay?" He asked as he kissed her forehead and tucked her in his arms again.
It took her a while to stop shaking. Liam held her close and let her cry, and when she was sure
she had no more tears left in her, she looked at him at last.
"I am now," she lied.
She'd never be okay after this.
Not when Liam was getting married soon. Not when he'd wielded so much power over her body.
And now on her fragile heart.

Chapter 3 Walk Of Shame


Words Count: 970 | Released on:19/06/2021
Eden woke up with a start, groggy and disoriented.
She sat up and immediately wished she hadn't when a throbbing pain pierced her temples.
A spark of desire surged through her when she turned and saw a naked Liam sprawled beside
her. Even in his flaccid state, he was still impressive and even when she knew she shouldn't, she
wanted him still, needed him, craved him.
Just thinking about last night, all the things they'd done, left her breathless.
She stretched and yawned silently, amazed at how every inch of her body ached with the
slightest of movements, even the parts that she didn't think should be, were oddly alive. But as
deliciously ravished as she felt, she had to get out of there quick before Liam woke up. The last
thing she wanted was an awkward chat about her temporary lapse in judgement with the man
who seemingly knew her body better than she knew herself, a man who was getting married
soon.
She said a small prayer of thanks when she saw her cellphone and glasses on the end table. She
snapped them on and sprung out of bed, wrestling with the swaying room when her feet touched
the matte wooden floors.
She closed her eyes and counted backwards from ten. When she opened them again, the ground
had stopped shaking, and she didn't feel so dizzy anymore.
Eden scanned the massive room, sighing in frustration as she frantically tried to locate her
clothes. But her dress had mysteriously vanished. The disappearance of her underwear was
another puzzle she didn't have time to solve.
She picked up Liam's denim shirt from the floor and threw it on. Surely he wouldn't miss it, she
thought as she grabbed her cellphone and ran from the room with her stilettos in her hands.
Her trench lay in a miserable heap at the foot of the stairs. Funny, she didn't remember Liam
taking it off.
He must have, though. The same way he took off the rest of her clothes. She trembled at the
memory of every little thing he did to her, every kiss, every touch, every thrust.
"Focus!" She shook her head as she threw it on and hopped into her shoes. As deliriously
thrilling as last night was, it was over. She had to put Liam behind her.
At the front door, Eden ran straight into the butler and the bevvy of housekeepers as they were
reporting for duty. For a frightening minute, she was confronted with the business of making
small talk with total strangers. Something she struggled with on any given day but seemed
incredibly impossible today. The drama and admin of trying to make a dignified exit was the
only reason she'd held on to her panties for twenty-four years and stayed away from hookups.
"Steven will drive you home, Miss–?" Dave said pleasantly.
"That's okay, I'll call a taxi," Eden ignored his polite attem
pt at an introduction, declining his offer with a quick shake of her head.
"It can't come in here," one of the housekeepers explained patiently.
"Of course," Eden murmured. It was a private estate. Unless the residents cleared it with security,
no one could drive in willy nilly. The rules in the Hills were very different.
"Please don't worry, we do this all the time, drive Mr Anderson's guests home."
If Dave meant to reassure her, his words had the opposite effect.
Confronted by the very harsh reality of what she's done, Eden was furious with herself for letting
alcohol get to her head. Her only comfort was the little bit of common sense they still had last
night. They used protection. She remembered seeing the shiny foil wrappers on the floor when
she ran out of Liam's fancy bedroom with the ridiculously comfortable memory foam bed and
the thousand thread count sheets. The last thing she needed was to catch funny diseases.
"Miss–"
Eden snapped out of her shame-fuelled daze and grimaced at the butler; she'd missed half of
what he said.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" She asked, wondering how she was so polite and calm after
what was undoubtedly the worst mistake of her life.
"Would you like some breakfast before you go?"
Dumbfounded by his question, Eden could only gawk at him. Was this also part of the 'Liam
Experience', being offered breakfast before her walk-of-shame, to lessen the sting of being a one
night stand?
She wondered just how many guests like her Liam had. It was becoming increasingly apparent
he did this all the time, brought random women home and made them his butler's problem as
soon as he got bored with them.
"No, thank you," she said, her face taut with anger. She wanted to leave and run to the safety of
her cramped apartment and cry herself sick.
"Very well then," Dave held the front door and showed her to the stately Lexus waiting in the
endless driveway.
She jumped in the back of the car and slid low, wishing she could melt into the plush leather
seats and evaporate on the car's floor.
"Where to Miss?" Steven, the driver, asked, catching her gaze in the rearview mirror.
She wanted to scream anywhere but here.
But it wasn't the driver's fault. And it wasn't Liam's either. She willingly jumped into his bed,
even when her friends warned her, even when he told her he's getting married soon, even when
she knew she'd regret it in the morning.
"Miss?" Steven's thick eyebrows fused in a tight frown.
"The nearest bus stop is fine," she said softly. She'd take an Uber from there. The less she had to
do with Liam, the better. She couldn't allow his driver to know where she lived in case he wanted
to make their one-time thing a repeat occurrence.

Chapter 4 Plan B
Words Count: 991 | Released on:19/06/2021
Eden had a suspiciously long nap during the thirty-minute drive from Willow Hills to her
apartment in Forrest Creek, an artsy neighbourhood in the east of Rock Castle, jerking awake
when the car skidded as they hit a pothole on the road.
She yawned and stretched as she looked outside her window, feeling oddly embarrassed for
passing out on her Uber driver. The last thing she remembered was him asking her if the air
conditioning in the car was okay.
She couldn't decide if she was brave or just plain stupid for falling asleep in the back of a
stranger's car, especially when she was dressed in nothing but a man's shirt and her coat.
She shifted in her seat and crossed her legs demurely, praying she hadn't inadvertently opened
them while she slept. Going commando wasn't as liberating as she thought it would be. She felt
vulnerable and well, naked.
Now that she had time to put some distance between her and last night's terrible decisions, she
had to figure out the mystery surrounding her missing underwear. It wasn't in her trench as she'd
expected, and it was most definitely not in Liam's room when she left.
Did he hide it from her on purpose, was he a weirdo who stole women's underwear and kept
them as memorabilia to eternalise all his conquests?
The longer she thought about it, the more convinced Eden was that the massive walk-in closet
she'd noticed to the left of Liam's room, next to the frosted glass door she'd assumed led to his
ensuite, was filled with thousands of women's panties in all shapes, colours and sizes.
Just how many had he collected over the years? And of all the perverts at Crush what had
possessed her to choose him?
"Gosh!" She moaned in her hands, her brown hair cascading in waves around her face.
"Are you okay?" Jude asked, his eyes boring holes into her through the rearview mirror.
Eden shook her head. She wasn't okay. She would never be after last night.
"We're almost there," Jude checked the ETA on his phone and threw her a reassuring smile,
completely misunderstanding the reason for her misery.
She wasn't eager to get home, not with the Spanish Inquisition awaiting her. It was unavoidable,
judging from the way the group chat was blowing up, but she would delay it as long as she
could.
"Drop me off at the corner over there, please," she told the driver, pointing at a busy intersection
up ahead.
He turned in his seat, his face laced with concern. "Are you sure?"
Yes, she was. She needed carbs. Lots of them. And maybe Plan B. She could never go wrong
with Plan B.
"Don't forget to rate me five stars!" Jude called after her as she slipped out of the Toyota Quest.
Did he deserve five stars though, Eden wondered as she crossed the road and made her way to
the bakery on the corner of 5th Street and Main Avenue.
It was just af
ter 8:00 AM, but the neighbourhood was already a flurry of activity with people going about
their Saturday morning errands and market vendors pushing their carts, getting ready to make a
killing at the flea market at the rooftop of the Civic Theatre.
As the Arts District, this side of Rock Castle was not in short supply of galleries, trendy coffee
shops and rooftop gardens. Anything your artsy, indie heart desired, from poetry recitals to
exhibitions and private culinary experiences, you'd find it all here.
Eden shuffled forward in the queue, already anticipating the way the chocolate croissants would
melt in her mouth.
She couldn't remember who'd suggested it, but since they all had a passion for the arts and
various Honours Degrees to back it up, moving to Forrest Creek made sense at the time. They all
had dreams of making it big in their respective careers. But three years on, they were still waiting
to catch their big breaks.
She still hadn't struck gold as a children's book illustrator.
Lydia's acting dreams hadn't soared yet, but her vlogs had thrust her in the limelight. So that was
something.
The only columns Sienna ever wrote were for Forrest Creek Times, a glorified newsletter,
disguised as a free community newspaper.
As a pastry chef, Cassandra was still trying to come up with a dessert recipe that will turn the
culinary world on its head.
But despite the slight delay in all their dreams, they were all happy here. Leaving her parents'
overpriced penthouse at the heart of Rock Castle and moving in with her friends was the best
decision Eden had ever made. If she still lived under their roof, she'd have to face more than a
Spanish Inquisition. Her parents were still getting over their bitter disappointment over her failed
engagement; a one night stand would send them to their early graves.
At last, she made it to the counter but sighed with disappointment when she saw everything,
except bran muffins, was sold out. She didn't want bran muffins, but she was depressed. And it's
a rule to gorge yourself till you pass out when you're depressed.
She bought twelve and ate two as she walked three blocks in the opposite direction, away from
her flat, to the obscure pharmacy on Diagonal alley.
The girl behind the counter was nice. She didn't ask too many questions and didn't give her a
judgy look as she discreetly handed her an inconspicuous looking box. Even though they were
alone, Drew-that's what the name tag on her coat said-gave her instructions on how to take the
pill, in hushed tones, as if the aging, peeling walls had ears.
"You have to take it as a single dose, within twenty-four hours for best results," she said
earnestly, her moss green eyes wide with panic for her.
"Thanks," Eden mumbled as she flashed her cheque card and Drew rung her up.

Chapter 5 Supernatural
Words Count: 1627 | Released on:19/06/2021
Eden circled back to her apartment and unlocked the fourth-floor unit she shared with her
friends. She took off her shoes and snuck inside quietly, careful not to bang the door in case she
woke everyone up.
But when she turned around and found three pairs of eyes, shining with anticipation, her plan of
making a quiet entrance went up in smoke.
"Hi guys," Eden grimaced, her face as red as the angry birds T-shirt Sienna wore over her grey
pyjama pants.
"It smells like a walk of shame in here," Lydia sniffed the air dramatically, and the other two
broke into peals of laughter.
"Tsk tsk," Sienna clucked her tongue disapprovingly. "So much for saving yourself for
marriage!"
"We've revoked your sainthood," Cassandra chimed in as she took the muffin box from her,
scowling when she peeked inside. She hated any store-bought goodies because she knew she
could do a way better job. But today her disappointment, as she loudly made it known, was not
with the muffins.
"Really, with all the bazillions in his bank accounts, he sent you off with only ten muffins? What
happened to diamonds being a girl's best friend? Who is this guy?" She threw her hands up
dramatically, shoved the box in Sienna's hands and vanished beyond the entryway.
"You, Missy, have some explaining to do!" Lydia grabbed Eden's hand and dragged her to the
living room where Cassandra sat on the grey L-shaped couch poring over a newly published
cookbook by a has-been reality TV star, her knees tucked to her chin.
Sienna remained in the kitchen and made everyone coffee to have with the muffins. She was the
Mom of the group and indulged everyone. Cassandra took on the Dad role and kept everyone in
line. Lydia, the rebellious child, kept them all on their toes with all her mischief. And Eden's
sainthood, which she had now lost overnight, had made her the wise sage. Everyone came to her
with all their problems, never mind that she was the least experienced and the most naive of the
four.
"You are not allowed to start without me!" Sienna yelled from the kitchen, her voice competing
with the kettle whistling on the gas cooker.
"Tell us already," Lydia was practically jumping from her position on the paint-splash patterned
rug.
"There's nothing to tell," Eden shrugged as she crashed in the teal wingback chair they
affectionately called the throne. They picked it up for a steal at the flea market when they first
moved in, and they've fought over it since. Not because it was so comfortable, but because of the
sun sneaking through the lace-curtained windows behind it. Their flat was morbidly cold, so any
bit of warmth was a luxury around here. After the night she had, Eden thought she deserved to sit
on the throne the whole day.
"I'm here, the tale of the virgin saint ravished by a roguish prince can begin!" Sienna squealed as
she rushed in with a tray of steaming yellow mugs and a matching plate, overflowing with
muffins and two-days old hot cross buns.
"There was no ravishing!" Eden said crossly and took her mug.
"Sure, says the stench of sex clinging all over you," Lydia nodded innocently.
Eden quickly sniffed herself, sending her friends into another round of giggles.
"Stop it, you guys!" She pouted and drank her coffee. Even with all the gallons of milk, it was
still bitter. Sienna didn't make good coffee, and they all knew this, but they continually trusted
her with this very sacred job.
"Just one question," Cassandra gasped for air, struggling to breathe and laugh all at once. "Are
his pubes just as red?"
"Oh my god, you went there!" Sienna rolled on the couch, tears streaming down her face.
"No comment!" Eden clenched her teeth, her arms crossed over her chest, she glared straight
ahead. She would never tell her friends this, and she figured they knew the answer anyway, but
yes, his hairs were fiery down there too, but a much darker shade and oh how she had loved
touching him.
A familiar ache tingled between her thighs as she remembered how full she'd felt when Liam
was buried deep inside her. She bit her lower lip, stifling a whimper.
"Eden! Snap out of it, OMG, you are practically drooling." Lydia screamed, "what were you
thinking about?"
"Nothing." She lied quickly, her cheeks as hot as the moistness at her centre. She didn't
understand how she could be so wet just thinking about Liam.
"So? How was your first time?" Sienna asked, all the amusement gone from her eyes. "Was he as
good as his past lays claim he is?"
Eden thought for a moment; she had no previous experience to compare with. But for her fi
rst time, other than the soreness and tenderness she felt every time she moved, she had no
complaints. She wouldn't mind seconds and thirds and maybe tenths and hundreds. Liam knew
how to please her, how to touch her and how to make her scream. Just her rotten luck he's taken.
"So, how was it?" Cassandra asked, and Eden blinked, stunned by the expectation in the six eyes
glued to her.
"Well," she pushed up her glasses and bit her lower lip shyly. "It was supernatural."
"Oh my god!" Her friends screamed in unison, jumping and wiggling all over the place.
"Are you seeing him again?" Sienna asked, her eyes hopeful.
Eden shook her head and burst into tears.
"Oh dear, was is that good you have to cry?" Cassandra asked as they all reached for her and
held her.
"He's getting married, you guys!" She bawled, snot and tears dripping down her face. "He's
getting married, and I want him so bad! I want him to make me feel good again!"
"What do you mean he's getting married?" Lydia's eyes were wide with shock. "He has a three-
month rule."
"He found someone who made him want to break his three-month rule," Eden wailed some more
as she took a Kleenex box from Sienna and blew her nose. For someone so tiny, she always
stunned everyone with the loud, unnatural sounds she makes when she blows her nose.
"That can't be," Cassandra said. "There's no way Rock Castle's numero uno billionaire playboy
will ever get married."
"He is," Eden insisted and went on to explain how she found out about his impending wedding.
"So that's why they were there? To celebrate his bachelor party?"
Eden nodded.
"And he still took you home with him?" Sienna fumed. "Unbelievable! What a dick!"
"Well, I asked him," Eden admitted. It would be so easy to let him take all the blame, but she
couldn't bring herself to do that. She had to own her part.
"Why would you do that when you knew he's getting married?" Cassandra asked in a patient
tone, stepping into her Dad role with ease.
"I wanted to be a little reckless!" Eden yelled, shocking everyone with her misplaced rage. "I was
a good girl for twenty-four years, followed all the rules, saved myself for the right guy and what
the hell do I have to show for it? A broken engagement one month before what was supposed to
be the happiest day of my life."
"Eden, I'm so sorry," Cassandra said softly.
"If everyone played fair and stuck to the rules, I'll still be in Greece right now, enjoying my
honeymoon with my new husband," Eden said. "I know it was wrong, and I shouldn't have, and
now I'm as nasty as Olive for sleeping with someone else's man. But I got tired of playing fair,
and I was hurting. And you know what, for at least seven hours I was happy in Liam's arms.
God, I was so happy, and now all I feel is the same hollowness I've felt for the past six weeks."
"Oh, dear!" Sienna said. "You sound like you have it bad for this guy."
Her words blew Eden's mind, and she couldn't understand how Sienna had even come to that
conclusion.
"No. Liam was my rebound guy. I'm still in love with Simon."
"Is that why you're still wearing that?" Lydia glared at the Princess cut diamond ring dazzling on
her finger.
"You have to take it off," Cassandra repeated what she's been saying these past few weeks.
And like she's done of late, Eden refused to listen to their well-meaning advice. She knew
keeping the ring was tacky as fuck, and she should have returned it. But it was the only tangible
thing she had to remind her the past four years were real, that their love was real, and she meant
something to Simon once upon a time.
If he'd let her keep Snow, the Maltese poodle they jointly adopted from the animal shelter they
volunteered at, she would have given him his ring back.
"I'm going to bed," she said as she finished her coffee and placed the mug on the bamboo coffee
table, a hand me down from Sienna's folks.
"Are you seeing your parents today, should we wake you up later?" Lydia called after her, and
Eden shrugged them off. Her parents, in not so many words, had made it very clear the end of
her engagement was solely her fault. She wasn't in the mood for another self-esteem bashing,
accusatory session disguised as a good-intentioned lunch.
In her room, she drew the curtains and buried herself under the heavy, brightly coloured duvet
and the millions of scatter cushions on her queen-sized poster bed, and cried herself to sleep.
The last sane thought she had before dreams about Liam filled her troubled mind was if she'd
ever get to feel thousand-thread count sheets again.

Chapter 6 Used And Oddly Betrayed


Words Count: 1094 | Released on:19/06/2021
It was past midday when Liam finally came out of his postcoital coma. He expected to find Eden
beside him; it wouldn't be the first time his hookups overstayed their welcome.
But when he turned onto his side and found her spot empty, he was strangely confused.
He sat up and groaned. His pounding head made worse by the glaring light bursting through the
floor to ceiling windows as his butler flicked the switch on the wall to draw the blinds.
"Christ, Dave, do you mind?"
"I'm sorry, Sir, you have been summoned to the house. Your father wants to see you
immediately."
"Tell him I can't see him today," Liam groaned as he gladly accepted the hangover cure and two
Aspirins. He had a feeling he'd need something stronger than an Aspirin if his father has his way.
"He needs you home in an hour," Dave said and turned to leave.
Liam stopped him, "Handle Eden for me."
"She's gone already, Sir."
"What do you mean gone?" Liam asked, stunned by his butler's announcement.
"Exactly that, Sir."
"Did she cause a scene?" They always did. He wouldn't be surprised if Eden had too.
"No, Sir. She seemed eager to leave. She practically ran out of the house. If it were up to her, she
would have left in an Uber–"
"That makes no sense," Liam shook his head. He didn't usually bring women home; his life on
the track kept him busy enough. But the ones he did, and especially after they find out what he
does, he always had to make them leave. Sometimes security had to step in too.
"Are you sure it was Eden? Brown hair, petite, cute, this short?" He asked, describing Eden and
demonstrating her height with his hand.
Dave nodded.
Liam was sure there's some miscommunication between him and the butler. He held out his hand
for his robe, baffled by this turn of events. He threw it on and slipped out of bed.
He padded downstairs, checking the living room and dining area. When he didn't find Eden, he
stepped onto the patio, convinced she's lazing in the heated pool.
But there was no sign of the mousey librarian anywhere, and it blew his mind. He didn't see it
coming, Eden sneaking off while he slept. He should have been happy that she'd saved him the
trouble of making awkward small talk after a hookup, but he wasn't. Maybe because she didn't
strike him as someone who'd up and leave, not with that temper and the bold way she came on to
him.
He'd expected her to start thinking their one time, never to be repeated experience could lead to a
more permanent solution. And to let her down gently, he'd already resolved to take her shopping,
let her choose the shiniest diamond necklace she can find and drop her off at her duplex
somewhere. She had one-bedroom duplex vibes all over her.
Who the hell does she think she is? Liam fumed as he retraced his steps back to the master
bedroom. The idea that a woman who was way below his league, in looks and wealth, saw it fit
to use him for sex and walk out on him filled him with
anger he's never known before.
He sat on the edge of the bed and thought back to last night.
Admittedly it wasn't the best sex he ever had. But he loved the way she'd responded to him. It
was crazy to think they'd just met, but her body knew him. She came alive at his touch, and he
liked the way she had moaned out his name like no woman ever had. She seemed happy to be in
his arms. So, for her to run off without so much as a thank you, or a goodbye was soul-crushing
to say the least.
He felt used and oddly betrayed. Two emotions he never thought he'd feel after a hookup.
Dave came back with more stunning revelations as he placed Eden's clothes on the bed. "She left
these."
"Woah! Was she in such a hurry to get away from me she left naked?" Liam was almost shouting
now.
Who was this woman, but more importantly was his lovemaking so terrible she couldn't even
wait to at least throw on some clothes before she left? At that moment, Liam felt vulnerable and
a little insecure. No woman had ever snuck off like this after spending a night with him.
"No, Sir, she was in your shirt and her coat," Dave explained. "Mrs Stone washed her clothes
after she left."
Liam breathed a sigh of relief at Dave's words. At least he wasn't so terrible; she didn't run off
naked. But-
He glared at the older man, "she left in my shirt, you say?"
Dave nodded and excused himself, and Liam shook his head. She was bold, this Eden. He had to
find her and make her explain herself.
He glared at her dress and the pink lacy panties. What the hell was he supposed to do with them
now?
Still hungover and certainly in no mood to entertain his father, Liam returned to the warmth of
his bed and passed out again, oddly comforted by the smell of his lovemaking with Eden
lingering on his sheets.
Dave jolted him awake again sometime after 3:00 PM, with a final notice from his father. If he
didn't make an appearance within an hour, Clarke Liam Anderson Senior would have no choice
but to come over and hash things out with him.
Liam knew he wasn't kidding. He reluctantly dragged himself out of bed and took a shower,
spending a ridiculously amount of time under the soothing sprays to delay the dreaded meeting
for a little while longer.
To say he and his father have a love-hate relationship was an understatement. When things were
good between them, they were the best of friends. But when they were bad, as they have been
over the past several weeks, one would swear they were enemies.
The source of their conflict was the company's succession plan. His father had decided to step
down as CEO, and Liam would have to fill his enormous shoes as soon as Monday.
Still irritated at being summoned, Liam stepped out of the shower and dried himself, noticing for
the first time a hickey on his neck as he toweled off in front of the mirror. He was angered anew
by Eden's boldness. As if leaving him wasn't bad enough, she had to brand him too.

Chapter 7 Summoned
Words Count: 1093 | Released on:19/06/2021
As Liam cruised through the quiet, jacaranda tree-lined streets of Glen Eagles, an affluent suburb
north of Rock Castle, it wasn't the meeting with his father that occupied his thoughts. He was
still fuming over Eden, bewildered that she had the nerve to leave him.
It would have been comical if it wasn't so mortifying.
He stopped outside the massive, black iron-wrought gate in front of a sprawling mansion on the
cul de sac, rolled down his window and jabbed at the intercom irritably.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel impatiently to the beat of the fast-paced dance tune
shaking the metal walls of his Ferrari as he waited for one of several housekeepers and butlers to
buzz him in. The Lamborghini he drove last night was at the garage. He vaguely remembered
Steven, his driver, mention something about it needing maintenance before he left.
Within seconds the gate squeaked inward, and Liam eased into a circular driveway surrounded
by manicured lawns and immaculate gardens. His childhood home was as vibrant now in the
winter months as it was at the height of summer. The army of landscapers that came in twice a
week made sure of it. With her love of plants, it was the one thing his mom, insisted on. Too bad
she didn't have a green thumb; otherwise she'd do everything herself.
Richard stood tall and proud in his butler's uniform as he waited at the front door to welcome
him home.
"Master Anderson," the head butler beamed as he gave Liam a bear hug and grasped his hand in
a firm handshake. Richard was always an affectionate man but had become more sentimental as
the grey hairs on his head multiplied.
"Good to see you again, Rich!" He went along with the effusive greeting even though they just
saw each other last week when he reported for the mandatory family dinner he and his two
younger sisters had to attend weekly without exception.
"You kept your old man waiting, he's not happy with you," the butler chuckled as he dragged
him inside the house.
Liam's stomach grumbled when he caught a whiff of something delicious–probably roast
chicken, that's what they had on Saturdays– as he made his way through the house, past the
gourmet kitchen leading into the formal dining room and lounge. Other than Dave's hangover
cure, he hadn't eaten anything since last night.
He poked his head inside his mother's studio, directly opposite the guest bathroom.
Lois Anderson sat in front of the easel, staring at the colossal spouting fountain beyond her
window. Her greying black hair floated on her back in a long French braid, contrasting with the
pale pink satin blouse she wore over white cotton pants. Dainty-looking ballet pumps matching
her shirt adorned her feet. From her slumped shoulders and the blank canvass, Liam figured
inspiration was not in abundance today.
"There she is!" He said with a hint of a smile in his voice. "The most beautiful woman in the
world!"
His mom turned, a bright grin split her face when she saw him lingering in the doorway. But her
pale green eyes remained moist with tears. She brushed them away quickly and danced into his
outstretched arms.
"There he is, the most handsome son
in the world!"
Liam kissed her cheek; her luxurious yet familiar fragrance tickled his nose. It's one of the
earliest smells he remembered from his childhood, warm and comforting. If he had to describe
love in one word, it would be his mother's scent.
"Still struggling to paint?" He asked when they eased apart.
Lois nodded but didn't say anything, a sad look in her eyes as she linked their arms, and they
made their way to the study at the end of the hallway.
"Maybe you just need a break," Liam suggested. But she was on a break, and it was going on six
months now.
"Maybe I should quit, take up another hobby."
"Hey, creativity can't be rushed," he consoled her as he squeezed her shoulder.
Clarke Liam Anderson Senior sat behind a large, mahogany executive desk in the centre of the
room, his bushy eyebrows furrowed in a tight frown as he peered at the document in his hand.
The bright sunlight streaming through the enormous French windows behind him, bathing him in
its soft glow, gave him an almost ethereal quality. But in all fairness, the man had earned himself
a god-like status amongst his peers with his achievements.
Watching his father was like seeing himself in another forty years or so. With their red hair, pale
colouring and blue eyes, they were mirror images. Their towering, athletic frames was another
thing they shared.
But that's where all the likeness ended.
Clarke was well known and adored for his generosity, compassion and visionary leadership.
Liam, on the other hand, gave truth to all the cliches about redheads and their fiery tempers. It
didn't take much to set him off, which would explain why Eden's stunt had pissed him off so
much.
At twenty-eight he's had lots of success in his career. Still, his constant scandals playing out in
the tabloids overshadowed all his achievements, and he suspected this was the real reason for
Senior speeding up his succession plan.
"Where are your glasses, why aren't you using them?" Liam asked as his mother gently pushed
him forward.
Clarke glared at him for a second before he dutifully pulled up the glasses dangling on a black
string around his neck.
Liam sat on the brown Chesterfield armchair to the left of the grand fireplace. His mother
propped herself on the three-seater facing the fire. She picked up a Business Insider magazine
and leafed through it absently.
She seemed listless, almost as if she had a lot on her mind, and Liam wondered if it was more
than just her inability to paint.
He reached for her hand and squeezed it, his eyes roaming over the array of family photographs
lined up on the mantel, showing off decades of memories, mostly of the three Anderson children
during various milestones and proudest moments in their lives. First and last days of school,
matric dances, graduations. Important defining moments. But there were several missing from
the neatly arranged timeline, and they all had to do with him—the most recent being his seventh
tournament win.
Liam rested his arms over his taut stomach as he eased back in his chair and enjoyed the fire; he
didn't realise he was cold until he felt the warmth in here.

Chapter 8 Destiny
Words Count: 1734 | Released on:19/06/2021
With several bookshelves and thousands of books lining the wood-panelled walls and the dark
furnishings reminiscent of a centuries-old gentleman's club, his father's study was probably the
most intense room in the house. But, it was also one of Liam's favourite places.
He remembered all the rare times he, Willow and Holly had spent in here, crowded on the floor
while they read or played with their toys, happy to have their father home and wanting to be as
close to him as possible because they never knew when they'll see him again. Clarke was always
out of town, out of the country, chasing one big fish of a client after another. He missed so many
important days. Probably why most had ended up as snapshots lined up on the fireplace.
Liam and his sisters never resented him, though. When Clarke was present, he was the best
father in the world, and when he wasn't, he spoiled them rotten with insane gifts flown from all
over the world to make up for his absence.
"Thank you for gracing me with your presence, Son," Clarke's wry drawl pulled Liam out of his
thoughts.
His father turned off his MacBook and left his place behind the desk.
"Hi sweetheart," he murmured as he sat beside Lois and kissed her cheek. "Are you okay?"
Lois smiled, blushing prettily like a schoolgirl on her first date as they held hands.
Liam watched them wistfully and sighed. They always made him feel like a third wheel. Most of
his friends' parents were divorced, he knew how lucky he was to have parents who were still in
love today, as they were when they tied the knot over thirty years ago. Their commitment to each
other was inspiring, and he prayed he finds something just as enduring and meaningful.
Mrs Horowitz, the housekeeper, knocked once on the ajar door and came in with a smile and a
tray loaded with their afternoon refreshments.
Liam happily poured himself a cup of coffee and grabbed a handful of macarons.
His mother excused herself when she remembered she had to check on the catering for Monday
night's dinner with the board members. If Clarke had his way, it would be Liam's first official
engagement as CEO.
"The board meeting on Monday," Clarke began when they were alone again, and for over an
hour Liam listened to him drone on about the importance of having good relationships with the
board. Strong, healthy relationships would strengthen his position within the company.
"I don't need to remind you about your cousins," Clarke carried on. "They will do anything to
undermine your position, and the minute they sense any weakness they'll attack. You cannot
keep your guard down!"
Liam disagreed. Sure, Julian and Matthew were both highly ambitious and wouldn't shy away
from senior positions in the company. But they had accomplished a lot in their own right.
He'd never admit this to his father, but he thought the brothers deserved a shot as CEO. They've
poured their blood, sweat and tears into Anderson Logistics, Matthew in his capacity as a junior
Creative Director and Julian as an Accountant. If he has to take over, Liam planned to make his
cousins his allies. He could never understand how Clarke had sidelined his younger brother to a
point where Sullivan, Julian and Matthew's father, had to give up all involvement with the
company.
"Are you even paying attention?" Clarke demanded. "That Julian is a lying snake–"
"Dad, please," Liam shook his head. He didn't want to get into it with him. That 'lying snake' and
his brother were not only his cousins but his best friends too. They took him to Crush last night
to cheer him up. They were always there for all his tournament wins and losses. They pushed
him into getting his competition license and even paid for his all racing courses when Clarke
froze all his bank accounts in hopes he'd give up and join the family business. Without their
support, Liam knew he would never have even earned himself a spot on Rock Union's
motorsport team.
"I get it," Liam added as he downed his now cold coffee. He couldn't even finish half a macaron
because it was too damn sweet.
"I don't think you do," Clark breathed in hard, a sign he was losing his patience with him fast.
To appease him, Liam nodded and leaned back in his chair, crossing his feet. His old man's
speech wasn't anything he hadn't heard before; after all, this was all Clarke has ever talked about
since Liam was old enough to read and understand the Business Insider. This time was different,
though. He wasn't nine years old anymore. When he stepped into Anderson Logistics
headquarters on Monday, he'll be the youngest CEO and board member in the history of the
company.
As much as Liam hated it, and wished he could do something about it, as the eldest child and the
only son, taking over the family's mega-billions operation
became his destiny the moment he was born.
All three Clarke Liam Andersons before him spearheaded the family's logistics business through
some of the most challenging economic meltdowns. They ushered in thousands of innovations to
make Anderson Logistics the formidable giant that it is today and solidify their place in the
industry. The time for Liam to step up and lead the group had finally come.
But it wasn't so much the leading he had an issue with. It was the cost that came with it, the price
he'd have to pay. Surrendering his freedom and giving up on his dream. It's a loss he was
struggling to come to grips with, a loss that sent him to Crush last night in a hopeless attempt to
hold on to life as he knew it.
"But we agreed you'll give me time," Liam reminded him when it became clear they had
exhausted all points of discussion. "I love what I do, and I'm not ready to give it up."
From the time his uncle, Sullivan, bought him his first life-size toy car, he must have been about
five or six, Liam knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life behind the wheel, racing for the
best team in the world. It was something he'd pursued relentlessly over the years, despite his
father opposing him at every turn. It was a long hard road, especially without Clarke's support,
but he'd made a name for himself in the world of motorsports and had recently won the Iconic 9
Hour Race at Rock Union's Grand Prix circuit.
"Do you think I was ready when I took over from my father?" His father whipped up his head
fast, his eyes blazing with fury. "Do you think I wanted to? Trust me, I wanted nothing more
than to live out my happy days with your Mom and you kids, but there were eight hundred
people who needed me, who depended on me for their livelihood. Like it or not, Liam, you have
a responsibility!”
"I didn't ask for it!" Liam refused to back down, and their Saturday afternoon meeting that
should have been a quick amicable twenty-minute chat, spun out of control as they ranted and
raged at each other.
Clarke did most of the shouting. And Liam reached for the whisky on the mantelpiece and did a
lot of the drinking.
Clarke was tired of Liam's philandering ways and life of debauchery; he was continually
disappointed with all the scandals he had to read about him weekly.
"For once, can you make me proud and earn yourself a cover of Business Insider? Is it so
difficult?"
"For once, can you be proud of my achievements, I just had my seventh tournament win. I was
on the cover of Motor Mag, doesn't that count for something?"
Of course, it didn't. Clarke thought it's time he gave up his 'hobby' and earned a living like
everyone else.
"A 9 to 5 job will kill me! I'm not meant for it!"
A corner office, with its amazing 360 views, wasn't for him. He would die, maybe not physically,
but it would break his spirit if he has to spend the rest of his life behind a desk.
Nothing came close to the raw adrenaline rush he felt every time he put on his suit, snapped on
his helmet and took his place behind the wheel. Or the exhilarating feeling he got when he
pushed his Porsche 911 GT to its limit and still come out of it in one piece. Not even sex, not the
tons of money in his bank accounts, not even holding up a tournament cup while thousands of
people cheered him on. It was an unparalleled feeling he couldn't bear to lose.
"Well that 9 to 5 job you hate so much has paid for your elite education! It's time you put that
MBA to good use!"
Liam dug in his heels, refusing to be backed into something he wasn't ready to take on.
If his father had a more compelling reason for his sudden retirement, he would have no issue
stepping in.
But Clarke wanted to focus more on the family he'd neglected for over twenty years, and maybe
travel the world like he always wanted.
Liam was happy for him; he only wished it wasn't at the expense of his dreams.
"This is happening. All the paperwork has been processed, the board has agreed. Your first
appointment is at 6:00 AM. Mrs Gibson will call you with the details!" Clarke's words were
final, nothing Liam said would change his mind.
Defeated, Liam stood up, grabbed his car keys and wallet on the coffee table and stalked to the
door.
"I will never forgive you for this!" He vowed over his shoulder as he rapidly made his way out of
the study.
Liam was so enraged he knew if he's around other people he'd end up hurting someone. He
jumped in his car and sped to the race circuit south of Rock Union's business district where he
spent a good few hours on the track, lap after lap, burning fuel faster than his rage.
The call that changed Liam's life forever came much later when all the anger had eased from his
body, and he was ready to try and see things from his father's perspective.

Chapter 9 Quick Sand


Words Count: 1075 | Released on:19/06/2021
The call came just as Liam left the race track.
When he saw the name flashing on the screen, he ignored it, and his sister went to his voicemail.
He wasn't in the mood to listen to Willow go off at him about his irresponsible, selfish actions.
They'd had a lot of such calls in the past several weeks, starting when Senior first brought up his
succession plan.
His phone pinged again. This time it was a text from Holly, the youngest Anderson child. As the
baby of the family, Holly was the most spoilt and self-entitled.
Their parents could never refuse her anything. Liam figured being a renowned ballerina helped,
because no matter how ridiculous her demands were, Clarke and Lois would bend over
backwards to cater to her every want and need.
When Holly wanted her very own private ballet studio, Clarke had bought a warehouse and
refurbished it specifically for her needs.
When she demanded a six-bedroom penthouse in Rock Castles' prime location, an army of
realtors had to run around like headless chickens to secure it for her, never mind that the place
would stay empty because she was hardly in the country.
The most ridiculous of her whims though was that one time when all the boutiques on 9th Street
had to be closed because she wanted to choose her fifty thousand pair of shoes and matching
handbags without all the commoners gawking at her.
Her text was yet another demand. She wanted Liam to get his ass to the Medi-Clinic in Glen
Eagles ASAP.
Willow called again. He put her on speaker. His heart crashed to his feet when her desperate sobs
filled the car.
It took him a few minutes to calm her down and get her to tell him what's wrong.
"It's Dad," she bawled on her end, "You have to come to the hospital!"
Liam hung up and made a U-turn, ignoring the huge warning sign forbidding him from making a
turn there. He skipped every red traffic light and ignored the millions of car horns blaring at him.
His eyes were firmly on the road ahead, but his mind was back in his father's study, replaying
their heated exchange and the last words he said to him.
In the ten minutes it took him to get to the hospital, he prayed harder and more times than he's
ever done in his life. He made silent promises and bargained with everything he had. He'd give it
all up, his dreams, racing, the tournaments if it meant having just one more hour with his father.
Liam didn't know how he got to the hospital; he snapped out of his daze when he pulled up in the
visitor's parking lot and heard screeching ambulances race off to save lives somewhere.
Both his sisters came to meet him at the entrance.
On most days, Holly and Willow–both named after trees because of their Mom's love for plants–
were immaculate visions of class and poise. With their ink-black hair, large green eyes, porcelain
skin and slim frames, they could easily pass for twins despite the four-year difference between
them.
Tonight, though, they were both dishevelled, their faces splotchy w
ith tears and snot, their eyes red and hollow with fear.
They threw themselves in his arms when they saw him. He hugged them tight and tried to assure
them as best as he could even though he didn't know what the situation was.
"What happened? Where's Mom and Dad?" He asked as he released them from his embrace, and
they headed to elevators to take them to the VIP wing.
"Dad's very sick, Liam," Willow said in a tearful voice.
"That can't be," Liam shook his head, refusing to accept something's wrong with Clarke. The
man has never missed a day at the office because of an illness. "There has to be a mistake. I saw
him today. He was fine!"
"That's what he wanted you to think," Holly murmured. "He's been sick for a while now."
Liam paused and stared at the two of them, a suspicious scowl on his face. "How long is a while
and what's wrong with him?"
"About six months," Holly replied.
"Colon cancer," Willow added.
The air swooshed out of Liam's lungs. For a stunning moment, he felt like he was sinking in
quicksand as he gasped, convinced his sister's announcement would suffocate him. The worst
though was the silence, the terrible, never-ending silence. He couldn't hear anything except
Willow's words, echoing in his mind over and over.
Colon cancer.
Wasn't that for really older people?
Clarke wasn't old. At 58 he still had a lot of life in him, and he was the healthiest person Liam
knew.
His father took care of himself, exercised at least an hour every day. He played golf on
Saturdays, went bowling on Sundays. And the most sinful thing he ever ate was a thin slice of
cake for dessert, and only on special occasions.
What Willow said didn't make sense to him.
"No!" Liam shook his head in denial as he forced air into his lungs. "You are wrong! Dad is not
sick. Dad would never get cancer!"
"Liam," Holly reached for him and held him close, trying to keep him from unravelling right
there in the middle of the corridor. "Dad is not okay."
"He would have told me if he was sick," Liam brushed off her hand, and they began walking
again.
"He didn't want you to worry," Willow explained. "After you take over, he and mom planned to
go overseas to get treatment."
"He should have told me sooner!" Liam raged as they stepped inside the elevator. "I wouldn't
have fought him so hard. How bad is it?"
"Enough to require immediate surgery to remove part of his colon," Holly said.
Liam stared at his sisters, an incredulous look in his eyes. They both seemed to know so much
about their father's condition.
"Am I the only one who didn't know?" He asked softly.
"We wanted to tell you, but Dad made us promise not to. He knew you were training hard for the
tournament and he didn't want to take your focus away from the competition." Willow murmured
as she rubbed her swollen eyes.
"You think I care about any of that now–" He was about to lose his shit, but the elevator dinged
open, pausing what would have undoubtedly been their biggest fight yet.

Chapter 10 With Little Preparation


Words Count: 729 | Released on:19/06/2021
There were several guards stationed throughout the floor and two outside Clarke's private ward.
Their only job was to keep the media out. The last thing they wanted was stories of his father,
true or otherwise, making the rounds. A CEO on his deathbed wasn't good for business and share
prices.
Lois flew to him when they walked in. He hugged her, and she wept harder as he gently patted
her head. It all made sense now, Liam thought, her lack of inspiration, the listlessness, the
faraway look in her eyes. It wasn't that she couldn't paint. His Mom didn't want to. How could
she when her best friend and soulmate was staring death in the face?
"Oh Mom," Liam whispered in her hair as he squeezed her. "You should have told me."
"You are here now," Lois gave him a shaky smile as she sat down again and took his father's
hand.
Liam reluctantly approached the bed, a visceral feeling of terror bubbling at the pit of his
stomach. He couldn't understand how Clarke had shrunk and aged so much in a space of a few
hours. But, his father looked so serene as he slept. Liam knew, though, there was nothing
peaceful about what he was going through, not with all the constant beeping and wheezing of the
machines working overtime to keep him comfortable and the tons of tubes attached to him.
He leaned over and kissed his forehead.
Clarke opened his eyes. "There he is–" He said in a weak voice and tried to point a frail finger at
him.
At that moment Liam would have given anything to hear his strong, roaring voice, the same one
he'd used earlier to back him into a corner.
"You are such an old fool," Liam whispered.
"I guess you take after me then," Clarke shot back, and they both laughed tearfully.
"We are going to fix you," Liam said with conviction. "We'll beat this, and you'll come back
stronger. I need you to come back and kick my butt and question all the decisions I make for
Anderson Logistics."
"Don't complain when I do." His father's chuckle turned into a long fit of convulsive coughs that
didn't seem to
stop, even after making him take small sips of water.
Willow and Holly called in his doctors, and for fifteen minutes, the room was in chaos as they
worked frantically to get him comfortable. Clarke passed out soon after they gave him a shot of
morphine. Liam suggested they give his Mom something to help her sleep too, but Lois refused.
She wanted to keep vigil over her husband.
Liam met with the doctors in a bland conference room on the administration floor, and they
discussed his father's treatment plan.
"What's the prognosis?" He asked Dr Smith, the lead oncologist.
She's happy they caught the disease early enough, but she was worried it could have spread in
the six months Clarke had delayed in getting treatment. As things stood, she and her team were
running numerous tests to figure out the extent of the damage.
"I get that, but what are his chances?"
Dr Smith gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. "We'll do everything we can to fight this. The five-
year survival rate is about ninety percent."
Liam wished they didn't have to discuss the odds, but ninety percent sounded promising to him.
Almost an hour later, he left the conference room more optimistic than he was when he entered.
He checked on his father again. Clarke was still out cold, and so was his Mom. Both his sisters
were wide awake, though, working furiously on their laptops.
Holly had to cancel her midday recital at the Civic Theatre and all other future performances
until further notice.
Willow also had a nightmare on her hands with a new art installation at Fugue Art Gallery in
Forrest Creek where she worked as a curator. She'd have to miss the first few showings, but her
assistant would handle things in her absence.
He'd barely sat down in the only other empty seat in the room next to the bed when Mrs Gibson
and her impressive troop of assistants showed up, and life as Liam knew it was over.
From that moment on, with little preparation and no guidance, he stepped into the CEO role he'd
fought so hard to reject.

Chapter 11 Dad Isn’t God


Words Count: 1328 | Released on:19/06/2021
The next several weeks passed in a blur as Liam adjusted to his new role. He was constantly
sitting in various meetings, attending numerous conferences in and out of the country and
making sure his father received the best treatment.
His days began as early as 4:00 AM and some nights he'd only drag himself to bed after 2:00
AM. He was cranky and short-tempered, not surprising since he was running on two hours sleep
at the very least.
In those first few weeks, he made a lot of enemies in and out of the company; as a result, his
security detail had to be ramped up following anonymous death threats.
Liam found the endless army of guards annoying, but the board didn't want to take any chances,
not when Anderson Logistics’ share prices took a beating following the news of his father's
illness. He wasn't their best choice, but for now, he was the only Messiah who could safely wade
them out of shit-creek.
He made a lot of shakeups internally. He disbanded the executive committee and brought in fresh
blood, young people who had the vision and the balls to pioneer Anderson Logistics into a whole
new era. The senior managers who'd held on to their positions because of their close relationship
with his father and not based on real skill or talent were not pleased with his boldness.
He kept his cousins, Julian and Matthew, close, as his second in command. They had as much
right to the company as he did. It was his first contentious decision, and it pitted him against his
sisters. They thought he was reckless and stupid by giving the two brothers so much control.
But Liam was righting a wrong. "It's as much their company as it is ours. If Dad didn't push
Uncle Sullivan out, they'd have a fair share."
His sisters disagreed.
"Uncle Sullivan was weak; he didn't have the balls to take this business forward!" Willow
argued.
"Dad made the company what it is today," Holly said naively.
"Dad isn't God," Liam pointed out. "He didn't build the company all by himself. Other people
gave their all. Julian and Matthew lost everything when Uncle Sully died. And we all know Dad
killed him. He may not have given him the gun he used to blow his brains out. But he drove him
into it."
"Stop it!" His sisters snapped at once, their eyes dark with murderous rage.
"Whose side are you on?" Willow demanded.
"I'm on the side of the truth. If Dad didn't sideline Uncle Sully, he wouldn't have been so
depressed he thought his only way out was to take his own life."
"Must we talk about this right now?" Holly asked. "What good will dredging up the past do?"
"You don't have to acknowledge it, but I do," Liam said. "I cannot lead this company with a clear
conscience if I don't fix what Dad did. We all know Julian and Matt have done way more for
Anderson Logistics than any of us in this room, and if you both fail to see that, there's something
morally warped with you!"
The argument carried on through dinner, only stopping when Lois sniffled in her seat.
"Enough, both of you," She said tearfully. "Liam is right. They are family and should never have
been excluded."
"I will not give up my shares!" Holly dumped her fork on her plate and crossed her arms
stubbornly.
"No one wants your fucking three percent!" Liam raged and laid down the law, pointing a stern
finger at his little sister. "And your life of excessive spending is over. You will not be closing
down stores for your private shopping sprees. Using the company's jet to go party in Ibiza is
over. And that damn penthouse you never live in, you'd better use it soon, or I'll help you get rid
of it."
"Mom!" It was Willow, though, who screamed at thei
r mother to intervene.
"Listen to your brother–"
"But he can't make me live like a poor person!" Holly shouted.
Liam stood, went to the living room to grab his laptop from his messenger bag on the couch.
He was back in a flash and fired up the laptop. He brought up the family trust's financial
statements and shoved the MacBook at his sisters.
"What am I looking at?" Willow had a bemused look on her face as her eyes scanned the screen.
"Yeah, what is this?" Holly chimed in.
He knew they wouldn't know how to read financial statements, let alone understand them. How
could they when they didn't even know the price of toilet paper? Admittedly, up until a few
weeks ago, he also didn't. But now that he sat in Julian's budget meetings, and he saw how much
every little thing cost, from the coffee and tea their staff took for granted, to the printing paper
they all seemed to love so much judging from the reams of reports perpetually stacked on his
desk.
"What is this?" Willow shrieked again. For the oldest daughter, she sure acted like the baby
sometimes.
"That," Liam clenched his jaw. "Is all of us swimming up shit-creek soon if your excessive
spending doesn't stop!"
"Are we poor?" Holly asked, big fat tears welling up in her eyes. "Mom, do we have to move to a
duplex now?"
Liam laughed bitterly. "Not yet, darlings. But I give it six months or so."
The news was so devastating to both, they ran out of the room crying about needing to take a
nap.
Lois glared at him when they were alone. "Why would you lie to them like that? You know how
they are."
It was wrong, but he wanted to frighten them a little. There's a lot of things he took for granted
before he assumed the CEO's seat, things he never had to think or worry about, like the
thousands of people who worked behind the scenes to make sure they continued to live their life
of luxury. It wasn't fair to all those people; most would never even see a million Rands in their
bank accounts. But they worked tirelessly and gave their all to the company.
"You have to tell them we're okay," Lois carried on.
"No!" Liam said. "Mom, I meant every word—no more company jets for private business.
Overseas shopping trips have to stop too. If they want all those nice things, then they need to join
the fold."
"But they love what they do. Your sisters will die if they have to give up their careers!"
"What about me?" Liam asked. He didn't regret his decision to step up. But he was still mourning
the loss of his dreams.
"I know it was hard," Lois touched his shoulder.
Liam didn't think she understood. ‘Hard’ was failing an exam or getting a warning because you
overslept and you were late for work.
What he went through almost killed him.
Liam would never tell a soul how he'd wept until he was all hollowed out when he had to
withdraw from his team and end all his relationships with the sponsors. The heartbreak he felt
when he hung his racing suit and put away his helmet for the last time was so profound, so deep;
it was like someone had plunged a sword in his heart and sliced it to shreds.
"Darling, I'm sorry. I just want you all to be happy.”
He turned to his mom and sighed. "All I'm saying, they need to start earning their keep. And I
see no reason why they should still be getting an allowance. They are both adults with full-time
jobs. Their salaries should fund their lavish lifestyle."
Lois nodded and patted his hand. "I'm going to the hospital, are you coming with me?"
Liam shook his head. He'd already seen his father before reporting for the mandatory weekly
dinner. He had to meet Julian and Matthew at Crush

Chapter 12 Obsession
Words Count: 1025 | Released on:19/06/2021
Crush was hopping when Liam finally made it there almost an hour later.
There were people everywhere, grinding and stepping on each other. Liam was glad his cousins
had a VIP booth. He couldn't handle all the rowdiness tonight.
"You made it!" Julian hiccupped over the loud music; his speech already slurred as he stood and
hugged him, almost toppling him over.
"Easy buddy." Liam pushed him back on the sectional couch and turned to Matthew. "How much
did he drink?"
"All those," his cousin pointed at a line of empty shot glasses lined up on the bright yellow cube.
"What happened?" Liam asked as a scantily dressed waitress appeared at his side. He ordered the
most expensive bottle of bourbon. After the hellish day, no, few weeks he's had he deserved
every drop.
"He got dumped," Matthew said. "She left him for a wealthier, older man."
"Ouch!" Liam touched his heart dramatically and rolled his eyes heavenward.
"How's the old man?"
Liam filled him in on his hospital visit with his father as he scanned the crowd.
There she is, he thought excitedly, his heart soaring to life as he caught sight of a petite brunette
swaying her hips on the dance floor.
"I think that's her," Liam pointed at the brown-haired girl in the crowd. But when she turned to
her friends, he saw it's not Eden. Disappointed, he slumped back in his chair and sighed, "scratch
that, it's not."
"You can't tell me you're still looking for her?" Julian surged to life beside him and sat up.
Yes, he was still searching for Eden. He'll never stop looking for her. He wanted his shirt back,
and he needed to return her panties. While he's at it, maybe get some answers too. He’d asked his
security detail to look for her discreetly and bring her to him. But so far their search had been
fruitless and made especially hard because other than her first name and her description, they had
nothing else to go by.
As much as his life had changed drastically over the past few weeks, one thing hadn't changed:
his fascination with Eden. It was starting to border on obsession the longer he searched for her
and didn't find her.
"You need to move on–" Matthew said, pausing when the waitress returned with the bourbon and
a tray of snacks.
“Is there anything else you need?” She asked as she picked up the empty glasses. Her question
was directed at Liam but her gaze never left Matthew’s face. His cousin waved her off with his
killer smile and a flick of his wrist.
Alone again, Liam poured a shot and gulped it down swiftly, enjoying the smooth way it rushed
down his throat and warmed his chest.
"As I was saying," Matthew continued as Liam poured all of them another round of shots. "That
woman can very well become your white whale if you keep this up. Let her go. Move on."
"I'll move on once I get all my answers," he promised and raised his glass. That's all he wanted,
answers. Wa
s he not good enough for her? Why did she run off without even putting on her underwear? The
idea that he didn't meet her expectations in bed terrified him. No woman had ever complained
before. He may be many things, but a selfish lover was not one of them. Granted, they were all
meaningless hookups, but he wanted the experience for both parties to be memorable with very
few regrets.
He had plenty of regrets after Eden.
"What is about her that's got you so hooked?"
Julian's question startled him, but he took a moment to think it over anyway.
If he was ‘hooked’ like his cousin suggested, it would explain why he couldn't move on from
her, and his obsessive need to find her, but–
No way, Liam shook his head, horrified by the direction his thoughts were taking. Eden was a
five at best in looks and wealth and maybe intellect. He could do so much better. He’d done so
much better in the past.
"I am not 'hooked' on her," he insisted, hating that the notion had even come up. "She's not even
my type!"
"'T'is true!" Julian belched on his shoulder, spraying a cloud of alcohol fumes on his face as he
wrapped his arms around him. "But what is your type?"
"Yeah, you don't have a type," Matthew agreed and tipped his glass at Liam mockingly. "You
screw anything that moves, and you leave them as soon as you can!"
"That's not true!"
"How else do you think you earned your infamous moniker?"
"Don't remind me," Liam grumbled. The tabloids dubbed him the 'Three Months Prince' after
they noticed a pattern with his love life. His relationships never seemed to last longer than three
months. What the gossip rags failed to mention though was that it wasn't always his fault. Life
happened, he'd get busy with tournaments and training and things would eventually fizzle out.
"Well at least you earned yourself a spot in the Business Insider with your exec shakeup,"
Matthew smirked. "The old man can't complain about your scandals anymore."
Liam shrugged and gulped down his drink. His decision to disband the executive committee was
so radical it earned him the coveted Business Insider cover and legendary status overnight. He
thought his father would be chuffed. But when Senior read the article, he lost his head. Clarke
only wanted him to take over the company and not change the status quo completely.
Liam’s gaze drifted back to the dance floor, clashing with the girl he mistook for Eden earlier.
She smiled and batted her eyes in his direction. He ignored her. He had no intention of wasting
his evening flirting with anyone, especially when he knew it wasn't going to go anywhere.
Matthew yawned and stretched and decided to call it a night before they even finished half the
bottle. He had a meeting with a potential client, a small scale eCommerce outfit needing their
shipping expertise.
Liam helped him get Julian into his car and carried on his way.

Chapter 13 Broke Him


Words Count: 927 | Released on:19/06/2021
Liam's night wasn't about to get any better. He found Laura waiting in his living room.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded as he dumped his messenger bag on the couch and
threw off his jacket. He was planning to go over the dozens of reports waiting for him and
prepare for an out of town meeting.
"I missed you, Li." She pouted as she pranced to him and wrapped her arms around his waist,
resting her head on his back.
They were ‘on’ again it seemed, Liam thought. After being ‘over’ for four months. He couldn't
remember what ticked her off the last time. But he was pretty sure it was his fault. It was always
his fault.
"I have to work tonight," Liam pushed her hands away and turned to the stairs. He had to be
upfront with her; there could be no misunderstandings and unnecessary expectations. "I have to
work every night from now. If you thought I didn't have time for you before, I sure as hell won't
have any now."
"I know," she cried as she ran after him, her blond curls bouncing all over the place.
He paused and stared at her. She pushed him against the railing and kissed him. He kissed her
back, frowning when he felt nothing. No warmth. No excitement.
"Mr CEO," she purred as she unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off. She jumped in his arms,
and he held her, remembering another body he'd held so closely just a few weeks before, the feel
of her legs when they wrapped around his waist, and the way her glasses had fogged up when
they kissed as he’d laid her down on his bed.
"Fuck!" He grunted and closed his eyes, trying to banish all thoughts of Eden.
Laura read his frustration as excitement and kissed him harder as they made their way to his
bedroom.
Liam stripped off the remainder of his clothes and slipped into the shower. Laura was in there in
a flash and on her knees, sucking and touching him. But she gave up when he remained as
flaccid as a dead fish even after she brought out every trick from her naughty playbook.
"What's wrong?" She asked, searching his face, sadness and confusion swimming in her eyes.
Liam held her close, wishing he could tell her something, anything. But he was just as stunned.
It's never happened before.
"Don't you want me anymore?" Laura asked in a small voice.
That wasn't true. He wanted her. He would gladly take her. If only his body would come to the
party. The mind was willing. He just wasn't sure why the body wasn't.
"I'm sorry, I just have a lot on my mind," Liam said. Not entirely untrue. He did have a lot on his
mind. The pas
t several weeks were hard on him. He needed some time. Yes, time would help, once
he got used to his new role, and his father was out of the woods, things will get back
to normal. He assured her, she believed him. But things got progressively worse with
each encounter.
Laura wailed and yelled and demanded an explanation after several attempts and still
no action. Was he seeing someone else? Was he cheating on her? Was it her fault?
His assurances were firm. There was no one else, and it wasn't anyone's fault.
"Something's wrong, Li." She said sadly. "You need to figure out what you want!"
Liam agreed and called off the relationship.
For as long as he was broken, he couldn't make her happy. Lord knew he wanted to.
Laura was perfect in every way, gorgeous, educated and driven. But for some
unfathomable reason, his body could no longer react to her.
His body could no longer react to other women as well, as he soon learned. Every
time he brought a woman home, they'd go through the excitement of foreplay, but the
minute he had to go through with the deed, he couldn't get an erection.
After his fifth or sixth attempt with the same result, he flew into an alcohol-fuelled
rage and dug up the offending dress and underwear buried deep in his closet and took
it downstairs. He riffled through his drawers in the kitchen, looking for scissors, but
all he found were spoons and forks and knives. There were too many of them for one
person.
"Where are the fucking scissors?" He roared as he ripped the drawer from the cabinet
and threw it on the floor just as Dave and the housekeepers ran in.
"Mr Anderson, Sir, what do you need?" His butler asked as the two ladies cleaned up
his mess.
"I want the fucking scissors!" Liam raged, "Where are they?”
Within seconds a pair of scissors appeared seemingly out of thin air, and Liam took
them to the living room where he'd dumped the clothes. He picked them up, ready to
rip them to shreds, but he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to destroy them.
He threw them across the room, along with the scissors and howled a terrifying sound.
All his frustration and anger from the past several weeks came to a head at that
moment, like gigantic waves crashing into each other.
He didn't understand how or why. But he knew all his issues had everything to do
with the owner of the clothes. The last woman he'd made love to was Eden. And since
their encounter, he could not touch another woman. She'd done something he never
thought was possible.
She broke him.

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