The Billionaire’s Forgotten Love

Ghosts Between Us

The soft hum of the city at night was usually enough to soothe Liam’s restless mind. But not tonight.

He sat on the leather couch in his darkened living room, still in the dress shirt from earlier, sleeves rolled to the elbows, phone in one hand, glass of scotch in the other. The ice had melted. The burn did nothing to numb the war happening in his chest.

Upstairs, Ariana and Noah slept in the master suite—the place that used to feel untouchable. Safe. Now it felt like a memory soaked in betrayal, half-mended promises, and things unsaid.

He scrolled back to Ethan’s last message.

> “You have no idea what she’s hiding.”

He wanted to ignore it. Wanted to believe Ariana when she said she’d tell him everything. But too much time had passed. Too many secrets had already buried them once.

His thumb hovered over Ethan’s name. He didn’t want to play into his brother’s games, but the silence was eating him alive.

He hit Call.

It rang twice.

“Wow. Thought you’d block me by now,” Ethan’s voice came through, smug as ever.

“What do you want?” Liam’s voice was low. Controlled.

“Just checking in. You seemed... distracted earlier. Figured you might be too busy playing daddy to ask her the right questions.”

“I asked. She answered.”

“No,” Ethan said, his tone tightening. “She gave you just enough to keep you hanging on. You think she ran from you? That poor, scared Ariana was just trying to protect your baby?”

Liam’s pulse quickened. “You saying she wasn’t?”

“I’m saying she ran because she didn’t have a choice. Someone made her.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Why don’t you ask her about the night she disappeared? Ask her why she left with nothing. No phone. No bank card. No goodbye.”

Liam was silent.

“Oh,” Ethan said, satisfied. “She didn’t tell you that part.”

“You did something to her,” Liam said, voice dangerously low. “Didn’t you?”

“I did what you couldn’t,” Ethan snapped. “I protected her.”

“By isolating her? Threatening her?”

“She chose to stay with me, Liam. Over you.”

Liam laughed bitterly. “You call what you had a choice?”

“I call it loyalty. Something you’ve never had. And if you think bringing her back here is going to fix your perfect little fantasy—get ready to watch it all burn again.”

Liam ended the call before his fury could explode.

The phone shook in his hand.

He stared at the glass doors that led to the balcony, then stood and walked outside. The cold air slapped his skin, but it cleared his head.

He couldn’t go to Ariana now—not without losing control. But he needed answers.

Down the hallway, he heard the soft creak of a door opening. A moment later, barefoot and wearing one of his old t-shirts, Ariana appeared at the edge of the living room.

“You couldn’t sleep either?” she asked softly.

He turned to face her. “Did you leave without your phone that night?”

Her eyes widened.

“Your bank card?” he pressed. “Your clothes? Anything?”

Ariana opened her mouth, then closed it.

Liam took a slow, deliberate step toward her. “Tell me the truth. Did Ethan force you to leave me?”

Tears shimmered in her eyes.

“I wanted to call you,” she whispered. “I had a bag packed, I was ready. But I never made it to the airport.”

“Why not?”

She looked down. “He found me. Said if I left, he’d go to the press. Tell them I was pregnant with your baby and you abandoned me.”

Liam froze.

“He said he’d destroy you,” she added, her voice cracking. “Said the Carter name would be dragged through hell, and your father would cut you off. You’d lose everything.”

Liam’s heart pounded. “So you stayed… for me?”

“I stayed because I thought I was saving you.”

He ran a hand through his hair, the fury and guilt twisting in his stomach. “You should’ve told me.”

“I couldn’t. He took my phone. Watched my every move. I barely had the courage to leave when I finally did.”

Liam stared at her, every part of him torn between pain and something deeper—protectiveness, maybe even love.

“I’m not letting him near you again,” he said. “Or Noah.”

Ariana’s shoulders sagged. “I don’t want him near us either. But he’s not the only problem.”

Liam narrowed his eyes. “What does that mean?”

“I told you most of the truth,” she said. “But not all of it.”

“Then tell me. Right now.”

She opened her mouth—then stopped.

And that hesitation? It felt like betrayal all over again.

Liam stepped back. “You said you came back to make things right. So make them right. Tell me everything.”

Ariana looked stricken. “I will. I just… I need time.”

“Time’s up, Ari,” he said, voice like ice. “Because if you’re not ready to tell me, I’ll find out myself.”

He walked away without another word, leaving her standing in the soft pool of moonlight, arms wrapped around herself, like she was already bracing for the storm.