George watched Liam quietly from the doorway, his hands folded behind his back. Liam moved through the kitchen with the same calm precision he always had, clearing dishes, wiping counters, arranging cutlery, yet George couldn’t shake a subtle unease. Something about him didn’t fit the image of a man who simply cared for Emma’s comfort.“Emma,” George said casually as she passed by the kitchen, “how long has he been like this?”Emma paused, frowning. “Like what?”George gestured vaguely toward Liam. “He’s efficient, attentive, and noticing things most people wouldn’t… It’s as if he’s always alert, always expecting something.”Emma shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s… precise. He likes things orderly. That’s all.”George studied her face. “And do you notice other things? Moments when he seems… different? When you can’t tell what he’s thinking?”Emma hesitated. She had noticed small things. Liam’s eyes sometimes flicked toward a sound before anyone else heard it. He seemed to anticipate situat

Emma waited until the house was quiet. Margaret was knitting in the living room, Victoria was on a video call, and George was reading in his study. Tara had gone out.Liam was upstairs, moving around quietly, as if he was trying not to be heard.Emma could feel the pressure in her chest. The strange crash earlier, Liam’s odd behavior and tension she sensed in their room. She couldn’t ignore it anymore.She climbed the stairs with so much focus and no hesitation.When she reached their bedroom door, she didn’t knock. She just opened it and walked inside.Liam stood near the bookshelf, sliding a small drawer shut. His movement was tensed for just a second, barely noticeable, but she saw it.“Liam,” she said quietly.He turned. His expression was calm as always but there was something else in it that she couldn’t understand.“What’s wrong?” he asked.Emma closed the door behind her. “We need to talk.”Liam remained standing, with his hands hanging by his sides. “Alright.”Emma crossed he

The sound of the front doorbell echoed through the Harper mansion. Liam, who was straightening a stack of magazines in the living room, glanced toward the door. George was already standing nearby, arms crossed, his face tight with suspicion.“I’ll get it,” George said, moving toward the door.When the door opened, Ethan stepped in, his expression carefully neutral, though his eyes flicked over the room carefully. “Good morning, Mr. Harper,” he said smoothly. “I just came by to greet you after your trip. I hope everything went well.”George’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Ethan,” he said, cold. “I wasn’t expecting you.”Ethan gave a slight bow of the head, a gesture of politeness that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I know it’s sudden, but I thought it courteous to visit. After all, we haven’t had a proper conversation in some time.”George’s gaze sharpened. “And what exactly do you want from me, Ethan?” His tone was calm but carried an hint of warning.Ethan smiled faintly, the kind o

Ethan pushed open the office door with his shoulder, juggling his keys and phone. He had barely stepped inside when his phone vibrated again. It was another message from Victoria again. He considered ignoring it, but curiosity won.He opened the text.“Dinner went well! Ambassador Sinclair was lovely. He had some… interesting reactions to Liam. I’ll call you.”Ethan raised an eyebrow. Reactions to Liam?He tossed his jacket onto the chair and called her back. Margaret picked up on the first ring.“Ethan, dear,” she said warmly. “I wanted to tell you before Tara spreads it all over the place.”Ethan leaned against his desk. “Tell me what?”“At the dinner,” Margaret said, lowering her voice as if they were sharing national secrets, “Ambassador Sinclair kept staring at Liam. Apparently, he said Liam has… how do I explain it… ‘the posture of someone that’s trained.’”Ethan blinked. “Trained? Trained how?”“Oh, you know how these military men talk,” she continued. “He said Liam moved like

Ethan had never been ignored this many times in his life.He sat behind his wide office desk, tapping a pen against the glass surface as his assistant gave the same answer for the fourth time that morning.“Ambassador Sinclair’s office said he’s unavailable,” she repeated carefully.Ethan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Unavailable, or he’s avoiding me? He doesn’t want to see me?”She hesitated. “Sir… the secretary didn’t say.”Ethan smiled tightly, he already knew.Sinclair was ignoring him.It wasn’t surprising. Diplomats were slippery, especially ones who seemed to react strangely to Liam Clarke at a dinner party.Ethan leaned back, thinking. Sinclair wasn’t stupid. He wouldn’t openly reveal anything but if Ethan wanted to get closer, he needed another angle.“Call again,” Ethan said.“Yes, sir.”“And this time,” Ethan added, “tell them it’s regarding an international investment proposal.”That got her attention. “Are we… starting one?”“No,” Ethan muttered. “But Sinclair doesn’t