My Forced Husband Is A Billionaire

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

I woke up to the mouthwatering aroma of breakfast drifting in from the kitchen. Blinking against the morning light, I rubbed my eyes, trying to recall the events of last night.

After everything that had happened—Liam being back and the argument we had—I wasn’t sure what today would be like between us. I expected things to feel tense, a little hostile even.

But the delicious smell and the comforting warmth that filled the house eliminated that notion, replacing it with a small ray of hope.

Finally, I dragged myself to the kitchen and stopped in my tracks, my eyes widening at the sight that greeted me. There, on the opposite side of the kitchen, was Liam—shirtless—flipping pancakes in a pan.

I swallowed hard, my gaze involuntarily trailing along his toned back, his muscles moving with ease as he worked. The bright morning light filtered in from the window, making his skin almost glow.

He looked... well, he looked like something out of a dream. I stared, barely blinking, and nearly choked on my own spit when he suddenly turned around.

A small, knowing smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Good morning, Ava,” he said casually, as though nothing was out of the ordinary.

His gaze met mine, and the smirk deepened, one eyebrow arching upwards. “I believe you were gazing at the pancakes, right, Ava?”

I swallowed again, trying to avoid staring at his bare chest. “Oh, no—I mean, yes. Yes, I was staring at the pancakes,” I stammered. “They look so good and... so yummy.”

I was definitely not talking about the pancakes.

Liam’s grin broadened, and I felt my face heating up, sure that he could see right through me and my poor attempt at a casual façade. He shifted his stance, tilting slightly to give me an even better view of his toned chest.

“Are you maybe eyeing something else?” he asked, his voice teasing.

My cheeks flushed even deeper. I managed to look away from him, focusing on the counter instead. “Uh, no... just the pancakes,” I mumbled, trying to keep my voice steady.

He chuckled softly, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “Are you cold, Ava? I mean, you’re turning quite red.” He pointed at my flushed face, a glint of mischief in his eyes. “Or could there be another reason for the blush?”

I shot him a half-hearted scowl, though it probably didn’t look very convincing. “Liam, why don’t you wear a shirt? It’s freezing, and I... I mean, it’s distracting!” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them.

He looked amused, slowly shaking his head. “Distracting, huh?” He chuckled again. “Funny you should say that. Personally, I think it’s quite hot in here. The AC isn’t working, and I’ll fix it later. But for now,” he said, glancing down at himself before meeting my gaze, “I’m very comfortable this way. Does it bother you?”

I let out a nervous laugh, which only made my face get even hotter. “Oh, please, don’t flatter yourself,” I said, trying to regain some composure. “I’m just waiting for my breakfast, hoping not to get too... distracted by its taste.”

“Right. Distractions,” he said, still grinning as he turned back to the stove, leaving me slightly embarrassed and fuming at my own helplessness.

Once the pancakes were done, Liam brought over two plates, setting one down in front of me along with a cup of coffee. I blinked, looking down at the steaming mug, then back at him.

“I made it just the way you like it,” he said, his voice soft.

“You know how I like it?” I asked, taking a sip. The coffee was perfect—black, with just a hint of sugar. I didn’t even remember telling him how I took my coffee, much less my favorite brand.

He shrugged, his eyes meeting mine. “Of course. Black, one sugar. Just like the first time you told me about it.”

I furrowed my brow, trying to recall when I’d mentioned it. Nothing came to mind. I watched him as we ate, my curiosity growing with each moment of silence. How did he know me so well?

After breakfast, I stood to clear the table, but Liam stopped me with a gentle shake of his head. “Nope. I’ve got this. You go get ready for work.”

I blinked at him. “Liam, it’s fine. I can—”

“Ava,” he interrupted, his voice gentle but firm. “You’re busy. You have a lot of responsibilities. Let me help out here at home, okay?”

I sighed, shaking my head slightly but unable to hold back a small smile. “Alright, just... don’t make a mess.”

He smiled back, and I felt warmth blooming in my chest. It felt good, having someone care for me like this.

Once I was ready, I came downstairs to find Liam standing by the door, keys in hand. I looked at him, raising an eyebrow.

“What’s going on?” I asked, eyeing the keys.

“Well, you’re not walking to work or taking a cab today,” he stated, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I’m driving you.”

“Liam, that’s really not necessary,” I started to protest, but he cut me off.

His eyes held mine, his gaze intense. “I want to. I don’t want you stressing out or walking. I want to take care of you. Just let me do this, okay?”

I felt my heart skip a beat. There was something in his eyes, something sincere and caring, that made me lose my resolve. “Okay,” I said softly.

He smiled, opening the car door for me when we reached his car. Once inside, I glanced at him. “So, after work... I just call you?”

He nodded, starting the engine. “When you’re done, call me. And during your lunch break, I’ll come pick you up too.”

“You really mean that?” I asked, unable to hide the surprise in my voice.

“Yeah,” he replied, his voice smooth, his eyes meeting mine briefly before he turned his attention back to the road. There was a sincerity in his gaze that made my heart pound.

The drive to the office was surprisingly pleasant. Liam pointed out different places around the city, telling me stories and little details that I’d never noticed before. He had a way of making me laugh, of making me forget everything else for just a little while.

But at the back of my mind, something worried me. Liam seemed to know me better than anyone else, more than was possible after just a week. Maybe it had something to do with Natalia—he’d been in a relationship with my sister, after all. But then again, Natalia never cared enough about me to share details like that with anyone.

If she even knew them.

When I got out of the car at work, I let out a small sigh, feeling a strange sense of longing. I wished we could stay together, just a little longer. Liam gave me a warm smile, and I attempted to smile back, though I felt a little off.

“You alright?” he asked, concern clear in his eyes.

“Yeah, just thinking of the long day ahead,” I replied, glancing towards the building.

He nodded, his smile softening. “Just remember, I’ll be here if you need me.”

*

That night, after work, I felt drained—emotionally and physically. I lay in bed, trying to push away the thoughts, the questions that kept swirling around in my mind. I wanted to just enjoy the good moments, but sleep didn’t bring me the peace I needed.

Instead, it brought fear.

I woke up screaming, my heart pounding, my throat dry. The darkness felt heavy, suffocating, and I could hear the echo of my own scream ringing in my ears. Panic gripped me, my chest tightening.

Then I heard footsteps, running towards my room.