Chapter Eighteen: The Rumours
1071 Words
“Liam was saying, i…”
Before Liam could finish his sentence—
For a moment, Liam forgot about everything he wanted to hide.
Standing this close to Isla felt dangerous, not because of her… but because of the feelings he was trying to control.
The bedroom door suddenly swung open.
“Hydrangea, why do you always sl—”
Eva stopped mid-sentence.
Her eyes landed on the scene before her.
Liam was kneeling beside Isla’s bed.
Only a short distance separated them.
For a brief moment, silence filled the room.
Then…
A slow smile curved across Eva’s lips.
“Oh…”
Her voice dripped with amusement.
“Looks like I interrupted something.”
Neither Isla nor Liam spoke.
Eva folded her arms and leaned casually against the doorframe.
“My mistake.”
She chuckled softly.
“Please… don’t stop because of me.”
Her gaze shifted between them before she added,
“I didn’t know mornings in this house had become so… intimate.”
Isla’s expression immediately hardened.
“Enough.”
Her voice was cold.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Eva shrugged carelessly.
“Really?”
“I only said what I saw.”
“I walked in at a rather interesting time.”
“I’m just surprised by how comfortable everyone has become.”
Isla’s patience snapped.
“Get out.”
The room fell silent.
Eva didn’t move.
Instead, the smile on her face widened.
“Is that an order?”
“I said…”
Isla’s voice rose sharply.
“GET OUT!”
The shout echoed through the hallway.
At that exact moment, Mia had just stepped out of her bedroom, still half-asleep, intending to get a glass of water.
Hearing Isla’s voice, she immediately rushed upstairs.
“What happened?”
She stopped at the doorway.
Eva stood there with an amused expression.
Isla remained on the bed.
Liam was still beside her.
Mia frowned.
“Babe?”
“What happened?”
Before Isla could answer—
Eva spoke first.
“Oh, nothing.”
“I simply walked in at the wrong time.”
She laughed quietly.
“I think your best friend and Liam were having a very private moment.”
Liam’s jaw tightened.
He was about to explain—
But Mia cut him off.
“Stop.”
Her voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
She slowly looked at Eva.
“Not everyone thinks the way you do.”
“Liam has looked after Isla for years.”
“He came here because he was worried about her.”
She took one step closer.
“But I suppose “Before judging someone else’s choices, maybe you should remember your own.”
She looked Eva straight in the eyes.
“Make sure your own choices can survive the same judgment.”
Eva’s smile faded.
Mia continued without raising her voice.
“So before you judge someone else’s character…”
She looked Eva straight in the eyes.
“…make sure you’ve cleaned your own.”
The atmosphere instantly turned heavy.
For a few seconds—
No one spoke.
Then…
A dry laugh escaped Eva’s lips.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
She turned around and walked out of the room, clearly annoyed.
The moment the door closed—
Liam quietly stepped back.
“I’ll leave you two to talk.”
“There are a few things I need to take care of downstairs.”
He turned to leave.
“Liam.”
Mia stopped him.
He paused.
She noticed the slight swelling around his eyes.
“Something happened last night, didn’t it?”
Liam avoided her gaze.
“I’m fine.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Just wasn’t feeling well.”
Without waiting for another question, he walked away.
Mia watched him disappear down the hallway before turning back toward Isla.
She sat beside her on the bed.
“Babe…”
“Tell me everything.”
Isla let out a quiet sigh.
Then she told Mia everything.
From Liam standing beside her bed…
To noticing his swollen eyes…
To the strange feeling that he had been crying.
When she finished, she looked down at her hands.
“I don’t know why…”
“But I feel like he’s carrying something alone.”
“And whatever it is…”
“It hurts him.”
Mia remained silent for a moment.
“I’ll talk to him.”
She gently squeezed Isla’s hand.
“You go freshen up.”
“I’ll meet you downstairs for breakfast.”
After Isla nodded, Mia quietly left the room.
As she walked downstairs, Mia couldn’t stop thinking.
Liam’s reaction last night.
His swollen eyes this morning.
Something was wrong.
She simply didn’t know what.
Entering the kitchen, she looked at the chefs.
“For breakfast…”
“Let’s make chocolate pancakes today.”
“Mrs. Cross loves them.”
“No.”
A sharp voice interrupted her.
Mia slowly turned around.
Eva stood at the entrance of the kitchen with her arms folded.
“We don’t serve chocolate pancakes in this house.”
Mia raised an eyebrow.
“This isn’t your house.”
“It’s Damien and Isla’s.”
“And while Isla is here…”
“Breakfast will be prepared the way she likes it.”
Eva walked closer.
“I said no.”
The atmosphere grew tense.
Before another argument could begin—
Even though he was exhausted, his first instinct was still to protect Isla from unnecessary conflict.
Liam stepped between them.
“Ladies…”
He forced a polite smile.
“Please.”
“There’ll be chocolate pancakes.”
“And regular pancakes as well.”
“Everyone gets what they want.”
Mia looked away first.
“Fine.”
Eva let out a quiet scoff before walking upstairs without another word.
⸻
The moment she entered her room, she grabbed her phone and called Damien.
He answered after the second ring.
“I’m in the office, Eva.”
“Is something wrong?”
She sighed dramatically.
“Babe…”
“I don’t think Mia likes me very much.”
“She keeps insulting me.”
Damien rubbed his forehead.
“I’ll handle it.”
He was about to end the call—
“Wait.”
Eva’s voice became quieter.
“There’s something about Isla…”
Damien’s fingers froze over the phone.
“What about her?”
Eva smiled to herself.
“I think there’s something you should know…”
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD