Rise of the Exiled Dragon

2

By early afternoon, the kitchen had transformed into a humid, aromatic sauna. The bone broth had been simmering for five hours, just as Vanessa demanded. The heavy, savory scent of marrow and herbs filled the first floor, masking the smell of the cleaning chemicals Liam had used on the marble floors earlier.

Liam stood over the stove, skimming fat from the surface of the pot with the steady hand of a surgeon. He hadn't sat down since 5:30 AM. His legs ached, a dull throb that had become his constant companion.

The doorbell rang—a sharp, demanding chime.

Liam wiped his hands on his apron and went to answer it. When he opened the heavy oak door, he wasn't greeted by a delivery man, but by a cloud of expensive perfume and an air of overwhelming superiority.

It was Chloe Chase.

Serena’s "best friend" was a woman who treated life like a runway and people like accessories. She brushed past Liam without a word, treating him with the same disregard one would show an automatic door opener.

"Vanessa! Darling!" Chloe called out, her voice echoing in the foyer. "I’m here early! The traffic was absolute murder."

Vanessa emerged from the living room, her face mask gone, replaced by a layer of heavy foundation meant to hide the stress lines around her eyes. Her demeanor shifted instantly from the shrewish tyrant she was with Liam to a gracious hostess.

"Chloe, sweetheart," Vanessa cooed, exchanging air kisses. "You’re just in time. The broth is nearly done. Is Serena with you?"

"No, poor thing is still at the office," Chloe sighed, tossing her designer handbag onto the pristine dining table Liam had just polished. "She’s waiting for a callback from Warren West. Apparently, he’s her last hope for the bridge capital. Honestly, the stress is ruining her skin."

Liam, returning to the stove, felt a muscle in his jaw tighten. Warren West again. The name was circling his wife like a shark.

"Warren is a good man," Vanessa said loudly, ensuring her voice carried into the kitchen. "He has resources. He has class. Unlike some people who just take up space and oxygen."

Chloe giggled, walking into the kitchen and leaning against the island. She picked up an apple from the fruit bowl, took a bite, and looked Liam up and down with amusement.

"So, Liam," she said, chewing loudly. "I heard a rumor. Is it true you applied for a job as a janitor at Serena’s building? God, imagine that. The CEO’s husband plunging toilets two floors down. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so tragic."

Liam didn't look up from the pot. "I didn't apply for a job, Chloe."

"Well, you should," she retorted. "At least then you’d be contributing something other than carbon dioxide. Serena is out there fighting for her life, trying to save the family reputation, and you’re in here... making soup."

"It's a very complex broth," Vanessa interjected, stepping into the kitchen. She peered into the pot, her critical eye scanning the bubbling liquid. "But it needs to be perfect. Tonight is important. If Serena secures the funding, we celebrate. If she doesn't... well, we need comfort food."

Vanessa dipped a spoon in, tasted it, and frowned. Her face darkened.

"It's flat," she declared.

"I followed your recipe exactly," Liam said calmly. "Star anise, ginger, marrow bones, slow-roasted onions..."

"It lacks depth!" Vanessa snapped, slamming the spoon onto the counter. "It needs the roasted garlic oil. Where is the garlic oil?"

Liam paused. "You used the last of the garlic yesterday for the pasta."

Vanessa’s eyes widened, her nostrils flaring. The shift in the atmosphere was instant. The gracious hostess vanished; the abuser returned.

"Excuse me?" she hissed. "I told you yesterday to restock the pantry. Are you telling me we are out of garlic?"

"I... I must have missed it on the list," Liam said, his stomach tightening. He knew this tone. This was the tone that preceded violence.

"You missed it?" Vanessa repeated, her voice rising to a shriek. "I have Chloe here as a guest. Serena is coming home exhausted. I demand a perfect meal, and you 'missed' the most basic ingredient?"

Chloe watched the scene unfold with a smirk, enjoying the show. She took another bite of her apple. "Wow. Can't even buy groceries? That's a new low, even for you, Liam."

Vanessa pointed a manicured finger at the door. "Go. Now."

"Mom, the soup needs to be stirred every ten minutes or it will burn," Liam tried to explain.

"I don't care!" Vanessa screamed. "There is a bodega two blocks away. Run! If you are not back in ten minutes with fresh garlic, don't bother coming back at all!"

Liam untied his apron, his hands trembling slightly—not from fear, but from the effort of suppressing the rage that was boiling in his gut, hotter than the broth.

"I'll go," he said quietly.

He grabbed his thin jacket and headed for the door.

"And don't take an hour!" Vanessa shouted after him. "Useless waste of space!"

The door clicked shut behind him, cutting off Vanessa's voice. But as Liam stepped out onto the porch, he realized with a sinking feeling that the grey clouds from the morning had turned black. The air was heavy, wet, and cold.

He didn't have an umbrella.