Broken Promises and New Rules
555 Words
The next morning, Aria stood in the walk-in closet, staring at the rows of designer clothes she didn’t pick, the heels she never wore, and the life she never asked for.
The events of last night clung to her like smoke — Vanessa’s voice, Liam’s grip, the cameras, the stranger’s words…
“Your eyes say more than your mouth does.”
Well, maybe it was time she started using her mouth too.
She walked downstairs, her silk robe tied at the waist, only to find Liam in the dining room — black shirt rolled up at the forearms, coffee in hand, already scrolling through stock reports like emotions didn’t exist in his world.
“Morning,” she said evenly, pouring herself some coffee.
He didn’t look up. “You’re up late.”
“I needed sleep. Pretending to be your happy wife in front of a hundred strangers drained me.”
That got his attention. He looked up, jaw tight. “Let’s not start.”
“Let’s,” she said sharply. “Because if this is going to be a one-sided contract, I’m going to start negotiating the terms.”
Liam raised an eyebrow. “You think this is a game?”
“I think this is a prison dressed in designer,” she shot back. “And if I’m going to be locked inside it, I at least want some say.”
He pushed his chair back slowly, standing. “And what exactly do you want, Aria?”
She stepped closer, voice calm but hard. “Rules. Boundaries. A new agreement.”
He tilted his head, amused. “You're negotiating with me now?”
“No,” she said coldly. “I’m demanding.”
Liam looked at her for a long moment. Then gave a small nod. “Go on.”
🔹 Aria’s Rules:
1. No more parading exes in front of her
2. No more pretending in public without her consent
3. She gets access to her own money and freedom to move
4. No touching without her permission
5. And no bedroom sharing unless she allows it
Liam’s gaze didn’t flicker once.
And then, without blinking, he said:
“Fine.”
She stared at him. “That’s it?”
“I don’t care what you do, Aria. Just keep your side of the contract clean.”
Something in her chest pulled tight. She wanted him to fight back. Argue. Show something. But he didn’t. He just turned back to his phone like her voice had been background noise.
---
Later That Day…
Aria walked into the home library one of the few places she found peace in this house — only to find Liam already there, tie loosened, whiskey in hand, staring at the fire.
Without looking at her, he said, “You used to draw stars on napkins. Did you stop?”
She froze.
That memory... it came from years ago.
When they were just kids. When he used to sit beside her after school and hand her broken pencils just to make her smile.
“I stopped a long time ago,” she whispered.
He didn’t respond. Just sipped his drink, eyes locked on the flames.
For the first time, Aria wondered was Liam really as cold as he seemed?
Or was he broken in places she couldn't yet see?
- Writer
