Chapter Five: The Father’s Disapproval
995 Words
Chapter Five: The Father’s Disapproval
Liam stared at his phone long after the call ended.
Across the table, Jules Jordan watched him carefully.
The warmth that had filled his eyes moments ago was gone.
His jaw was tight.
His shoulders tense.
Something had changed.
"Is everything okay?" she asked softly.
Liam forced a smile.
"Yes."
Jules immediately knew he was lying.
But she didn't push.
People carried battles they weren't ready to share.
She understood that better than most.
A few minutes later, they left the café.
Outside, the evening sky was painted in shades of orange and gold.
For a brief moment, neither wanted to leave.
Neither wanted the day to end.
"Thank you for the coffee," Jules said.
Liam smiled.
"Thank you for coming."
Their eyes met.
The same strange tension from earlier returned.
The kind that made hearts beat faster.
The kind that made words unnecessary.
Then Jules stepped back.
"I should go."
"Right."
Neither moved.
Both silently wishing for one more minute.
One more conversation.
One more excuse.
Finally, Jules laughed nervously.
"Goodbye, Liam."
"Goodbye, Jules."
She walked away.
And Liam stood there watching until she disappeared into the crowd.
Only then did he turn toward the black luxury car waiting nearby.
Inside sat Lorenzo Luca.
His father.
The man who built an international business empire from nothing.
The man whose approval meant everything to the world.
And very little to Liam.
The moment Liam entered the car, Lorenzo spoke.
"You're late."
Liam sighed.
"Good evening to you too, Father."
Lorenzo ignored the comment.
Instead, his sharp eyes focused on the direction Jules had disappeared.
"Was that her?"
Liam froze.
"What?"
"The woman."
Silence.
Lorenzo leaned back.
"So it is."
Liam looked away.
His father's instincts were annoyingly accurate.
"You investigated me?"
"I investigate everyone who matters."
Liam laughed humorlessly.
"That's not creepy at all."
"It keeps people alive."
The car began moving.
For several moments neither spoke.
Then Lorenzo finally said,
"She's not suitable."
Liam's eyes darkened.
"You don't even know her."
"I know enough."
The statement instantly irritated him.
Lorenzo continued.
"Single mother."
Liam remained silent.
"Two children."
Still silent.
"No financial stability."
Liam clenched his jaw.
"Father—"
"And a complicated past."
"Enough."
The word came out sharper than intended.
The car fell silent.
Lorenzo studied his son.
Then something unexpected happened.
He smiled.
Not kindly.
Not warmly.
Knowingly.
"You love her."
Liam nearly choked.
"What?"
"You love her."
The certainty in his father's voice made Liam uncomfortable.
Because he couldn't deny it.
Not completely.
Not anymore.
He had tried convincing himself it was concern.
Compassion.
Responsibility.
But the truth had become impossible to ignore.
The first person he thought about every morning was Jules.
The last person he thought about every night was Jules.
Her smile lingered in his mind.
Her laugh echoed in his chest.
And when she cried—
Something inside him broke.
Unfortunately, Lorenzo noticed all of it.
"You barely know her."
Liam stared out the window.
"Maybe."
"Then walk away."
That got his attention.
Liam turned sharply.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Lorenzo's voice remained calm.
"Walk away now before it becomes serious."
For a moment Liam simply stared at him.
Then he laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You raised me to make my own decisions."
"I raised you to make smart decisions."
The words hung heavily in the air.
Liam suddenly felt ten years old again.
Being told what was best for him.
Who to trust.
Where to go.
What future to build.
Except this time was different.
This time the person involved was Jules.
And he wasn't willing to let anyone hurt her.
Not even his father.
"You don't get to decide who I care about."
For the first time, Lorenzo's expression hardened.
"And you don't get to ignore reality."
The car stopped outside Lorenzo's hotel.
Before exiting, he turned toward Liam one last time.
"If you insist on pursuing this woman..."
His voice lowered.
"...make sure you're ready for the consequences."
Then he stepped out.
Leaving Liam alone.
For the first time in years, father and son stood on opposite sides of something important.
And neither was willing to back down.
---
Meanwhile...
Across the city, Jules sat on the edge of her bed.
The twins slept peacefully beside her.
The apartment was quiet.
Yet her mind refused to rest.
She kept replaying the afternoon.
The coffee.
The conversation.
The way Liam had looked at her.
A dangerous warmth spread through her chest.
One she hadn't felt in years.
Maybe ever.
Then reality returned.
She glanced around the small room.
Peeling paint.
Old furniture.
Unpaid bills.
A life held together by sheer determination.
And suddenly she felt foolish.
Men like Liam didn't fall in love with women like her.
Men like Liam married women from wealthy families.
Educated women.
Successful women.
Not women with baggage.
Not women with twins.
Not women like Jules Jordan.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Because for the first time in a long time...
She wanted something she couldn't allow herself to have.
---
The next morning, Jules arrived at work.
The moment she entered the office, everyone became unusually quiet.
People whispered.
Stared.
Pointed.
A knot formed in her stomach.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Then she saw her manager waiting outside his office.
The same manager who had refused to help when Jayda was dying.
His face was pale.
Nervous.
Sweaty.
"Ms. Jordan."
Jules frowned.
"Yes?"
He swallowed hard.
"The chairman wants to see you."
"The chairman?"
Her confusion deepened.
The chairman of the company had never spoken to ordinary employees.
Not once.
So why now?
Then she noticed several executives standing nearby.
Watching her.
Waiting.
And suddenly a terrible feeling settled in her chest.
She didn't know it yet.
But someone had discovered her connection to Liam Lorenzo.
And the entire company was about to treat her very differently.
End of Chapter Five.
- Writer
